Exceptional Records in the FBI Case Files
Jul 18th, 2008 by sharbrough
THE FBI IN ACTION
Most of these files only include the 7 pages. If you were to find one of them, you’d be a wealthy researcher, in terms of the richness of the information you found. Footnote has over a thousand of these files in the FBI Case Files, which include hundreds of thousands of cases. But in the case of Freddy Stock, the file has more pages. Lots more.
Several pages dated 28 Feb 1919 recount an investigation, begun by reviewing the cases of several German players in Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The file is even handed, matter-of-factly reporting the names of the persons questioned, and their comments. It’s fascinating reading, including the report that, prior to 1914, the language of the Orchestra was German. Most of the players were Germans, most of the music was in German, and it was nothing notable. After the war began, Stock changed the language to English. These notes include mention that Stock was being reinstated, made a director of The Orchestral Association, and that he would take the baton that evening in a concert to celebrate his return.
The file also includes a copy of Stock’s original Registration as Enemy Alien, which I seldom find with the Applications.
NATIONALISM IN MUSIC
You might have strong feelings about nationalism. There are some thinkers today who believe that we will look back in 100 years and view nationalism as an uninformed viewpoint – that accidents of geography don’t give us common interests. Perhaps in their view, all of the people with an incurable curiosity about snails might have more in common than all of the people who live in the Happy Valley. Most people like to join something, to be part of something bigger than they are. Whether a nation is a grandfalloon or a “false karass,” as Vonnegut would put it, is not the point. I’m not sure about the next hundred years, but I can see that nationalism has a special place in the culture of formal music.
I spent some time, years ago, studying music at the University of North Texas. There was emphasis on national anthems there. One of our profs was Czech, and we had to sing the Czech National Anthem in solfege, which I found easier than singing it in Czech. We were also expected to know the American national anthem in solfege.
Every musician, at one time, included his national anthem in his repertoire (epitomized by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock). When the Texas Rangers baseball team opened their new ballpark in Arlington, Texas in 1995, the first game was preceded by a performance by Van Cliburne, the famous pianist. A son of East Texas, the guy is tall and thin, and has hands about the size of a first baseman’s mitt.
One of the interviews conducted by the FBI turned up this note: Stock included the American national anthem in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra repertoire. This was a big deal, but without knowing something of the traditions of performers and anthems, this might not carry the same import for the reader, such as an FBI man.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Frederick A Stock led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 37 years, until his death in 1942. They developed a signature brass sound that can be heard in recordings made as early as 1916, when Stock’s was the first american orchestra to make recordings under its conductor.
HOW ABOUT ME?
Next time you find a few free minutes, try a search through the FBI case files. You may not find an Application for Exception to Classification of Enemy Alien for someone you know. Experiment with the wild cards for name spellings, and see if you don’t find something that you had no inkling about.
[...] all about Beau’s discovery of Exceptional Records in the FBI Case Files from his [...]
How can one access these files? I have a grandfather who may have had to register.
If you are not familiar with Footnote.com, Roshyn, then just point your browser to http://www.Footnote.com, and type your grandfather’s name in the search box. You never know what you’ll find!