BAD ART

Evening Star, Issue 21493, 18 August 1933, Page 11

BAD ART

BROADCAST MUSIC PROGRAMMES ENGLISH MUSICIAN’S CRITICISM [Pek United Press ’ Association.] WELLINGTON. August 17. Pointed comments on the art of listening and the general policy of broadcasting stations were made by Dr Cyrl) Jenkins, one of tho adjudicators at the forthcoming Wellington competitions festival, who arrived to-day from Eng land. In his opinion broadcasting in general is not educating the people musically, but is presenting listeners with too much of what could be classed as bad art.

“ Unfortunately during my travels,” said Dr Jenkins, “ ] have found the standard of singing deplorably low. I have heard some excellent voices, but the performers lacked style. Stylo is a matter of perfection of detail. The best-dressed woman, like the best singer, is not the loudest. If bad soloists are allowed to broadcast they are more than a mere nuisance; they constitute a menace to art. Because they have the approval of the executive of tho broadcasting stations the public accepts them as models,_ and as a result the general taste of listeners falls. It is difficult to conceive how an administration of experienced musicians could perpetrate some of the anomalies that seem to be well established. In some of the young countries to-day the majority of the programmes seem to be made np of jazz, a ‘ guying ’ of the classics, detestable croonings, and other vulgarities. It is impossible, therefore, to conceive that much progress will he made educationally with this wonderful new and sensitive medium of giving music to tho public.”