THE WALTZ’S 2nd CENTURY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1931, Page 3

THE WALTZ’S 2nd CENTURY

As the Adams and .Cecil families are famous in politics, and the Russel Is in lav, so have the Strausses distinguished themselves in music. The present Johann Strauss is the third musician of that name to be greeted in London as a celebrated visitor. Johann Strauss II went to 'England in the I'B6o’s, and the visit of the first Johann Strauss dates back as far as the 'Coronat>'n of Queen Victoria in 1838 (says the ‘‘Christian •Wenee Monitor"). Incidentally, it was the second Johann Strauss who composed “the. Blue Danube," which has been the most popular waltz of the past season. This, along with the astonishing longevity of the “Stein Song,” which was written near the beginning of the century, suggests that light dance tunes arc not necessarily such transient things as they are generally supposed to be. The waltz was introduced into England in 1812 ; one wonders, whether jazz .will enjoy in 2(KO or 2050 a popularity comparable with that of the waltz in 1931. The matter is at least doubtful, though not perhaps quite so utterly impossible as some suppose. For jazz can hardly have had harder things said about it, and by more distinguished ■people, than the waltz had to put up with a . hundred -or more years . ago. Byron objected to it on the score of morality, and Miss Mitford called it “this detestable da,nce,” “a series of dizzying evolutions,” full of wearisome monotony,” making the dancers look like “a parcel of teetotums set a-spin-ning” for the “amusement” of the spectators. Be that as it may, for the time being light musical entertainment in London seems likely to seek its inspiration in Vienna instead of Africa. Tt is very probable that a definite return will be made to the dreamy, sugary stuff of which pre-war tunes consisted. Jazz seems a little too energetic and undisciplined for the taste of 1931. Such old musical plays as “Floradora” and “The Geisha Girl” are being revived. The social historian would do well' to note tfj!|se^things, for it is in' such events that 5 the temper of an age reveals itself.