LEADER CONFIRMS GLEE CLUB ACTION

The withdrawal of the University Glee Club from this year's intercollegiate contest was confirmed and explained last night in a statement to the CRIMSON by G. W. Woodworth '24, acting conductor of the Glee Club for the year 1925-1926. Mr. Woodworth wished to make it particularly clear that much of the material which has appeared in the daily press, commenting on this action of the Harvard authorities, conveys a wrong impression as to the nature of the negotiations and the reasons for the decision.

Song Said to Be Inferior

"Raising the standards of music sung in college glee clubs was the avowed purpose in founding the Intercollegiate Musical Corporation, with the Harvard Glee Club as a charter member," said Mr. Woodworth. "The objection raised by Harvard this year was that the prize song, chosen by the Corporation to be sung by each contesting club, is musically of a very inferior quality. Such a choice defeats the purpose of the contest."

This selection of the corporation was "The Lamp in the West", by Hoatio Parker, formerly Professor of Music at Yale. The opinions previously expressed by Harvard music leaders, who had said that they objected to having "sentimental much" on the pogam of the competition, was said to have been completely disegarded.

Situation Occurred Before

"This difficulty over the prize song is not a new one," Mr. Woodworth continued. "In 1921 Harvard protested the prize song on the ground of its musical inferiority. At that time there were only eight clubs competing and Harvard's withdrawal would have seriously prejudiced the success of the concert. Because of this Harvard agreed to compete, with the understanding that the prize song in the future have the approval of every contesting club. This understanding with reference to unanimous consent was incorporated in the rules and regulations of the Corporation.

Another Song Requested

"The plan has worked well until this fall, when Horatio Parker's 'Lamp in the West' was announced as the prize song for the 1926 contest. Harvard immediately protested, again on the ground of musical inferiority, called attention to the unanimous consent agreement and requested that another song be chosen.

"It was made clear, contrary to statements in the daily press, that Harvard was not protesting against the simplicity of the song, but against its lack of real musical validity. And again contrary to statements in the press, it was pointed out that while Dr. Davison had promised Harvard support, he had never intimated any abrogation of Harvard's position regarding the unanimous consent rule.

"The Corporation replied that the song announced was an arbitrary selection and that Harvard must either sing it or withdraw. Under these circumstances and in view of the position which the Glee Club has consistently maintained with reference to the Intercollegiate contest since 1921, the Executive Committee felt that Harvard must withdraw from the contest. The matter was discussed most amicably with the Corporation. The decision had the approved of Dr. Davison and of the Graduate Advisory Committee of the Glee Club.