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Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen from City Hall Plaza W N Y C brings you a special broadcast of the official reception of Ghana's that my birth merits proclaimed today as American music to symbolize the first night of the young Texas musician band library this is not only is the first time in the city's history that it is Asian and of course it's on a ticker tape parade which started earlier the battery winding up and you can hear the music in the background as the band that preceded the cars of honor and marking students on their way before the bandstand here at city hall plaza just a few minutes Merah but I'm back now with Mr Viber and deliver the principal address. Today is twenty theory three year old Van Cliburn makes his case that he's doing away between the glass and stone towers of lower Manhattan up to City Hall he culminates a month of incredible excitement and achievement. A little over a month ago told young Texan was known only to a limited number of interested people and he has a core of those who made note of his victory in the one nine hundred fifty four at Graham love interest Foundation Awards his Juilliard scholarship award and his untitled of their from to play with the New York I'm on a can one special concert. But these awards are won by young musicians every year who pays any attention and how many of them become national figures just a few months ago Mr Van Cliburn was another young gifted American musician seriously studying his trade hoping to make his mark in a highly competitive field where there are many many talented youngsters very very few who gained national let alone international recognition. And back in April the likening struck with the support of those who had faith in Him fans will raise to support man Cliburn and a trip to Moscow where as the guest of the Soviet government was to participate in the International Tchaikovsky competition one of the most severe tests of musicianship in the world he would compete with gifted young. Farmers from all over the world and from that point forward Mr Van Cliburn lost his obscurity as well as the Mr in front of his name.

Emerging as the winner of the Tchaikovsky competition a matter of history at this point and the toast of Moscow the sensation of the international music world the name Van Cliburn the came front page news the young man from Kilgore Texas USA had become a national hero. The R. and adulation that Americans ordinarily reserved for Sportsman explorers military heroes men of action now for the first time in history were awarded to a native son accomplishment was not pitching a no again in the World Series winning a piano contest in Russia. This week returning to America after winning the I'm given admiration of the people of Moscow and my brain was faced with what it may have been even more critical task than his victory over C. he had the basis on countryman and live up to the incredible build up that preceded him. Hear the music in the background these are schoolchildren. This is about the bones of one of the high school. I think that was Samuel Gompers high school that. I was we were saying last night that Cliburn face this test the accuracy when coming back in this country. Right before a packed house and. An audience which included perhaps his severest judge and notables of the music world and professional critics of the press. And the question on everyone's lips was is he really that good last night and climber and again a repeat performance of the concert which won him the Tchaikovsky award namely check out Steve's first and Ronnie nothing yet. We will try to compete with a citizen of the moment Welcome to you with one of the selection of the most. I know. That was a band of from the old opera high school. I could make out the name on the drum head. As we were saying last night.

Mr Van Cliburn a Van Cliburn as he is now known or sometimes simply as Cliburn. Gave his performance at Carnegie Hall to a packed house and hear the words of a New York Times music critic in this morning's paper of the morning after we will read part of the review its case you haven't read it. Ross pomander writes Van Cliburn as tall as the top edge of the Upward tilted lid of his grand piano faced a major test last night of Carnegie Hall he played for the first time in his own country after being catapulted to the worldwide fame by winning the International Tchaikovsky competition in Russia his test was one of manner of musicianship a technical skill of temperament and of interpretive inside. Both those who have backed him in this country and the Russians were right he is a major talent says the critic in the New York Times something else emerged to the critic goes on although the Texas pianist is only twenty three he is already impressive both as a human being and as an artist and surely the two things are not unrelated listening to him play the rock mining off last night one felt that it had been his devotion to his art that has held him steady throughout the enormous adulation that has been heaped upon him since his victory in Moscow on April thirteenth. In the distance this parade that is winding its way through Lower Manhattan coming forward to. The Plaza City Hall one can hear. Reams and voices that mark the arrival of the car of honor and I don't think it will be very long before Mr Van Cliburn and his honor guard will be right in our midst. This young man is receiving a