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THE SENTINEL October 30, 1941 them have reverted to the past, writing posers." These include his "Poemes in a neo-classical vein. Juifs" (1916), "Hymn de Sion - Words and Music It may be of assistance, in search- Cantique de Jerusalem" (1925) and By DANIEL L. SCHORR ing for an answer to the question, to three psalms arranged for voice and note that Jewish composers are espe- orchestra. Even Schoenberg has among cially well represented in the field of his unpublished works on oratorio, Jews and Modern Music But in the twentieth century Jews, jazz. They have taken enthusiastically "Die Jacobsleiter," music for a stage One of the musical phenomena that while retaining their leading position to this idiom and have played an im- play, "Der Biblische Weg," and an has intrigued me has been the surpris- in the field of interpretation, have be- portant part in its development. Sid- opera "Moses and Aaron." © ingly large representation of Jews come much more important than at ney Harrison characterizes popular The ques- any time in centuries in the field of among modern composers. music in this country as "American- FREE SHORTHAND LESSON tion has come to the fore anew musical creation. Jewish-Negro Ragtime." Perhaps it is FOR SENTINEL READERS through the reading of two new books, To mention Mendelssohn, Mahler, not accidental that George Gershwin, Aaron Copland's stimulating "Our Meyerbeer, Goldmark, Offenbach and whose promising career was cut short Modern Music" (Whittelsey House) Bizet-most of whom were only near- by death, brought jazz to the highest The Institute of Modern Business and the informative "Great Modern great-is virtually to exhaust the list point it had known. Darius Milhaud announces a new interesting booklet Composers," edited by Oscar Thomp- of important Jewish composers of the used jazz in some of his work and containing the first lesson in Thomas son, scholarly music critic of the New nineteenth century. Yet, when one Kurt Weill's "Three-Penny Opera" Natural Shorthand. The lesson takes York Sun (Dodd, Mead & Co.), in comes to discuss modern music, it is employed it with great success. only about 15 minutes and includes both of which Jewish composers are difficult to imagine how present There may be another clue in Cop- instruction on how to write and read more than well represented. schools could have developed without land's remark about Milhaud, that "his simple language with this fascinating That Jews should have excelled as the influence of Arnold Schoenberg, subjectivism, his violence and his modern system. musicians is not surprising. As Sidney the father of the "new" music; Darius strong sense of logic (as displayed in "Thomas" is a character system, as Harrison pointed out in his book, Milhaud, "the most important of the his strict use of polytenality) are in- are the old systems, but differs from "Music for the Multitude," published new generation of composers in dications that the Jewish spirit is still the old in using a simple, logical last year: "Unaccustomed to work the France," to quote Copland; Ernest alive in him." If "subjectivism," "vio- method instead of depending upon land or to navigate the seas, and long Bloch, one of the most significant fig- lence," and "logic" are outstanding memorized word-signs. This gives withheld by persecution from occupy- ures on today's musical horizon; or characteristics of modern music and "Thomas" unusual flexibility. Stu- ing places of authority, the Jews gray- the host of less towering, but still im- can be identified with "the Jewish dents, who save from 1/3 to 1 the itated to those occupations that re- portant, composers, such as Arthur spirit," then we may have a partial time used to learn shorthand, find it quired few initial possessions, for Honegger, Kurt Weill, Copland him- answer. simple to adapt Thomas to a wide most of them were terribly poor. self, Louis G r u e n b e r g, Frederick variety of businesses and professions. The most plausible explanation of The experience of one graduate illus- Music is such an occupation ... In Jacobi, George Gershwin, David Dia- the Jewish role nineteenth-century in, modern music, at trates this flexibility nicely. Europe, the Jews mond and Lehman Engel. least in America, were noted lies in the fact that Margaret S. graduated three years as executants and singers In seeking the reasons for the blos- the Jews are relative newcomers to and, to a much lesser degree, as com- soming of Jewish creative activity, the ago. Her first job was with an insur- this country. In absorbing the culture ance company. It was pleasant work posers. temptation is to