MUCH ADO ABOUT SWING

Radio Record, 9 December 1938, Page 48

MUCH ADO ABOUT SWING

Reader Makes Suggestion For Musical Cocktail ... What Would A Questionnaire Reveal? . . . Bouquet For John Guthrie ,

F. (Wellington) ; Cayley of Pio Pio doesn’t ® like swing, and after bottling up his hate for two long years, he has found the missing link and named it ‘‘Fungoid Growth."’ Poor Cayley! He must be a solemn person (‘‘He Ain’t Got Rhythm’’). He gets no joy out of Connie Boswell, so he wants swing banished into the limbo of forgotten things. Why, I know lots and lots of poor misguided creatures who actually like swing. Quite a few of them can appreciate classical music as well. It’s a pity Cayley thinks swing is undermining the younger generation. However, I think that most of them have heard that other types of music do exist; in fact, if they weren’t always being told to "turn off that trash and listen to something decent’? by misguided individuals like Cayley, they would probably appreciate heavier music much more. Intolerance has never won battles; it usually manages to produce the opposite effect. So, Cayley, mix a little Crosby and Berlin with equal parts of Rubenstein and Tschaikowsiy and you’ll have an enjoyable cocktail.

"Fungoid Growth" "Swing is Here to Sway’’ (Te Awamutu): Much has been written lately by critics regarding this ‘‘fungoid gsrowth’’swing music. Believe me, if they had the intelligence and to study this interesting art they would find that the "fungus" is indeed an intricate and arresting specimen. Ever since the War, swing music has gradually become more and more popular; probably prompting lovers of classical music to ridicule it, Incidentally, swing music is still in its infancy. In reality this is just in keeping with the faster trend of the world-faster, lighter, more carefree tunes for a younger, less mid-Victorian people. I suggest that critics listen in to 2YA from 10 o'clock onwards on Friday nights and hear a delightful session. Why don’t classical lovers leave us alone? We never criticise symphony. Questionnaire Rhythm Fan (Thames): Let me gay a few words on behalf of those who like their trumpets screamy. Despite what "Fungoid Growth" and "Give ’em Muck" say, there are many people who appreciate the dance music we hear in the radio programmes. "Give ’em Muck" might try a questionnaire to find out if a majority demand this type of fare. It would be just too bad if most people turned out to be "sub-ordinary and too lazy to think or concentrate." It is entirely unreasonable to suggest this, anyway. George Gershwin and Jerome Kern have written jazz

tunes. Would men like these be ineluded under that heading? In conclusion, I would like to support "Mr, X" in his opinion. A station on dance music and light vocals all the time would suit me fine, and at least twenty other people I know, too! Veidt’s Voice ‘Ex-Dunedin (New Plymouth): Re the paragraph-‘What Makes It a Craze?" (Wake of the Week, "Record," November 18), might I suggest that it is the voice and nothing but the voice which has such an attraction in Conrad Veldt’s rendering of "The Lighthouse Shines Across the Bay." I imagined that I was one of a very few who delighted in the recording, but all I can say is "Tucky Dunedin," but then Dunedin must always be lucky. Please give us some more of this recording from 2ZB. Theory M.M.D. (Christchurch); I have a theory about the popularity of Conrad Veidit’s "Lighthouse." It

reminds people of the days when "musical evenings" were the principal form of home amusement. Musical monologues were popular dishes at these feasts of song, and anyone who could sit down at the piano and speak sentimental or bumorous verse to the accompaniment of rippling arpeggios or erushing chords was sure of a round of applause. The "Lighthouse" record gives people 4 nostalgia for the days when a minimum of talent could command a maximum of limelight. Congratulations Phulhat (Kati Kati): May-I be allowed to congratulate your contributor, John Guthrie, on his "This World of Ours" contribution in the "Radio Record" of November 25. Whether it was the type of humour that appealed to me here, or whether everyone else appreciated it as much as I did, I do

not know, but I cannot refrain from writing to say it is a long time since I read anything ~ s0 screamingly funny. More power to your elbow, John! You are a man after my own heart (metaphorically speaking, of course!) Thanks for a jolly good laugh. And while { am writing I wonder if anyone can enlighten me and mine as to what has happened to the Senia Chostiakoff records? Ever since Senia and Vincent Ryan toured New Zealand. we have listened in vain for Senia’s wonderful rendering of "Funiculi," "Evening Bells" and "Volga Boatman." ‘What has happened te them all? We could betier spare "The Japanese Househoy" (much as we used to like him acons ago -but one can have too much of a good thing and particularly of that long-drawn out introductory tune) or even our old friends (?) Eb and Zeb. By the way, in reply to the query as to why these two so different die-hards are usually spoken of in the same breath, it seems to me to be because they both cama into being on the ‘wireless about the same time, and both seem to be going on, as someone in the "Radio Record" once humorously put it, for Ebber and Zebber, Thanks M. Haljord (Auckland): I am writing to the "Record" to express thanks for the kind notice about our Armistice concert. I was in the hospital, but was pleased to hear about it. I am a member of the Mount Albert Happiness Club, and think Dorothy a wonderful girl, Thanking you for your kindness to our clubs. Bands Band Lover (Gisborne): I relish band music, and am sorry to notice nearly all band programmes, with the exception of 3YA, commence late in the evening, at about 9.20. Wouldn’t it be possible to start recorded. band programmes sometimes at 8 o’clock? Of course, the B stations start their band programmes at 8, but they are rarely of any use, being too low-powered to be leard with any degree of usefulness. Ten Best James Burns (Auckland): Your film critic’s mention of Lew Ayres’s performance in "Holiday" reminds me that you will soon be on the job of sorting out the year’s films to find the *-n best, I don’t envy you. I think this has been the worst year for pictures for the last few years. I found your choices last year quite ‘interesting, although you left ont three excellent films, two of which you didn’t take the trouble to review. I refer to ‘Farewell Again," "A Day at the Races," and "They Won’t Forget." For originality, the first-named was out on its own and its stars, Mlora Robson and Leslie Banks, were secondary to the story. Of this year’s releases in Auckland, "Marie Walewska" seems to be about the pick. ("Emile Zola" was shown last year.) "i00 Men and a Girl," "A Yank at Oxford," "Dead End," "Stage Door," "The Awful Truth," "The Hurricane," "Merrily We Live" seem to be in the running. For one who follows good films rather than stars, the year has been disappointing {though I have a weakness for Charles Laughton, Clive Brook and Peanna Durbin). *

What D’You Know Answers Here are the answers to the "What Do You Know?" feature appearing on page 18 today: 1. American. 2, All but Mr. Scrimgeour. S$ Me and My Girl. 4, {a) Mikado, (b) Patience, (c) Gondoliers, (d) Pirates of Penzance, (e) Yeomen of the Guard, (f) lolanthe. . Israel. . Liechtenstein (one’ man). Nothing at all. James VI. . Intellectual darkness. 10. Director of Broadcasting. 11. George Hl. 12. Venus. 18. Walter Landor. 14, (a) Opening to a_ side pocket, (b) Short sleeveless jacket, (c) Ornamental front frill, (d) A. piece fet into a garment, (¢) Deep falling collar attached to low-necked dress, (f) Top of garment fitting the shoulders. 15. John A. Lee. 16. The Goldwyn Follies. Letter of Introduction. 17. Roberta. 18. Hitler, Napoleon 1, Napoleon Il. . MO