tickertape treatment of the honor of New York City the storing on. The honor that New York City ordinarily bestows on Heroes statesmen kings and queens the city of New York Medal of Honor of the scroll for distinguished and exceptional service. You see the honor guard is approaching. By the way afterwards after this reception Van Cliburn is scheduled to appear at the world of the star in a special luncheon in his honor there will be speeches and perhaps Specter and anticipated that Mr Cliburn will reward his audience an example of that and she does that. From an. Invitation to microphones will be there and will be tape recording this event will broadcast later tonight there is a cry you can hear in the background of a toddler first running before the car and there is a sedan Cliburn a tall young man six foot four and he looks tall as the study up there is gasping his shaking his head he has a towel so sad he had. Had such part of his hearty shaking his head he looked absolutely stunned by this whole performance but hear them in the background although the time now during which we talk of his will take pictures of the car in which Mr cyber in the raw stuff right in front of the bandstand trying to make out who was in the car with him I think yes Mary's there. And he looks just like his pictures. Very pale. And he's been through some ordeal in the last month not only in the concert that followed his victory at their Tchaikovsky competition. But then his trip back to this country by playing. A concert he gave last night and I understand he has made a number of television. Agreements he will be here on television. And you can just imagine watching. Maelstrom of world for this young man's life as because. It is really quite extraordinary that in the face of all of this he was able to give up the bill before him and the caliber he gave last night it wasn't just a good performance as the critics have it it was quite. Ordinary this man is gifted and I think the Times critic put it very well when he said it was his devotion to his art which is enabled this young man to hold steady and true the face of all the competition. Of the excitement around him. I wish I could visualize for you the. Way the plaza looks here surrounded completely surrounded not only by the focus of course out of the the buildings in this neighborhood. But we have schoolchildren all over the city. Because invited to participate in the demonstration for the piano our music school music departments of the public school system of New York City organizations such as Magnum That's the American Guild of musical artists. American Guild of the RIAA the artists act an equity local radio to American Federation of Musicians representatives of such distinguished music organizations of the Metropolitan Opera so C.H. in the film on the side of New York the national orchestral Association the City Center Opera the little orchestra society the music education League the National Federation of music clubs. All the list goes on. The New York committee of young audiences of Columbia artists Management Incorporated R.C.A. Victor records ASCAP broadcast music incorporated and the. Bandstand is still with notables not only dignitaries the city government but many well known outstanding names in the world of music now today we have made a note of some of the names of people here. What is happening here comes Mr Van Cliburn the youngster there you know I got him right he's the only right back at the talkative of you shaking hands with people a great amount of sleep a monster the state podium. And he's graciously indicating that one of his friends go before him. Oh that is Mr Carroll Kondrashin the Soviet conductor who was brought from the Soviet Union to this country to conduct a performance that was given last night a kind of hall and some of the other performances that are due to be given during this period. He has just. Given a hug and a kiss to his mother and father who are here from Kilgore Texas to witness this extraordinary. Arising of their son from a hard studying young obscure pianist into a man who has achieved international thing. Some of the people on me dance and. Who are here to honor Van Cliburn all Regina Resnick a world famous Metropolitan Opera. Star who was. Performed in two careers both a soprano and of control Tony Abbott Bogan a former. One of the outstanding young pianists of our day here in this country. Mark Schubert the dean into the Art School of Music also William Schumann. The president of Juilliard School and I'm a newbie president local eight o two in just a moment I think we're going to turn the microphone over the platform I hear them here's Mr Patterson. Yesterday. Mr Pattison is not quite ready but just watching there's so many things going on on the bandstand it's hard to say he'll take it in a moment. You hear the cheering. Really this is quite extraordinary. There are so many kids here from all over the city but there is no Here's Mr Patterson. Letting them gentlemen's boys and girls please. Well you know all John and saying our national anthem. Who has. The newsgroup who. Suffered a tough no. Thank you enough. Not to. Know. Thousand. Number. You want to mention that the music is supplied by the sanitation department band now back to the platform and Commissioner Patterson of the cavalry Baptist Church Let us pray our God in our father we come into my presence with sighing for Hearts for all that is ours that tonic I am now has blessed us abundantly