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The article focuses on issues related to German music. If the concert programs of the season can be safely trusted, the ban upon German music has at last been lifted. German songs are creeping back in French and English attire, instrumental favorites are coming into greater prominence and the only trace of hysteria being evidenced is that of certain symphonic conductors who are frantically hastening to overload their programs with the old, familiar classics. Music may be used as propaganda, as it was by nearly every country during the late war, but in itself it will always remain above politics.

The article presents information on the Lower Rhine Festival in Aachen. To the average foreigner the music -festivals of Germany are usually summed up by the one word, Bayreuth. To the average German, Bayreuth is only one festival out of many. Community music-making has been natural to this music-loving people ever since the thirteenth century, when Landgrave Herrmann of Thuringia held that famous competition festival on the Wartburg. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 1817, a big community festival was held , the idea spread rapidly to other towns in the Rhineland, so that when Aachen, or Aix-la-Chapelle as people call it, joined forces in 1825 with others in this annual Lower Rhine Festival.

Regaining and ending with the Missa Solemnis, Bonn has just concluded her annual tribute to her greatest son, German music composer Ludwig van Beethoven. This year the tribute became- a rite, for this year marks the centenary of his passing. For ten days hundreds of visitors have been crowding the narrow, winding streets of this famous old university town on the Rhine, while hundreds of flags of all colors have braved wind and rain to welcome them. On the evening of Sunday, May 22, earns the first concert -the Missa Solemnis, given by the local chorus and orchestra of Bonn under the city's musical director, F. Max Anton, with guest soloists from Vienna, Munich, and other cities. From a purely virtuoso standpoint, the climax of the Festival was achieved by Adolph Busch in his playing of the violin concerto. Purity of tone and musicianship, technical finish and a refreshing simplicity of manner distinguished his performance throughout.