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4-2191 FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION For Release to Newspapers Sunday, December 22, 1940 CHRISThAS CAROLS TO BE FF..ATURZD BY 500 WPA MUSICAL UNITS DURilJG HOLIDAY Ten thousand WPA musicians will bring an added measure of joy to the Christmas season in many parts of the country t h is year through one of tti.e ·most extensive Christmas music programs ever fostered under government auspices, Mrs. Flor ence Kerr, Assistant WPA Co mmissioner in charge of profe ssional and service projects, said today. Units of the WPA Music Program, operating in 40 stat es, New York City, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are all cooperating to the end of making this a mueical Christmas, she explained. For weeks, orchestras, bands and choral groups composed of WPA musicians, or community groups coached by them have be en rehearsing Christmas numbers almost exclusively. In the days immediately preceding Christmas they will give hundreds of performances in schools, hospitals and public institutions; at community Christmas tree celebrations and as roving carolers on Christmas Eve. To an even greater extent than previously, Mrs. Kerr continued, this year's WPA Christmas music program will represent widespread community cooperation. With the WPA Music Program now operating under local sponsorship, as distinct from its former status as a Federally sponsored project, she said, there is greater local interest and :Q~+l:ilz~~j>ation in its activities. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Marzyr-i~ll!looi ty sings, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY 4-2191 - 2 - pageants and othe r large-scale Christrnas observances have been scheduled this year around the local WPA music project as a nucleus . In Oklahoma, where 200 communities are provided with free WPA music instruction throughout the year, the Tour 11 has become an annual custom. 11 Christmas Carol From the many WPA music centers choirs and small instrumental groups wander through the towns 9ausing for brief serenades at the homes of the ill, the aged and poor and at ~ublic hospitals and instituti ons . In Newark, New Jersey, an ocJera trou:oe comuosed of WPA musicians is now reheP.rsing the famous children I s opera, Gretel, 11 for presentation during the holidays . 11 Hansel and Another Christmas offering for children of especial interest is the adaptation of "Los Pastores, 11 an ancient Spanish reli gious -play , which is now being made ready by WPA workers in Albuoueraue , Boston Common , on Christmas Eve , will resound with the singing of old English madrigals under the leg,dership of WPA music project workers. At the State School for Boys , in Maine, the inmates will participate in a Christmas pageant prepared for them and rehearsed by WPA musi c instructors. CCC cam9s, Army cantonments and }Taval shore st qtions in many parts of the country will likewise enjoy t he Christmas music of W PA bands , orchestras and singers . Mrs , Kerr added that a-p·, roxirnately 500 individual WPA music uni ts, numbering about 10,000 persons , would ta.ke r.>art in Christmas celebrations this year, Included are 18 full-size symph ony orchestras, 60 bands numbering from 20 to 60 members each , over 100 concert orchestras and numerous choral grouns of various sizes. ---oOo--Digitized by Original from NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
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