MUSIC FOR VICTORY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 9, Issue 227, 29 October 1943, Page 11

MUSIC FOR VICTORY

Suggested Programme For Concert

OST of us have thought for a moment or two of the way we would receive the news of a final victory for the United Nations; some of us, before putting the idea away again, might have actually thought out how the day should be spent. It may not have occurred to many to decide what music would be good to hear on that day, but in America an official selection for a Victory Concert has already been made. Donald Voorhees, musical conductor of one of America’s broadcasting chains, asked the U.S. State Department for suggestions for a musical programme to be played on the great day, and John M. Begg, acting chief of the Division of Cultural Relations, outlines the following programme: GERMANY: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, first five or six measures on trumpet, followed by the theme from the Choral Finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, played at first as it is in that symphony, softly, by the double basses and ’cellos; then an announcement of the occasion for which the concert is given, after which the orchestra and chorus take up the "Ode to Joy" which is the last section of "The Ninth." CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Smetana’s "My Country" ("Moldau," "From the Fields and Groves of Bohemia," etc.). CHINA: Nieh-Erh’s ‘March of the Volunteers"; "Chee Lai" ("Arise"). ENGLAND: Handel’s "Hallelujah Chorus" or a similar type of choral music by English composers (Handel was born a German) such as Purcell, Elgar, or Vaughan Williams.

FRANCE: César Franck’s "Piéce Heroique," Rouget de Lisle’s "La Marseillaise," Bizet’s "Agnus Dei," Berlioz’s "Requiem." RUSSIA: Shostakovich’s "Song of the United Nations"; Tchaikovski’s "Marche Slave," or Symphony No. 6 ("Pathétique"). UNITED STATES: . Bates’s "America the Beautiful"; Billings’s "Old Hundred"; La Touche Robinson’s "Ballad for Americans’; Payne’s "Home Sweet Home." * ¥ xe HE accompanying statement given out with the programme, says: "While developing the above outline, various aspects were taken into consideration, particularly with regard to the playing of the Chorale Finale of the Beethoven "Ninth," which is considered by many to be the greatest piece of music of the whole era of republicanism and democracy. "It was recalled that in Germany the words to Schiller’s poem ‘Ode to Joy’ used therein with reference to the brotherhood of man, were changed and finally banned by Nazi decree; hence the playing of this part of the ‘Ninth’ would seem to be exceptionally appropriate for this occasion. "In closing the programme it is suggested that reference might be made to the task that still lies ahead for the people of the United States and of the other United Nations in helping rebuild the world. The tune ‘Old Hundred’ included in the above outline, sung with organ accompaniment by a choral group, might be appropriate in this connection." In drawing up the programme, officials of the State Department consulted members of the music division of the Pan-American Union,