"The Product of a Past, Dead Generation"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 11 January 1935, Page 6

"The Product of a Past, Dead Generation"

To the Editor . Sir,-Your correspondent, Mr, J. D. Parkin, still conginueg on in his insane and decidedly biased way to criticise his ‘‘bete noire," which he designates as jazz *«-an insidious word and one Certainly not used in a modern dance studio. We associate that word ‘with lower class and old-time dance halls. In reply to Mr. Parkin’s latest effort-would he kindly tell us upon what rhythm crooning, as such, is based? He will be surprised to find his error, shouid he listen to any of the very few records of this type. Of course, as he detests it, he will not listen, and still argue he is correct. To say that the daily programmes are filled with modern dance records is a typical absurd statement from Timaru. I stated in a letter, published in the "Radio Record" of June 22, that "variety was the keynote of modern dance music." Mr. Parkin could not deny that, and did not. But, to what station er stations does he listen? I have yet to find the station whose programme is filled with modern dance records-and so has he. ° And so classical music is more or less "pure," though it does contain an evil element. Has Mr, Parkin read the lives of a few typical great musicians and com-posers-lives, in some cases, of utter sordidness? Hence their "pure" music springs from sordid souls! My argument _is just as fallacious as his absurdity that ' jazz is evil, because he associated sloppy sentiment with: it. I think that his arguments prove conclusively that he is the product of a past and dead generation, and that because the modern generation riglitly refuses to endure a surfeit of his classical music he shows his narrow-mindedness. No, Mr. Parkin, we can enjoy your classical music and refrain from any selfish criticisms of it, What, we moderns ask is not a surfeit of classics; but a fifty-fifty deal. And you refuse us that, You fight a losing

battle--I am, etc-,

BE

MODERN

Te Awamutu.