"NO RHYTHM, NO TUNE, NO NOTHING"

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 31, 13 January 1939, Page 24

"NO RHYTHM, NO TUNE, NO NOTHING"

Criticism Of "Long And Monotonous Presentation" Of Symphonies, Sonatas And Symphonic Poems . .. In Defence Of Bing Crosby .. . Can The Churches Save World?

PARKS (Taihape): I read with amazement such letters ag those by X (Wellington) and 588, Dunedin, which have recently appeared in the Home Forum, and wonder whether they can be really serious when they express such opinions. That correspondents can condemn songs of the ‘‘Rosalie"’ and ‘‘Sympathy Waltz’’ class, and even go so far as to request more classical presentations is more than I can understand. Since the present Director of Broadeasting came into office the YA programmes have become one long, monotonous presentation of sonatas (alleged), symphonies (alleged) and symphonic poems that are neither symphonic nor poetic, but which are aptly described by your correspondent ‘‘Swing’’ as "‘stuff that has no rhythm, no tune, no nothing, just.a jumble of instruments making a chaos of sound."’ But whatever the individual’s opinion of the programmes, there can be no justification for the. attitude. of 588, Dunedinhis thinly-veiled political attack notwithstanding. First, the young man of today will, in my estimation, compare more than favourably with some of the

"‘starch-collar’’ specimens the writer has seen in a few family albums. Then he refers to sticky songs, but I submit that the worst examples of this are the stately soprano’s efforts such as the ‘‘ Whistle and I’ll Come to You’’ variety. Give me Frank Crummet singing ‘‘The Girl with the Paint on Her Face.’ But when it comes to an allegation of ‘‘depraved broadeasting,’’ it is time to call for an explanation. May I invite 583 to forward to the ‘‘Radio Record’’ the programme for any one week with all the ‘‘depraved’’ items marked. If he will do this I will undertake to mark all the classical items for the same, week and beat him with a ratio of not less than 50 to 1.

"'Narrow-minded"

Miss Swing (Paeroa): These people who call themselves lovers of the classies are very narrow-minded. They would have all jazz on after 10 p.m. Jazz lovers do not necessarily hate classics. Not at all. So why can’t lovers of the classics listen to a bit of jazz? There are really great musicians in dance bands. There are quite a few stations on the air. If several were on jazz ail the time, plenty would be left to put on classical, band or other programmes, thus satisfying all tastes. Also jazz fans could be properly catered for. We could have more swing sessions like that very excellent one from 2YA on Friday nights. At least swing fans take their chosen type of music very seriously snd go to the trouble of knowing all about the bands and musicians who play it. Can classical lovers say the same? Suaaestion Schoolboy Listener (Christchurch): I see through reading your paper a great deal of argument about the kind of musie put through the radio. It is a havd task te please everyone in the way of radio entertainment, but it could be ‘done by putting certain music on at certain times. For instance, the main stations could broadcast in the early part of the morning, band music. The later part of the day could be used by -piaying jazz music. The afternoon would be a. Suitable time for classical music and singing. The concert _programmes could remain .as it is, a mixture ‘of sketches, plays vand talks. Then 10 p.m. onwards,-more-jazz and dance music conid’ be put over. Then the listener just has to select the music he desires and tune in at the time it is breadcast. Bana, Bang GC, H, Starkey (Napier): I have just read the "Record’s" Home Forum, and would endorse just what "Tripe" and "K" Wellington say, and if I may take the liberty, would state I often shut my radio off in disgust after trying all over New Zealand te get something worth while. Tonight it has been

much better, and I trust the new year will bring us a better class of programme. It seems to me there is a lot of cheap claptrap stuff abont. I can’t call it anything else. Often out of tune, and nothing in it. Why is it, as a rule, ali the stations after a certain time seem to hop right on to the nerveracking, bang, bang, screeching, rubbish? Can we not have at least "one National station on a better class programme? Of course, if the public call for what they are getting, who’s to blame? Still, I think they would be considerate. Bouquet For Bing Pluy (Wellington): Your anonymous. weekly contributor under the heading "In the Wake. of the Week’s Broadcasts" (who, incidentally, seems to possess a remarkable set), took it upon himself recently to criticise Bing Crosby for making a record of "Silent Night." It is a pity that the writer did not make sure he was possessed of full information on the subject before making a dig at the unfortunate Bing. I have heard many opinions of this record. The purists have condemned it in much stronger terms than your critic on the grounds that no socalled crooner should go beyond the boundaries of jazz. On the other hand, many people say this is the only record of Bing that they can stand. Personaily, I don’t think any Crosby fan would claim it to be one of Bing’s better records. The real fact of the matter is that the record was made as a con-

tribution to some fund of the Cathelic Church, Bing making a donation. of his usual recording fee, a matter of about 2000 dollars, Thus, so far from being an audacious excursion by a crooner into the realms of sacred music, the record represents yet another gesture by one of the most gener-

ous personalities of the present time, and a _ personality who deserves better than the sneering gibes that have been directed at him in the past. While on the subject, I would like to ask those who complain of the programmes being cluttered up with "jazz and crooning" when the names of "Fats" Waller and Bing Crosby, who may be taken as typical exponents. last appeared on the published detailed programmes of the YA stations between 6 and 10 pm.? i and many others who like this type of music pay exactly the sdme licence fee as any other, and yet to get the music we want we have to stay up till 10 p.m. or even later just on the off-chance that by a little diail-twisting we may get what we want. Also, would your correspondents please state which station it is that pi vides all this jazz and crooning T should like to hear it. The Church ' Wakter A. Kent (Catlins): With much interest I have read the article in your issue of December 16, "Can the Churches Save the World?" Regarding Bishop Holland’s statements, "The Church _must wait for the breakdown of those States from within. ... If there is something inherenily wrong in that form of government it must fall from its own faults." The "State" is merely a number of people imbued with one set of ideas. In a gang of criminals, each individual is guilty- of the crimes committed by the body. Now what is the Bishop’s attitude towards crime in an individual? Does he stand by the above statement? If, say, his own property was stolen or destroyed, would be wait till the inherent wrong-doing in the individual was righted when he saw the error of his ways? The wrong-doing of one State is now a wrong to the whole of humanity. The Chureh is ever pointing out the sins of Russia, who only fought against the Nazi form of government from coming into force in that country. Humanity as a whole is now able to see which form of Government is preferable, Russia’s or . Germany’s. The Bishop would be well to remember the words of "GamaJael" in the trial of the Apostles. A wrong done to my brother, in Austria, Czechoslovakia, or a German worker, Jew or Gentile, is a wrong to me, and by action, I should show that I disapprove of that wrong done. Has the Church done so? I say no. { consider the Church, as at present constituted, cannot save us.

Buttonhole Note Newmarket Listener (Auckland): I would like to write something appreciative of the "Radio Record" and the radio service in our towns-in our country every- Z where. in fact. Our people have’ an indisputable choice as to whom they want to listen. The object of this button-hole note, if I may be permitted. is a.word to the gallant band that stand behind the "mikes" day and night, festive and all seasons, so ‘that we may take our light refreshments in comfort and enjoyment. Good cheer and warmest greetings to you. New Dance Jazz Dance (Greymouth): I was very interested to read in your paper how to do the popular Lambeth Walk and Palais Glide. I wonder if you could gblige your readers with plans on how to do the Biackpool Walk? I am sure your help in popularising these modern dances is much apprecjated. {Marbe. when we've recovered from too much Lambeth Walk during the holidays.-Ed.]