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New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 78, 20 December 1940, Page 15

Sir,-As a rule it is worth while reading letters to the editors of newspapers as one often gets the opinion of the average man in the street that way. So if you will kindly grant me space I would like to say I am rather surprised at the intolerance shown by some of your ,correspondents in the controversy. on "Modern Music." None can help their preference for different types of music and sound, I have known of two: persons to whom the roar of a train, a noisy motor car, ‘or the rattle of a kerosene tin was a pleasant and exciting sensation. This controversy is an example of the intolerance that will always be an obstacle to harmony and justice. As regards vocal and instrumental music, I prefer the request session, as one generally gets the items in proportion to public demand, and would suggest that radio programmes be based on the quotas that

request sessions reveal. —

QUOTA

(Carterton).

Sir,-I was most impressed by BingEddy’s letter. I quite agree with it, but would not second his views on Crosby. I more than agree that Eddy is an artist who is not understood by New Zealanders. Because he is good-looking, has a voice better than Tibbett’s, although his films have not given him a chance to prove it, people in this country call him a "pretty-boy." Tibbett failed in films because, although he had a voice, he had no looks. Hollywood gets looks and a super-voice, and appreciates it, but the greatest musical critics in the English speaking world, I mean the New Zealanders, say, "Oh, dear, Eddy is wooden." In my opinion, the average New Zealander knows as much about good music, and good singing, as

a hen.-

EDDY ADMIRER

(Welling-

ton).

(We have no more space at a a ne letters on this subject, and most of printed in this issue have been abridged )