COLLEGE GLEE

The decision recently announced by the University Glee Club to confine their Boston programs to joint presentations with other organizations as they have combined in the past with the Radcliffe Choral Society is a significant commentary upon the public reception accorded them in recent years. For it has been avowed by various members of the organization that the scanty audiences of the past have made a combined program more desirable from a standpoint of general reception aside from finances.

If this is the case, it is unfortunate that the high quality performance that has largely developed under the leadership of Dr. Davison should face the possibility, however general this possibility always is, of empty seats before them. Dr. Davison has performed a Herculean task in educating a great number of Harvard men to the enjoyment of high class choral music. His inspiring leadership has been common knowledge to those who have come in contact with him or with his pupils.

But unfortunately Dr. Davison's performance has been uncompromising in its idealism. Thus far, he has failed to educate the general public up to the level of his chorus. He has proved that the term "college glee club" does not necessarily imply the group of barber shop choristers of a decade ago; but, he has proved these things only to a small group of more or less sophisticated music lovers, whose appreciation already educated to the level of classic music is reached to the height of satisfaction.

Meanwhile the traditional John Harvard among the graduates has been overlooked . . . "Good old John of the Class of '96 whose presence has been assured only by the name of Harvard and the possibility of meeting classmates and friends . . . and whose appreciation of music is limited to an enthusiastic tingling at the sound of a few old familiar football and drinking songs.

And after all, it is often this old graduate who makes up a considerable proportion of the audience, the gate receipts and in general the solid support of the Glee Club.

It seems apparent therefore that unless the Glee Club is more willing in the future to recognize this taste among graduates, a taste that also exists among other undergraduates, it is indeed doomed to joint programs and dwindling, however sophisticated, audiences. The educational program that Dr. Davison has so nobly pushed ahead is indeed a commendable step, but if the public is still to be drawn in anticipation of collegiate glee, a compromise must be forthcoming.