Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 259, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1919 — MUSIC COURSES FOR AMERICANS [ARTICLE]

MUSIC COURSES FOR AMERICANS

France Establishes Summer Conservatory in Palace of Fontainebleau; sasses^— .Hi : SUGGESTED BY BANDMASTER School Will Be Conducted for Benefit of Students of Both -Sexes Who Have Been Studying at American Conservatories. Paris. —An American conservatory of music soon will be established at Fontainebleau as the result of the action of the Fontainebleau municipal council, which voted a subvention of 190.000 francs for the creation of the TVurduy Mr. Francis Casadesus, prescient and -conductor of the Paris orchestra,Dand the French minister of public instruction has set aside for the school' the Louis XV wing of the national palace of Fontainebleau. It will be a summer school and the first session will begin July 1, 1920. Mr. Casadesus spent seven months at Chaumont, the American headquar- ; ters of the A. E. F., teaching, instrumentation at the American army bandmasters' and musicians’ school created by Walter Dainrosch at the request of-General Pershing.

Suggested by Casadesus. Mr. Casadesus first conceived the Idea of the school after the American school at Chaumont completed its work. He planned to place the courses of the National Conservatory of Music in Paris at the disposal of the Americans. His friends discouraged the ideg on the theory that Paris, with all its attractions, was not the proper place to study music, as the temptations to waste time were too many for students. Following a recent meeting .between Mr. Casadesus and Mr. Fragnaud, subprefect of Fontainebleau and a great lover of music, the historic place, was selected. The municipal council unanimously voted the 100,000 francs, which will be added to by French donations to be expended for proper lodging and board facilities.

The school will be conducted for the benefit of students of both sexes who have been stpdying at American i l .'.nod who sire to perfect their studies in France sors will be those of the staff of the National Conservatory of Music in Paris, and students will be able. through conipetitioik to get high French awards equivalent to those given at the Taris conservatory. The courses will last three months —July. August and September—and will include musical composition, harmony, orchestra leading, counterpoint and fugue, organ, piano, violin, violincello. voice and harp. Students it? those courses may also enter competition for the Paris grand prize for musical composition. Competition Every Year. those pupils who have followed the course in a musical composition and have passed rigid tests will be eligible. The trials will last six days. The rilles of the Paris conservatory, which are most severe, will be rigorously enforced. The' definite admission to the competition will be given October 2, and the selection of competitors will begin on October 5 During that time the contestants will not be allowed to see or communicate with any one. They will be rigorously Isolated and their correspondence will be -opened. The' work demanded will be one of the following: An allegro for symphony. a symphonic poem, a cantata for three voices and orchestra, a sonata for violin and piano or for violincellp and piano. The hearing .of jtbe compositions will be held In the concert hall of the Paris conservatory in December. At the end of the hearing, which will be open to the public. the awards will be made. Tuition for the summer school will be $64 a month. The school will be able to furnish room and board for 200 students at from S7O to $75 a fijonth. An additional 100 students c&n be accommodated ,-on condition that they find their own living arrangements. A course in musical history will be obligatory, but all other courses may be followed according tc choice, c ‘