JAZZ IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 894, 21 September 1956, Page 5

JAZZ IN NEW ZEALAND

Sir--Varian J. Wilson’s letter was the limit. Your correspondent obviously knows nothing about classical music, therefore he should not be so foolish as to show his ignorance to everyone, As for comments such as: "the four YC stations grinding out glutinous gloom," "hackneyed classical deadbeats," etc., I have never heard of anything more incorrect or in worse taste. If Varian J. Wilson prefers jazz, then that’s all right; but there’s no need to write offensive things about classical music as well.

D.

CLARK

(Christchurch).

Sir-It is time the older generation realised that modern music is here to stay. In reply to T.R.N, of Wellington and other enemies of contemporary music, I would like to say that, although more variety in musical programmes would be welcomed by many people, modern music and jazz are not the evils some peaple persuade themselves into thinking they are. Older people are liable to forget that contemporary music, as well as poetry, art, architecture and furniture have been formed from the qualities which were thought worth preserving from before World War I. These contain the new ideas of freedom of subject, style and form. Architecture and furniture of contemporary design

have been accepted, as they have proved to be practical; but the less tangible arts have been critised and rejected by many. It is time that older people realised that it is just as impossible to move backwards successfully in musical form as it is to use outdated forms of govern ment. New ideals cannot be ignored, This has been proyed time and time again. so give the younger generation

their turn, ©

M.

H.

(Auckland).

Sir-Last letter I wrote .you was based on Mr. L. D. Austin, condemning him for his statements on jazz. This time I write commending the NZBS for what it is doing for jazz. I think that for those who do not own Hi Fi and player units to play their own discs, the Broadcasting Service does just about as good a job, Broadmindedness is very apparfent, though one thing annoys me. Before a disc is played, I like to hear who is playing-the artists, etc, This is done for "Pop" discs; why not for real music? More classical and orchestral music is played-obviously; but I wonder how many honest admirers of this art form there really are? The upper classes and pretentious upper classes make all-out advances after the arts-music being a predominant one. To be left out from these is to be out of the circle, There exists in jazz, also, a class such as this, They do not really like or attempt to appreciate the music, but to keep in the many varied cliques one must show front. : The height of enjoyment in jazz music is no less than in classical, Psychologically, there is no testing scale for enjoyment in those who really enjoy classical music, and those who really enjoy real jazz music, Neither of the two. types of individual has any right to run down the other, Both are art forms-perhaps different; both contain musical instruments; all musicians require the necesary art and ability to play. So a person enjoys something good, clean, and perhaps even informative. Who is the person to run this down?

RICHARD

PARIS

(Wellington).