January 4, 19 2 3
MUSICAL COURIER
38
© Fernand de Gueldre, Chicago
PROFESSOR NICHOLAS ROERICH,
honorary president of the Muster Institute of United Arts, Inc.
would rarely happen that a center could offer so distinguished a faculty as the Institute has, through which it is able to provide for its pupils the best instruction that can be had at fees which are not so small as to suggest charity, but still are distinctly within the reach of the general public.
Fine Concert by Erie Festival Chorus.
Under the direction of Morris G. Williams, the Erie Festival Chorus gave the first of a series of choral concerts at the First Presbyterian Church, Erie, Pa., December 14, and scored a brilliant success. Mr. \Villiams has worked unceasingly to make the chorus a vital part of the musical life of the community, and this concert proved that his efforts have taken effect. The chorus is well balanced, the tone good and there is plenty of volume. The next concert will take place the end of February. The Spring Festival of this organization, with Mr. Williams at the helm, is assured, and much enthusiasm is being shown in the forthcoming event.
Yost in Second Pittsburgh Recital
Gaylord Yost, violinist, appeared in his second recital at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute on December 12. His program was: sonata in D (Handel), concerto in B minor (Saint-Saëns), Six Pictures: Distance, Rocks, Ripples Hills, a Mirage and Murmurings (Cecil Burleigh), Humoresque (Palmgrcn), Slavonic Dance in G (Dvorak-Kreislcr), Waves at Play (Grasse), and rondino (Vieuxtemps). William ii. Getting supplied the accompaniments.
THE MASTER INSTITUTE OF UNITED STATES, INC.,
FAVORS THE ESTABLISHING OF ART CENTERS
Middleton Busy All of January
Arthur Middleton, now singing in California, will start the new year by singing in Oakland, Cal., today, January 4: January S he will appear in Medford, Ore.; 10, Tacoma, Wash.; 12, Pullman, Wash.; IS, Lewiston, Mont ; 18 Cheyenne, Wyo., and 20, Grand Junction, Colo. Other cities where he will sing during the month are Houston, Port Arthur, and Dallas, all in the State of Texas.
Metropolis Club Musicale a Big Success
it was unanimously agreed that the musicale held at the Hote Biltmore by the Metropolis Club was the most successful and most thoroughly enjoyable of the annua! musicales in their thirty years of existence. John Charles Thomas, Beniamino Gigli, Suzanne ■ Keener and Lucile Orrell were at their best and gave a splendid program.
Gerhardt at Carnegie Flail
Elena Gerhardt, at her second recital of the season in New York at Carnegie Hall on the evening of January 16 will present a popular program of classic, English and American songs.
creates beauty in their hearts and beauty combats all the evil influences in the world. We are a private institution here, of course, but I really feel that a thoroughly grounded instruction in all the arts must eventually become a part of the public school system. Here are a few notes on that subject that I have just jotted down.” And as these notes set forth so precisely the views of those who founded the Master Institute of United Arts and give so distinct an idea of the spirit in which it was founded, they will be included here:
‘ From what we know of the Stone Age, we can state that at that time art existed practically in every home. As a matter of fact art was a part of the daily work; every home had its own artist, who carved wood, chiseled stone figures, painted garments, pots, etc.; there was music, traces of which, to my sorrow, are very scarce, as the instruments were made of wood presumably, and therefore decayed. Gradually music was driven out of homes of.the people, through culture—or rather through false culture. We are living at present at a time where it is of most importance to give the people art. and to give art as education, free to every child in public schools—or else to create special centers all over the cities and villages, where every child could get instruction in music, graphic, plastic and dramatic arts.
"Children must be prepared to meet the new era, purified through art. The present children are going to live in the near future in another world than that in which we lived and are living. Shall we deny them what was denied to-us.' Let us not commit an irreparable crime against the little ones. Art destroys hatred and creates beauty in our hearts. And if children be given spiritual beauty in harmony with their physical beauty, then war, hatred and sickness will disappear like darkness when ,the sun appears. We must start the great work at once. Probably many mistakes will occur, but it is a crime to delay it. Thousands of honest and true artists will answer a call which is so near ׳to their hearts. What true artist has not dreamed of imparting his knowledge to the masses, especially to children? It is a question of organization, which is easily solved. A few community meetings will bring unheard-of results. Art centers can be temporarily established in public schools, churches, libraries and museums. Public school centers can be opened for instruction in music, graphic, plastic and dramatic arts, so arranged from 3 to 9 p. m. as not to interfere with the regular schedule—in other centers all day. Instruction in music will require only one or two private lessons weekly, besides class instruction. So, for example, the child can take two private lessons a week for piano or any other instrument, one class lesson m ear training, solfege and rhythm, one class lesson in modern plastic dances, and one class lesson in one of the graphic arts. In advanced classes, there should also be a class in dramatic art. If every child should spend only one hour every day in studying all arts, the result would be remarkable. Talent will be discovered, almost daily, and we will not have to wait two. centuries for the birth of a genius. They will be born much oftener than we think. Arrangements should be made in schools to let children out one hour earlier, if they take courses in art.
