MODERN MUSIC

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 65, 20 September 1940, Page 24

MODERN MUSIC

Sir,-May I be allowed space to reply to Mr. Austin? He is, so he tells us, a professional critic, one whose job it is to find fault with everyone else, unless of course their tastes agree with his, Would it not be better for him, if he is the idealist he claims to be, to try to find the good in others and the bad in himself? It would at least be a change. Mr. Austin says that jazz is monotonous. I do not find it a bit monotonous quite the reverse in fact. Certainly in jazz the composer is of far less importance than the performer; but because it does not stick to the orthodox rules of music Mr. Austin denounces it. I am afraid that if it were not for the unorthodox there would have been little progress in this world. Swing music, being a comparative newcomer to the field, has still a great deal of prejudice to overcome. In playing jazz, the musician is a composer in himself; he creates as he plays. Mr. Austin compares the habits" of smoking and jazz playing. Well, I do not smoke, and I have no desire for more dubious forms of indulgence. He also accuses us of avoiding the word "beauty" in reference to swing music, I could quote passages from half a dozen recent articles in which the words "beauty" and "beautiful" are applied to jazz, but you would not give me the space. I do not claim that all jazz is beautiful, however. Neither is all classical music. I am not opposed to classical music. It is the desire of jazz enthusiasts to co-operate with lovers of classical music. We believe in "living and letting live." Incidentally, it was Stokowski who, after hearing Benny Goodman, acclaimed him as the greatest clarinet player that he had ever heard.

R.J.

H.

(Wellington

Sir-The discussion on this subject is both interesting and amusing. Anyone trying to argue against an accomplished musician of the calibre of Mr. L. D. Austin has a tough nut to crack. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Austin. However, I do not object to a little of the syncopated rhythm occasionally. Even Mischa Levitski plays some kind of jazz for relaxation; at least that was published during his concert tour of N.Z. eight years ago. (Were I Vernon Bartlett, M.P., I would probably say, "It’s in the newspapers, so it must be true!’’) May one be permitted to mention in this same column the brand of syrupy vocalism practised by Crosby, Powell, and Co.? Anyway, here goes. No need to say they give me the "blues" and "swing" me into heebee-jeebees, Remember what the noted musician and examiner, Dr. Edgar Ford, said recently: "A crooner is the lowest form of life." Neat. what!

L.R.

M.

(Riccarton).