Radio's Tin-Pan-Alley Makes Him Tired

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 27, 16 December 1938, Page 3

Radio's Tin-Pan-Alley Makes Him Tired

# -Crooners Should Be Exterminated .

wd WE have been tin-pan-alleyed * more than enough in the last few years. One could wish for less of the so-called jazz and crooners {who should be exterminated in New Zealand broadcasting). Jazz is all right in its place-in the dance halls-buit to hear it continually hour after hour in the various hotels makes one tired." Andersen Tyrer, English composer and pianist, now in New Zealand to hold Trinity College of Music examinations, is the second visiting English musician to lodge this complaint in the last few weeks. Much. can be done to raise the standard of public taste, he told the "Record," by a closer relationship between broadcasting , and the schools, Broadcasting could train the children, not so much to be executants as to appreciate the best in music, and so create a future audience. In the States, he says, though advertising is heavy over the air, it is done in such a dignified way that one does not notice it. And 6€ 2-3 per cent. of the music broadcast is classical. Too much use was made of the word "classical" over the air. There were only two kinds of music, good music and bad music, and to label a work "classical" meant that many people would not listen to it. They had a preconceived idea that they would dislike it. If they could be induced to listen to it they would find it satisfying. Said Mr. Tyrer: "Familiarity with good music, instead of breeding contempt, breeds respect." . No doubt the future of music lay entirely with the broadcasting stations. It was up to them to see that music was‘used culturally and not Zor mere entertainment alone, 4, "I am very pleased to hear that my friend de Mauny, who has done great work in keeping orchestral music alivé in Wellington, has started giving illustrated orchestral concerts to the schools," said Mr Tyrer.

"This is where America scores over every other country in the world." : New Zealand owes: a ‘debt to Anderson Tyrer, who discovered Oscar Natzke, the "singing blacksmith," of Auckland, whose story was told in the "Record" some months ago. He fixed up a free scholarship for Natzke at Trinity College, Auckland people helped with the funds. And in October last Natzke was singing at Covent Garden, London. "Without the slightest hesitation," says Andersen Tyrer, "I should say he has the finest basso voice of the day. "He is on the threshold of a Successful career. It remains now for him alone to realise all his possibilities by further hard work and plenty of it. Then comes experience. ° Experience cannot be taught!" During his stay in New Zealand this time, Andersen Tyrer is him- : self to conduct his own composition | of "The Triumph and Damnation ; of Faust," on December 22, with the | 2YA Orchestra, augmented to 40. players, assisted by the Schola Can- . torum Choir and Professor Shelley as orator.