SWING MUSIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1939, Page 5

SWING MUSIC

WILL SOON FADE OUT. “As far as pictures are concerned, and radio as well, for that matter, L believe that in 1939 swing music will have a definite old fashion flavour.” Authority for this statement is Dave Dreyer, head of the music department of RKO-Radio Pictures, who is directing the music for “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle,” in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are starred, and who handled a similar task on "Love Affair” with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. "Public taste has swung back to the music of twenty years ago,” said Dreyer. “By the time ‘The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle’ and ‘Love Affair’ have been released, along with the musicals now in production in other studios, swing music will be just a memory. “Right now, films and radio programmes are in the centre of a cyckrevolving around the songs of almost three decades ago, and it is a grand relief from the crash, bang of the music of the past two or three years. The reason all the old songs are coming back and still are top favourites, is because they were great songs. There are about two hundred of them that never will die. "I look back to see composers and song writers swing back to modern adaptations of this type of song, instead of striving for some now musical form. Each generation revives these old songs, not because they are a novelty but because they were great songs, with genuine melody and beauty. “The public dictates what it wants and the picture companies try to give it to them. Right now, the public is demanding old-fashioned music and they’ll get it, Old-fashioned dance music will follow the old-time songs, and I look to see the waltz climb to top popularity.”