ROCK ’N’ ROLL MUSIC “A HORRIBLE NOISE”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 3

ROCK ’N’ ROLL MUSIC “A HORRIBLE NOISE”

“A horrible noise,” was the description given to rock ’n* roll music yesterday by Dr. W. Lovelock, music teacher, critic, lecturer, judge and composer, in an interview. He also thinks the level of “pop’’ music is low. He considers there should be a conservatorium of music here. Dr. Lovelock is visiting Christchurch as external assessor for the music degree examinations at the University of Canterbury. While he is here be will give a public lecture to students and also three lectures to music teachers on the work of Trinity College of Music, London. He has written a large number of text books on theoretical music and in his own words “used to be pretty useful as a pianist and organist. “I have been very interested to see what the university people are doing in the -way of training all-round musicians, which I consider to be absolutely vital," he said. “That is. all-round musicians as opposed to people who learn to play the piano or other instrument and try to qualify as teachers but cannot be designated as musicians in the real sense of the term. It is that narrow outlook the university people here are trying to avoid.

“I do feel you do need a conservatorium of music here. My impression, is that you really need one in Auckland. Wellington and Christchurch. I understand there has been a suggestion of a central one in Wellington but the trouble would be that it would be populated mostly by Wellington students. You could do with a conservator ium of music in Christchurch because what is lacking if there is not one W the all-round musical education which the single teacher cannot possibly give. “And. of course, in a conservatorium if you have got the right direction you can get your students surrounded by music so that they are soaking it up all the time. Added to which, if you do as I think you should do and admit youngsters as well as older students you give them the right training and the musical atmosphere from the start. “Once you have got over the initial cost of setting up the institution it is not such a tremendous financial burden as people might think. I am speaking from experience for I was the first director of the Queensland Conservatorium of Musie, Brisbane. I was there from 1956 to 1959. A practical possibility would be to link up the conservatorium in some way with the university,” said Dr. Lovelock.

“Pop" Music “I think the average level of what is known as ‘pop’ music is very low at the present time. Forty or 50 years ago what one would call ‘pop’ music had at least some modest value as music.” he said and gave as examples the old 2s ballads which used to be sung round the piano in the parlour on Sunday evenings.

“To my mind the rot started with the American invasion of ragtime and from that it has got worse and worse until we have come to the nadir of rock ‘n’ roll which I think is a horrible noise. Some few years, ago an examiner colleague of mine who was the first conductor of your State orchestra got himself into very hot water here by publicly stating that the crooner was the lowest form of musical life yet discovered. I see no reason to oppose his opinion,” said Dr. Lovelock.