WARSAW TO ‘EDUCATE’ STREET MUSICIANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 August 1948, Page 2

WARSAW TO ‘EDUCATE’ STREET MUSICIANS

WARSAW,

Warsaw’s street musicians are to be “nationalised”. The Polish Federation of Artists and Composers, on the grounds that it is disturbed by the lack of planned co-ordination discernible in the wayward tastes of itinerant players, is to have them all registered and educated in the selection of repertoires. After that, they will be “screened” by a professional body and those found guilty of “prostituting art” will not be allowed to continue. Those who survive the test will be permitted to remain as a “factor popularising light music.” The federation will appeal to the' Ministry of Public Administration for the “legalisation” of those fortunate troubadours who meet the requirements of “popular democratic musical taste.” Only 70 street musicians have registered, M. J. Rudnicki, directoi of the Artists and Composers’ Federation stated recently, adding: “It appears that the others are trying to evade registration.'’ When asked, the diiector said that he did not think it desirable that street musicians should disappear from the towns of Poland as it is “common knowledge that a song is frequently born on the streets,” On the other hand, they should receive correct guidance, be assisted in the perfection of theii trade and should be carefully advised i in the selection of repertoires. ! Registration would also mean the ■ control of licences, he said. Ihe edu- ! cation of street musicians would begin this autumn with the issue of free music-scores, said M. Rudnicki, who added that special premises will be opened by the federation for courses designed to raise the artistic level of public performers.