LIGHT MUSIC

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 809, 28 January 1955, Page 5

LIGHT MUSIC

Sir,- After 20 years or more of experimentation, the New Zealand Broadcasting Service has now settled down to a fairly standard routine in its radio programmes, and perhaps an appraisal of one aspect would not be out of place. Leaving aside for the moment plays, news and talks, and confining myself to music only, may I say that as one who loves the music of the great masters, but who is not too highbrow or pretentious to appreciate and enjoy the lighter or middlebrow type, I am_ probably representative of thousands of listeners. It may be conceded at once that opera, symphonies, concertos, sonatas and chamber music receive a just proportion of time; and the authorities will doubtless point out by reference to The New Zealand Listener that light music also receives its fair share of time. It is, however, in the definition of "light music" that I take issue with the NZBS, for my contention is that included in socalled "light programmes" is all the rubbish obtainable--stuff which is not music at all in the true sense of the term, but which is an insult to the intelligence of all people above the moron level. Readers will know to what I am referring, vocal crooners, wailers, shouters, and instrumental discord perpetrators, In consequence, true light music tends more and more to be squeezed out of the programmes. Under the title of "light music," "lunch session," etc., we are too often, mot getting overtures, musical comedy selections, light classical numbers, bands, "straight" songs by tenors, baritones and sopranos, light choral works, suites, marches, waltzes or even good old English comic songs. In short, the programmes are tending more and more to be of two types instead of three types-heavy classical, light tuneful music, and mere noise. (It will willingly be conceded that the noise-lovers pay their licences and are entitled to due and reasonable attention, but in fact they receive treble consideration: i.e., their own share, plus an unwarranted encroachment on the time of the middlebrows, plus a full measure from the commercial stations.) Some light music possibly may be of a "sugary’ nature-Victorian, Edwardian, dated. This is no argument for its curtailment. At its best; light music ean be inspiring: at its worst it is at least tuneful and soothing, and does not pro- voke sinister inclinations to homicide. Whether. motivated by sincerity or by affectation, the superior intelligentsia can show their contempt for the Philistines by listening only to the orthodox classical-or, of course, if they wish a change of diet, there are always Bartok, Hindemith, and the moderns experimenting in quarter tones, To summarise: the NZBS is, on the whole, doing a good job, but should devote more attention to the middle man, make use of some_of the thousands of records which surely must be in stock, and present them in sessions separate from, rather than mixed in with, the very light periods. Is this not a reasonable and constructive request?-

F. M.

PRICE

(Auckland).