"When a call for instructors is issued, thousands will come. A true artist will understand this spiritual message. He will come unselfishly, sacrificing, as he always does, and he will become a spiritual educator, which for centuries was the dream of his life. Such community centers ot art will become in the near future the spiritual centers where the children will show us the light.
"The expense for the upkeep of such centers should be borne by the communities at first, later by the State or Federal governments. Billions are spent for the education m art by the people. In the beginning it is advisable to have every community share the expenses. Every family will pay gladly for the instruction of their children, such a share as is decided in their meetings. It will be always far less than what they pay at present for private instruc-tion. In the poor neighborhood, the city should pay the difference collected between what might be and the actual expenses necessary for the upkeep of such a center. Representatives in the State Senate should be immediately urged to get provisions for this work through taxation. For example, a person who has three children, under fifteen and above six, and_ who pays a Federal tax of $5,000, should pay art education taxes in proportion to this amount, and to the number of children, who will receive free instruction in all branches of art,׳ which would cost a fortune if given by private teachers. Until such a law is passed, which will doubtless take a long, long time, an immediate call for meetings in all communities should be issued, where all questions could be solved easily and instruction start without delay.”
Mr. _Lichtmann’s_ notes also detailed his schedule of instruction to_ be given in such community centers, which is interesting in itself, but may be reserved for some future time when the existence of such centers has been assured I he Master Institute of United Arts, is, in the meanwhile an example of what such a center can be made under ideal conditions. Its pupils range from beginning children up through to adults of more than middle age. Of course it
The Master Institute of United Arts, Inc., New York, is hardly more than a year old, but it is a busy institution, with an enrollment already larger ׳than the most sanguine of its founders anticipated. And the clientele is a mixed one. There are at least a dozen different nationalities represented in its classes, and almost as many among its faculty, which includes Americans, English, Russians, Swiss, French and Italians.
Prof. Nicholas Roerich, one of the foremost Russian painters, former director of the School for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Russia, is honorary president of the Institute, and its actual conduct is principally in the hands of Maurice Lichtmann, the vice president and head of the piano department, and Frances Grant, the executive director. The faculty list contains such well-known names as Felix Salmond, Deems Taylor, Ernest Bloch, Harry Spier, Professor Roerich, Adolf Bolm and Robert Edmond Jones, and the curriculum embraces music, painting and drawing, sculpture, architecture, the drama and the dance—the “Seven Arts,” as James Gibbons Huneker used to call them.
Maurice Lichtmann—who turned out to be an old acquaintance of the writer’s from the days, ten years or more ago, when he was studying with Leopold Godowsky in Vienna— spoke interestingly of the work of the school. “We like,” said he. “to have the pupils studying more than one of the arts. Of course, each artist must have his special branch, but we feel that it broadens the pupil’s view not to be entirely concentrated upon his one subject.”
"But, I suppose,” said the interviewer, “you refer to the co-related art study of rather intimately co-related arts.
Dushman Photo
MAURICE LICHTMANN,
vice president and head of the piano department of the Master Institute of United Arts, Inc.
You’ll hardly have a pupil who, for instance, combines chamber music and sculpture?”
Mr. Lichtmann smiled. “Exactly a combination that we happen to have,” said he. “It’s an elderly gentleman, too, who at last has found the time to pursue ׳the arts that have always interested him as a dilletant. The whole subject of art education is a tremendously important one today,” he went on, waxing enthusiastic. “We owe it to children to educate them in the arts, for knowledge of art
Maestro A. SEISM1T-D0DA fZ^tuL
54 West 39th Street, New York	Phone 4045 Fitz Roy
(Composer, member Royal Academy of St. Cecilia of Rome, Italy: formerly of the faculty vocal and coaching department National Conservatory of Music of New York, and of New York German Conservatory of Music. Chevalier of the Crown of Italy.)
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Photo © Lumiere, N. 1.