now has given us music to appreciate. It is an expression of joy that comes from the heart and we thank the for our honored guest today Van Cliburn for the talents of Honestly stowed upon him and we thank the as well for the fizz dedication of life. Might that filled with purpose to bring honor to his create are we would ask our Father that even though that they be one filled with great celebration and great happiness we would pray that this might be a day of reckoning even in his own life that he might acknowledge die handiwork in his behalf continue to bless and to guide this great city and all of us and others in the that have such responsible provisions. Make us aware of Sipar our. And through the Lord Jesus Christ died on our Savior we realize that life can be meaningful. Life us now for this side. In the name of our redeemer we pray. Amen. Mr klavern. Mr Mann members of the vote of aspirin. Mr and Mrs I have a crab and. Mr Darling Reverend Hamilton. Ladies and gentlemen. Today we pay tribute to an artist and an American. Whose unique gifts as a father to enter national understanding and go to well. The arts speak a language that is understood by the peoples of all nations. May provide areas of mutual interest and understanding. What can be. A friendly approach to solving. Problems. Today. Turns out. And through him his parents his teachers and supporters devotion to music and faith in him made possible his musical achievements. If you will hear from Van Cliburn very shortly. At this time I would like to present the well known and United Nations singers. You. If you. If you. If you. Do. If you. Do. If you know. You. Eat. A. The the the say. That the who. You. Know who. Yeah yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ah. The. Words of the preamble of the United Nations. Thank you very much united nations. To Russia. He is head of the American National Fair and academy and is going abroad on behalf of President Eisenhower's and our national cultural exchange program last week he received the Medal of the city of New York for a major saving can cultural contributions I have the privilege of presenting Mr Robert W. Dowling. Thank you Mr Ambassador Mr Mann. Mr Try been the strongest Yes ladies and gentlemen I have here. You can well say a great many messages I will not be able to read all of them but I want you to know from whom they come these are messages from groups to Mr Cliburn and and they come from many of them are citations resolutions they come from these following groups fascist foundations young audiences incorporated Local eight hundred one American Federation of Musicians Juilliard School of Music international recreation Association American Veterans Committee New York region the city center of Music and Drama how long they are university the Metropolitan Opera Association Hunter College fund a college up or association the music department of out of college American Guild of musical artists and many many others if they didn't gentleman and a claim. So midst of fraud have been as it was. Every music student in our great city until those wonderful musicians who peach our young people like Janet say do great attributes still miss that live and not only for his musical accomplishments but for his wall find friendly American spirit and which he has brought all of us in New York near us to the peoples of well thank you very much. Thank you Mr Chairman Dowling. I would like not to present far. A bow just a few of the many people that have been instrumental in aiding. Van Cliburn the dean of the Juilliard School of Music who was in Russia when Van Cliburn won the Chekhov scale art Dr Mark Cuban art. And I know as how that's a great deal in this setting and always deserves credit the president of all call a tow to the American Federation of Musicians an O.T.. They distinguish pianist master constant King. The director of the car screws Foundation who show fan scholarship was awarded to vend Cliburn Dr Stephen mitzvoth. The Mr Chan of Holland the president of the ADA said tilt of International Education the organization of which brought them Cliburn to attention of the Rockefeller Foundation. Thank. The vice. Chairman of the lab and a president of the Julliard School of Music and a distinguished American composer Dr William Sherman thank. The. Distinguished composer author and critic Mr Abrams tank and. Thanks finally and. Just about most important of all the parents of our guest of honor Mr and Mrs Harvey current war. All right thank you and the vice chairman of today's program I think is on the up here Mr Frederick Richmond. Thanks probably miss somebody I generally do I hope not my heart's in the right place but I wait a minute by dialing to do that. And it is my. My my my I I told you. All right. My astro. At a gas producing Congressman what toll rate talk for a craftsman. Very general general that's your I'm very fond of the whole. It's a darling has given a Russian greeting to Maestro Congress in. Thanking him for the promise last night because our translator with the technical supply for us yours with the dollar and the take with those who speak Russian I have to add in English that's Translated this means it's done with a great conductor grunt Russian troops conducted so magnificently and Carnegie Hall last evening. And Carol Congress in a second about one man. Commission a partisan attack at the microphone I also find that Mr Aquino Resnick of the Metropolitan Opera is here. Ladies and gentlemen the