Word: munching
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...more informed circles, most people are optimistic. A few members of Harvard's Music Department are looking for-ward to Munch's arrival with frank relief. And while this attitude may not be characteristic of most members of the Department, it is certain that almost all those who have heard Munch conduct predict a great deal of fresh, interesting music for Boston audiences next year...
...Munch's training for a musical career started almost from his birth. This event took place at Strasbourg in 1891 at a time when the Alsace was part of Germany. But, as Munch explains it, "true Alsatians have always remained French, as the country itself has remained a French province ..." His father, Ernest Munch, was organist at Strasbourg, professor at its Conservatory, and founder of the celebrated choir of St. Guillaume. The organist of that church at one time was Albert Schweitzer, author of the great work on Bach. He is a relative and close friend of Munch, and participated...
...Munch received an extensive musical education from his parents, but this was directed towards his becoming a violinist, not a conductor. It was not untill relatively late in life that he began to conduct. In 1919, Munch was appointed professor at the Conservatory and concertmaster of the Municipal Orchestra in his native city--Strasbourg. This orchestra is now conducted by his brother Fritz...
During the Second World War, Munch faced the same problems which confronted all musicians in occupied countries, and came up with what many people consider the most intelligent solution. To protect the members of his orchestra, he was obliged to continue conducting and thus keep a foreign conductor out. He defended his musicians from possible capture by the Germans on political grounds, and did not allow investigations of religious or racial backgrounds. At first he refused to conduct before Nazi audiences at all, but when obliged to go so, he accepted his fees and turned them over to the Resistance...
...occupation gave Munch his chance to get the world-wide reputation he did not have time to acquire before 1939. He was the first conductor invited across the Channel, and soon after he was touring Europe, South America, Palestine, and Egypt...