The recent release of Classical Music Reference Library has some very interesting primary documents related to music in America, including historical documents related to politics and music.
Below is an excerpt from testimony at the House of Representatives concerning an inquiry into Hanns Eisler, a German composer and noted student of Arnold Schoenberg. The Committee on Un-American Activities was investigating whether Mr. Eisler's actions while at the New School for Social Research, where he taught music, were considered communist.
The Chairman: Mr. Eisler, the Chair wishes to direct you to remain in the United States.
Stripling: Mr. Appell, were you directed by the Committee to make an investigation as to Mr. Eisler's status as a visiting lecturer and professor with the New School for Social Research in New York?
Appell: I was, sir.
Stripling: I may say, Mr. Chairman, the purpose of Mr. Appell's testimony is to show that Mr. Eisler's position with the New School for Social Research was used merely as a subterfuge in order for him to remain here.
Appell: On May 2, 1935, Dr. Alvin Johnson, the director of the school, wrote Eisler that he was appointed visiting professor of music for the academic year 1935–36. On March 29, 1938, Dr. Johnson, with the apparent purpose of qualifying Eisler as a non-quota visa applicant, changed Eisler's status from lecturer in music to professor in music. In this letter, Dr. Johnson stated that the New School and its students were so enthusiastic over his work as a visiting lecturer that they wanted him to remain permanently. Mr. Chairman, with respect to this appointment which was prompted by the overwhelming enthusiasm of the New School and its students, I should like to refer to the pay record and attendance cards of the New School for Social Research in substantiation of the over-whelming enthusiasm. In the two courses conducted by Eisler from October 5, 1935 to January 18, 1936, no more than eight students attended the course of Musical Composition, and only three attended the course on the Crisis of Modern Music. . . . When Dr. Johnson wrote the letter prompted by the overwhelming enthusiasm, Eisler had seven students attending the lecture on Musical Composition, one student attending the lecture on Counterpoint, with the third course having been cancelled after the first lecture.
Stripling: Mr. Chairman, a number of the songs which Mr. Eisler composed the music for, the words were provided by Bertolt Brecht, who will be one of the witnesses in the Hollywood investigation, who is a Communist. Did your investigation disclose that Bertolt Brecht has also been brought to this country in a similar manner by the New School?
Appell: Apparently, he was.
Rankin: Mr. Appell, would you say this was a Communist school of instruction?
Appell: No sir, I do not say that it is a Communist school.
Rankin: It was spreading Communist propaganda?
Appell: I have no evidence that the school itself has put out any Communist propaganda, but I know that the members of the faculty of the New School for Social Research are very prominently displayed in our files.
Rankin: Do you know whether or not Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt was familiar with this situation when she urged the admission of Hanns Eisler into the United States?
Appell: I do not, Sir.
Rankin: Did you read her recent article in the Ladies Home Journal?
Appell: No sir, I haven't.
Rankin: It is the most insulting communistic piece of propaganda that was ever thrown in the faces of the women of America. I am just wondering if she was familiar with all of this Communist infiltration when she was trying to get Hanns Eisler into the United States.
Appell: I do not know that, Sir.
Rankin: I want to point out that her action was not official. She did not represent the party in power in trying to get these Communists returned or readmitted to the United States. And she certainly doesn't represent the better element of the American people in this Communist propaganda that she has written in the Ladies Home Journal.