final speaker is the man of New York his father. As father used to take him to the operand symphony when he was a pawn and he has loved music ever since the Honorable Robert F.. And backed up Patterson. Guest of Honor Mr Cliburn. As wonderful parents. Dr Hamilton Bob Dowling distinguished guests and ladies and. On behalf of the people of the city of New York I am delighted to. Participate in the ceremonies honoring the city's guest of honor today the outstandingly gifted young pianist by Brant. It was a Among the noblest are concentrated by the human spirit its power to enrich our lives is unique and universal but the Cliburn has just demonstrated what it can do in helping to eliminate the barriers that sometimes arise between people of different nations and cultures and we are observing the same warming phenomenon in the enthusiastic reception given our fellow man except in the in South America I was said he is an old friend to the best good music. I metropolitan New York City Center opera companies are among the lyrical faders in the world and the churches museums and music schools of the city constantly present splendid. Music much of it without charge to the public eye. City government make special provision for young audiences an organization devoted to the cultivating. Good music in our school till. Today. As is the genius of a young American from Texas he is a distinct product of our American way of life educated in public school and first. Piano Teacher kills our Texas. Happened. Later. He received his advanced training at the Juilliard School here in New York and it is my honor now to play Van Cliburn New York City and to present to him the. Now. Present. Mayor of the city of New York still here by sight for the greatest an exceptional service. Outstanding American pianist who has been honored with the highest. His country had to offer a dedicated artist who struck a chord with resoundingly around the world and proclaimed the high culture of the United States as well as the suburban contributions and achievement of our nation's teachers are. An inspiration to write and. Goodwill. Cultural barriers among the peoples of the world and witnessed here on. The sale of the. Effect. I present this to. What the law and effect. Million people in the. Next what you hear will be that Van Cliburn is at the microphone having just received a scroll of Honor from the mayor of New York City. Of course all of you can't possibly ever imagine. Just what this means to me. That my own dear friend. And my American. Would be so kind to me. Because in something. Which is so. Wonderful. That music. You don't feel. So much. There is you feel more responsibility than ever and yet you feel that you can take the least credit with something like music. I actually shall always remember this day and know. That it was not to me that all of this happened. But to the fact. That music is a language and a message. That we can all have at our disposal that we can all enjoy. And it is our bounden duty to make the most of our facilities. That we have so very great in abundance. In this country. And I also say. That it was a wonderful thing yes to go to the Soviet Union. I was sent by this country. And. I. Wish only. That you the American people. Could have been with me every moment and every step. To have seen the wonderful heart warming love and affection that was given to me only because I happen to have been a person through whom there came a message could happen to anyone believe me. But people in emotions and matters of the heart of the same the world over. And of course at this time I want so publicly to thank my dear friend here real patrol which conditions for being more than a conductor and almost more than a friend to me during my stay. There were many moments great exhaustion and he was always there a great and wonderful friend and as you know because we as Americans are very loyal when we have friends even in international boundaries. For me not only curio but a few other people I have math and grown to love it is like hands across the sea their everlasting friendship never to be broken. But from all of this I want to thank. All of the officialdom of New York City and most especially because he is the head Mayor Wagner. And the press. And all of the people. Who played an important part in making this possible I shall never forget and I only hope that I shall always be worthy of. This wonderful memory I thank you. Now finally. Taking pictures of the mayor and. The guest of honor. I. What is it I want to do on behalf of the. Members of the on. High school orchestra and chorus. Play They have a citation they want to present the Van Cliburn and I'm going to get them up here. Ladies and gentlemen you've been listening to the city's official reception for pianist Van Cliburn you heard the address of Mr Cliburn and we might mention that this address was off because it was not a prepared address he spoke the words that can to him as he stood in front of the platform at City Hall Plaza Commissioner Richard C. Patterson Jr presided and the chairman was Robert W. downing the honorary chairman Mayor Wagner who made the presentation. Shortly the whole entourage will go to the world up a story for a luncheon in the honor of Mr Cliburn our microphones will be there we will not broadcast it we will tape recorded for broadcast tonight at nine o'clock over your city station. This special broadcast was presented in the public and who are turning out to our studio.