fashion high-sounding of a new land, they absorbed what was and she was well paid, but Margaret but valueless generalities. One might newest in it, being comparatively un- interested in chemistry; so the hampered was say that perhaps the revolutionary as- by tradition. But even this school placed her in a medical office. most likely of generalities is plagued pect of some modern music is corre- She saved her money; by exceptions. Milhaud comes of and this fall, lated with a Jewish urge towards free- a she entered the University of Illinois family which settled in France Opening November 14th dom. Pretty, but meaningless! Not in the where she is working after classes as fifteenth century, yet led a musical Attractive Early Season Rates all the Jewish composers have fol- secretary to the Dean of the Law revolt in France. Schoenberg was Europea PtPite ucha Club lowed Schoenberg in breaking the School. Her Thomas shorthand works born in a Germany whose music was bonds of traditional music; many of just as well for insurance, medical, or under the strong influence of the ro- legal dictation. To do this with any of Iv ill manticism of Beethoven and Brahms, yet managed to make the most radical the old systems, Margaret would have departure from musical tradition in needed at least two post-graduate many generations. The question shorthand courses. Get Ready needs The Free Lesson Booklet about more analysis, and by persons who will be know more about it than I do. Thomas Natural Shorthand Winter Vacation sent to any reader requesting one, for Your Of the two new books, "Great Mod- without charge -or obligation. Just ern Composers" is what might have send your name and address to Insti- been expected of the scholarly critic tute of Modern Business, 624 South - authoritative, complete, logically- Michigan Avenue, or phone Harrison arranged and a good reference book. 0082. And "Our New Music" is what might have been expected of Copland-dis- cursive, vastly stimulating, influenced STATE DEPARTMENT BACKS by his own prejudices. Each, in its INTER-AMERICAN own very different way, is highly val- CONFERENCE uable. One of the faults in Copland's book New York, Oct. 27 (JPS) - The is the glaring lack of a section on American State Department has given Ernest Bloch, who is dismissed with a its full backing to the Inter-American few passing references. Thompson's Jewish Conference representing the book has an excellent chapter on Jewish communities of North, Central Bloch written by Marion Bauer, which and South America, Dr. Stephen S. stresses his Jewish inspiration and his Wise, president of the American Jew- "powerful and prophetic personality." ish Congress, announced when he re- vealed the plans of the Conference to T . As is well known, Bloch is the most Jewish-conscious of the modern com- the press this week. posers. In Marion Bauer's words, he Emphasizing that the Conference to The Sentinel conducts a very complete Travel Bureau Service be held in Baltimore on November 23, with the most up-to-date information about every resort and is, more than any other composer, a 24, and 25 will mark the first time in link between the far-distant past and Bureau has the latest rates, conveniences history that Jews from all over this hotel in America. The the enigmatical future." and other necessary information. hemisphere will meet to discuss Jewish However, other composers less con- issues, Dr. Wise pointed out that the We gladly furnish this information and will send you sciously Jewish, have at times turned forty to fifty Latin American, ten beautiful folders upon request. Then if you desire to make to Jewish themes. Copland, whose Canadian and one hundred American delegates will deal with the problem advantageous reservations, write or phone family name was Kaplan and who was born in Brooklyn, has written a study facing European Jewry, the Jews in on a Jewish melody called "Vitebsk." Palestine and the matter of unifying Arthur Honegger has among his works Jewry in North and South America. The SENTINEL TRAVEL BUREAU Dr. Nahum Goldmann, executive di- the dramatic psalm, "Le Roi David," "Another FREE Sentinel Service" rector of the World Jewish Congress, and the biblical opera, "Judith." In said that prominent American states- 511 SOUTH SANGAMON STREET MONROE 2900 certain of Milhaud's works, critics men, as yet unnamed, will speak at the Jack Feldman, Manager have found "a strong trace of the historic meetings. It was stressed that composer's Jewish extraction," writes Zionist leaders are scheduled to play Gilbert Chase in "Great Modern Com- an important part in the Conference..

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