Pitfalls In The Music Lovers' Competition

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 6, 18 August 1933, Page 14

Pitfalls In The Music Lovers' Competition

To the Editor. Sir,-I am writing to you about the musie-lovers’ competition, and I must first of all congratulate you on the re markable success it achieved and the widespread jnterest it created. The items also were far superior to those of last year, and were better distributed, from the latest jazz up to the heaviest classical, There are, however, one or two helpful criticisms which I wish to offer, in the hope that they will improve any future competitions, These things are very clear to the average listener, but may not be apparent to those who drew up the competition. Firstly, the spelling on the whole was very bad. Many listeners were worried as, to whether spelling would count in the event of a tie. Secondly, there were too many ambiguous titles, Thirdly, there was great confusion over the 1YA programme, owing to Anzac Day. Listeners did not know from which

| list the items were to he taken. Yourthly, on 2a number of occasions, notably in rhe seyenth series, the items from 1YA an: 8YA were arranzed

in a definite order, and were eyellly spaced So that guesswork was of the same value as skill, Fifthly, in the second series 2YA’s seventh item, "Wellington," was not on the list. Lastly, in 1YA_ results No. 4 series, "Indian Love Lyries" was placed with "Humoresque," by Dvorak, instead of with ‘‘The Temple Bells." — Another matter which has puzzled many listeners is the number of entries which may bé@ entered by one competitor. Was it possible for each member of a household te send in an entry. Could a visitor who dil not own a set enter for the competition ? . In any competition there should be no room for doubt as to what one ean do. Thus you can see the difficulties under which listeners had to work. I trust that future competitions will be subject to special supervision in the above-mention-ed matters. Let me conclude by complimenting you on the excellent new issue of the "Radio Necord." If. the old issue was worth 3d. this new "Record" should be worth 1/-. The idea of having each day’s programme on a new page is also very good,

C an) , etc ,

MUSIC LOVER

Epsom, Auckland.