NOVELTY FROM 2YA

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 10, 23 September 1927, Page 7

NOVELTY FROM 2YA

| CHINESE ORCHESTRA. Listeners will have something out of the ordinary on October 1, when 2YA will broadcast music by a Chinese orchestra. , As the music of the Orient differs considerably from our own, a few words) on the subject may be advisable. , The ‘"queerness’" (to us) of Chinese music depends on two factors-the scale foundation and the type of instru"meuts used. ‘The present European scale consists of an octave divided into 12

equal Semutones, whereas the Uiimese divide their octave into 17 ‘quarter tones."?’ As a result of these smaller inferyals, Chinese music is often unintelligible to our ears. When adhering to the five note or pentatonic scale tie music sounds grotesque; when quarter tones are used it sounds ont of tunenevertheless it is good music--from the Orient point of view. Most folk like music with a good swing and a good tune. With Oriental musit tle former frequently overshadows the latter. The reason is. clear when one realises that the larger {or more prominent) part of a Chinese orchestra is the ‘‘percussion," i.e., inStruments that are beaten. They use, to name a few, various drums, bells, copper plates, evmbals, and wooden

clappers, with bizarre effect, The tune or melody is played on flageolets (a form of flute) , and primitive fiddles. A favourite instrument, the Chinese piano, is somewhat like the Scottish dulcimer. } It is hoped that listeners, bearing in mind the musical scale on which this music is built, will be able Lo appreciate the efforts of the Chinese Orchestra when 2YA puts this item ‘on the air.’