"Pied Piper" Plays the Part of a Radio Pirate

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 8, 6 September 1929, Unnumbered Page

"Pied Piper" Plays the Part of a Radio Pirate

. Amusing Bubble of Bombast Blown by Christchurch Critie

N the silly season some newspapers, particularly those addicted to sensation-mongering, exploit extraordinary ideas to fill their columns with what is fondly hoped to be "‘live copy." Evidently with some such objective one "Pied Piper," describing himself as "Music Critic" of the "Sun," a newspaper published in Christchurch, recently turned himself loose for

the first time on radio broadcasting. Not being the proud possessor of a wireless set-not. even a’ humble crystal, which we take to be a grave reflection alike upon the emolument derived from his exalted office and the critic’s mental attitude to modern developments -- "‘Pied Piper’’ borrowed a 5-valve set from a music _ dealer who had recently added to his activities a radio department. This, was quite easy, because there is rather more than a suspicion that the same dealer frequently and regularly ‘supplies "Pied Piper’ or his newspaper. with gramophone records for the purpose of "review." Possibly, out of the fullness of his heart, on receiving. a favourable "review," the dealer would generously allow the critic to retain the

record, which, of course, if correct, adds definitely to’ the independent | and disinterested nature of the criti¢’s comments, not only on gramophone music, but in all allied fields, such as mere radio broadcasting. EQUIPPED. with this new 5-valve set,’ "Pied Piper" determinedly set out to critically analyse the programmes dispensed nightly by 3YA: He brought tothe task that alert, discerning mind which had ever kept him in the forefront of modern

progressiveness-what a pity he had not learned years ago that there was such a thing as radio broadcasting and invested ‘the few shillings necessary to instal even a crystal! It would have added so much to his general knowledge. Never mind, better late than never. He resolutely set himself to analyse those programmes in order to give’ to the waiting world his mature views on their suitability to the musical digestion of his fellow-citizens.

For five nights, hour after hour, he sat . there listening, noting, criticising! What a strain on his mentality. Nevertheless, nobly he stuck to his task. He had a duty to perform. Those readers of his: How keen they were to know whether ‘Pied Piper" approved of this musical fare. It would not do to disappoint them. = For-. tunately, "Pied Piper" is gifted with a mind of extraordinary versatility-one of those lightning minds into which all evidence of sight and sound may be fed, to be readily sorted and summarised to permit’ the right

conclusion, to flow in ordered sequence of _majestic language from a ready pen. It took him but five nights to equip himself for discoursing brilliantly to those waiting thousands of ‘‘Sun" readers. SHALL we glance at the conclusions of this wonderful mind? It is'a dull world, my masters, and this joke is’ too good to be passed by without full appreciation. ; ,

This is what the wonderful mind of "Pied Piper" found in the five nights’ intensive _ study of 3YA. First, like a generous soul, he admits that ‘‘a week's listening told me much, but by no means everything . .. Most important, it has im:pressed upon my mind how powerful is the influence of radio on the musical life of the Dominion at a time when that life is most urgently in need of . stimulation." | How remarkable that this musical life * should so require stimulation, ‘since a little lower our friend commits himself to the statement: "It is a fact that the general standard of musical culture is higher in New Zealand than in Great Britain." Surely. that is very satisfac-tory-why, then, the urgent need

for’ stimulation? | However, let that‘ pass. "Pied Piper,’’ with that irresponsible gaiety that is his inheritance, presses gaily on with his task. "If I criticise,"" ‘he says, ‘it-is merely because the work could be made so much more effective, more stimu~ lating. . . Why should the New Zealand public be denied the opportunity of hearing works that are worthy of it?’ Why, indeed? But our friend, in spite of his acclaimed high standard, thinks it well to add, "If the appreciation of these -Continued on page 2.

, / . The joke of the Christchurch attack is that, according to our information, "Pied Piper" played the part of a pirate in prying into the programmes... He was not a licensed listener. He borrowed a set outside the terms of dealers’ license issued to the firm ‘concerned. In those circumstances he is liable, we believe, to prosecution. Will the Department please ‘take the necessary action?

Pirate Critic

‘(Continued from front page.) ‘éclassical) works is not already there, it can soon be stirred." Hvidently, then, our musical standard is not quite so high as claimed. So our musical friend gently, advances the old. idea that, through our broadcast programmes, the listening public should be "educated" ta a higher appreciation of classical music. If our little "Pied Piper" friend had only a little more experience of listening, he would have been familiar with the various wars on this subject that have been waged during the past few years. He would have learned how keen the public is to be "educated" by highbrow music; how, for instance, it revelled:in the of the famous trio from 2YA, and how rately is any complaint made as to programmes being too classical and too highbrow. Had that experience been available to the all-compréehending mind of this critic, he would, we imagine, have been less childish and didactic in his references to:classical music. With that mental complacency which is. the -outstanding characteristic of so many musical folk, the "Pied Piper" pipes to this effect-as though he alone had knowledge of classical music and it was his divine mission to raise the common herd to enjoyment. of these fields of Blysian delight: "The public is satisfied

with whatever music it hedrs simply because . ... it has never demanded the opportunity of hearing anything better." Could: anything be more futile? "Would to God it were" we hear the programme organiser say on this point. F{OWEVaR, the "Piper" gives us the assurance "that there is no music less dull than the music of the classics." How cheerful! Seriously, though, the "Piper’s" pipings need not be traversed in undue detail. On his own confession of his inadequate training of but five nights’ listening, he cannot expect experienced listeners to take seriously his recommendations. Briefly, however, those recommendations are: (1) More classical music; (2) better artists; (3) better. gramophone records; (4) "absolute control of the musical programmes to be in the hands of a capable body of musicians." Neither the singular unoriginality of these views nor the logic displayed in his writings entitle "Pied Piper" to much consideration or respect. For instance, this is an example of his reasoning power: "This week was selected at random. It may be safely assumed, therefore, that it is typichl of the year, and similarly that Christchurch programmes are typical of all those broadeast from other centres." On this reasoning "Pied Piper," on reaching Wellington and enjoying five days of our recent southerly weather, would

"safely assume that it is typical of the year, and, similarly, that Wellington weather is typical of that prevailing in other centres." There is no ground in logic for reasoning from the particular to the general. On the contrary, all logicians emphasise that such a step is dangerous, and that general assumptions can be made only with a backing’ of very. wide general knowledge. "Pied Piper" may be a musician; he is certainly not a logician. On major points an adequate reply to "Pied Piper" was made. in the columns of the Christchurch "Sun" by Mr.: A. R. Harris, General Manager of the Radio Broadcasting Company, and this review may fitly be concluded by quoting those points in their due place. As to the fourth suggestion that a capable body of musicians should be entrusted with the absolute control of the musical programmes of this Dominion, we can only say; "God defend New Zealand!" Trained musicians vary in their likes and dislikes more than most people, and the method proposed of turning musicians . loose to efféct the musical education of the’ harmless listener would not be welcomed by the listener himself.