The Prison Mirror

THIS I BELIEVE....

Musician Finds All Achievements Must Be In Gigantic Storehouse For Human Needs

Stan Kenton, pianist, composer and radio orchestra leader, who brought about a new concept of jazz, reveals his personal philosophy.

This is one of a series of statements by thinking, useful people in all walks of life. "This I Believe" appears in this paper every Thursday and is presented by Edward R. Murrow over radio station WCCO at 9:25 p.m. Monday through Friday.

by STAN KENTON

I am at present 41 years of age. It is difficult to even imagine what changes will come about within me in the rest of my life that lies ahead. My values and the justification of my theories concerning the existence of mankind are the results of my education and experiences as I have lived to this day.

My only and real concern is the development of humanity in all phases. Humanity is a vast all-encompassing term, applied to all of the peoples of not only my country but of the entire world.

Because the essence of the laws of nature is growth and development, change is positive and always for a better state of being. It is necessary for all effort and endurance in every phase of achievement to be thrown into one gigantic storehouse to be used as humanity's needs are made evident.

Man is most complex. There are three parts of him which must grow evenly and steadily. Some things contribute to his spiritual development and others to his intellectual set and necessary also are his needs for emotional growth.

No one part of our life can lead to the others for very long without having to be detained to wait for the development of the rest that must be a part of the over all growth for everyone.

My work pertains to the art of music, the music peculiar to the modern world of music.

I have found that I believe more appreciative of the art in developed sensitivities that broadened my awareness of other things.

Music is food for the emotion and greater demands are being made on it constantly. We are reaching deeper into our inner selves. As time moves on, the emotional hunger can only be satisfied by music that constantly challenges.

I want to be a part of this creative need in all the desire for fresh music.

A most reassuring thought to me personally is that in creating and performing in my own field, I am actually helping to condition people to accept growth in other phases of their development, and by the same function of others in this tremendously involved mechanism of humanity, I gain and grow to another level along with the rest of mankind.

To attempt to list in itemized form all of the varied contributions made to all people by individual effort would be totally futile. It is consolation enough to know that every moment is being used to help make the world better for those that are a part of it.

Each man works and contributes in his own way and all effort somehow is a part of the total gain of all.

All I have and enjoy today was given me by those that came before. My music would not be such without the music created in the past.

My strong obligation is to those with whom I live and to those that come after me. I must help through my music to make life more rich in emotional awareness.

In my field of endeavor I am attempting to replace the conventional type of hackneyed material with a more contemporary form of music that will more nearly satisfy the need of today.

In considering the vastness of mankind since the beginning of time no one can possibly believe that his generation or his personal self is most important than any other period or person since the beginning of humanity's existence. No one person or group of people can live happily without the help of others. Regardless of the differences of individual purpose we are dependent upon each other. What I have stated so far is the philosophy that propels me. Without these things I can see no reason for tomorrow. This I Believe.