SOCIETY'S DANCE MUSIC

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12484, 21 April 1906, Page 7

SOCIETY'S DANCE MUSIC

Mr De Groen, who has for years been bandmaster at most of the big social functions and parties in Sydney, has been telling a '"Daily Telegraph" representative something about the dance music that will be popular during tho coming Easter season. "I have gone through piles and piles of the new waltzes and polkas and lancers," ho said, "and some of them are pretty, though, in my opinion, the music of the past few years shows a sad falling off. Whero aro the successors of Strauss, Gunge, Waldtcufel? Who is iTfe best waltz writer? Why, Waldteufel is the king of them all.

"What are they filling the programmes with, you ask? Why waltzes, nothing but waltzes, except a polka and the lancers. Out of sixteen dances thirteen will be waltzes, you'll see. But oh, those irrepressible kitchen lancers! When will they die out. They send tho music to chacs. I know that in high quarters kitchen lancers are disliked. Lady Northcote has herself said so; yet tho "dancers still go on dancing them. Yes, the greatest nuisance to the musician who takes a pride in doing himself justice are these irrepressible kitchen lancers." "Do your clients like dance music, made out of musical comedy and comic opera tunes?" "Yes, but here, again, there is a falling off in tho class of tune. Ladies making up tho programmes for tneir dances ask for a certain set of lancers, from, say, the 'Cingalee,' because 'it looks so well on the programme.' But Sullivan's airs are still the most popular with dancers. 'The Mikado' I am always asked for, and 'The Gondoliers.' Theao new things don't at all come up to the older airs for swing and verve." At the piano, Mr de Groen runs through some of the most-liked waltzes, which will be heard frequently in our ballrooms next month. Some are decidedly pretty, in spite of any preference for the older melodies, which happy associations render interesting to us. These new waltzes are simple and gay; then, they have got out of the minor key. considerably, though one or two havo a kind of tender refrain and a sweetness that allures, or clogs, according to the age and disposition of the hearer. At nineteen we should pronounce tho motif adorable; at thirtynine, well, perhaps, a trifle banal. But ''music is tho food of love,'' and waltz music may ho called us light refreshment. We want the "Soldaten Tu'eder" in a ballroom, not the -'Liebestod." Tho above old waltz, by the way, never dies. It, is nearly always asked for, and sounds as fresh and exhilarating to-day as if just newly composed. "A-waltz that is popular is 'Bleu.' It i* not new. having been heard to great advantage la.** season at all the balls. It has a gay little note, and yet it has a touch of tenderness too. 'Santiago' is a good old stand-by. Berger's things, 'Los Nuages Roses,' 'L' Anion reuse,' and La Repouse,' are very much liked here, but I consider them rather short. To make them long enough for a dance I generally add one to the other." In regulating the length of each danco the leader of the band may become the presiding deity of a ronias.ee ;t deux. He must show tact. "Certainly, the leader decides as to tho length of the waltz, but my rule as to time is not very adamant. If I see a couple enjoying it very much, I continue it a little longer, just- for their s.ikes. particularly if, as often happens, I get the whispered 'office' 'Keep it up, do (iroon.' " Thcrse are some of the very newest, waltzo jotted down by Mr de Groon. Some havo not yet been ht-ard in Sydney ballrooms. Throe are 'Modosiio." "Abandon," «"nd ''Arc-en-ciel.*' The "Vision" is another lovely waltz. 'Gold unci Silber," by Lobar, and "Luna" have a nice swing. "The Sizilietta" is quite now, produced for the first time at the ball given in ho-iour of the King of Spain at Buckingham Palace last year. It is founded on a serenade, and made a sensation on its first performance.