CARPETS UP FOR CROWTHER!

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 51, 14 June 1940, Page 11

CARPETS UP FOR CROWTHER!

The Story Behind An Old-Time Dance Orchestra

ARN floors are waxed, drawing room carpets raised, guests invited, and (sometimes) the barrel rolled in, when Frank Crowther is on the air from 2YA with his Old-Time Dance Orchestra. Only one complaint, to our knowledge, has been made about this radio feature. Once, it had to be cut off the air because of an emergency broadcast. Country listeners wrote in to say that they were all ready for the dance in the local hall. Supper had been bought, the guests had arrived, and what was the NBS going to do about that? Success for this orchestra depends, as it does for all group items, on the proficiency of each member; but in this case individual proficiency is added to the leader’s ability and enthusiasm. Mr. Crowther uses his forty years’ experience of light entertainment to ‘build up an orchestra which plays genuine old-time music on the proper old style instruments: strings, piano, some brass; but never saxophones, or those weirdly shaped nightmares that modern players call effects. Forty, Fifty, Sixty Years Ago Players must also renounce modern methods of playing. Mr. Crowther insists that all their music shall be true to period, and enforces this contention by doing most of the orchestration himself. This is necessary in any case, for most of the old songs are now only. memories. From forty, fifty, sixty years ago, he collects them, writes them down, and arranges them for the orchestra. Then listeners dance to them, pleased, no doubt, as much by their presentation as by the novel reaction from hot rhythm to merry melody.

With the Shows Born in Dunedin, he was a well-known accompanist at 17. The theatre had a strong appeal for him. He joined the orchestra of the Pollard Opera Company, then the most popular company touring New Zealand. During his two years’ engagement he took part

in the first performances in New Zealand of "The Belle of New York," at Dunedin; and "The Geisha," in the old Opera House at Wellington. Later he worked with the P. R. Dix Gaiety Companies, then running permanent vaudeville in the four chief centres, First he was violinist, then pianist-conductor. About 1903 the Fuller shows were gaining in popularity. He transferred to them, first in Dunedin, then Auckland. In 1910 he settled in Wellington. His work with Fullers extended over 25 years, most of them spent working in the old Majestic Theatre (now St. James’). Readers who patronised this theatre during the last Great War years will remember the popularity of the many shows they produced. Mr. Crowther remembers that two of the artists in those days were Malcolm McEachern (bass) and Lauri Kennedy (’cellist), both now in the first rank in England and well known over the air. " Good Music" His Hobby In 1935 he conducted "Cavalleria Rusticana" for the N.Z. Grand Opera Society at St. James’s Theatre. Admission of this fact led Mr. Crowther to an admission of his hobby, which is " good music." Although he is most in demand for lighter entertainment, he has a leaning towards serious music. From 1921 to 1925 he conducted the Professional Orchestra, then the only combination performing symphonic music in Wellington. His connection with 2YA dated back to 1928. He has been official accompanist for four and a-half years and, among his several sidelines, he includes the musical work for the Government Film Studios, at Miramar. Music for "Rewi’s Last Stand" was his latest job there.