THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 8

THOUGHTS ABOUT MUSIC

(By L.D.A.) North Island newspapers have lately given space to a recrudescence of tho old complaints against the alleged inferiority of radio programmes. Before dealing with these complaints, let me quote a couple of typical specimens. " What was poured out over the radio every day into the ears of young people purporting to be music ' utterly nauseated her,' said Miss Mackay when addressing the annual meeting of tho League of Mothers, Wellington province, in Wellington yesterday. The large body of women present expressed hearty agreement with tho speaker's views'. If the league passed a motion asking that the daily radio programmes in New Zealand be cleansed, Miss Mackay said she was sure that every mother in New Zealand would appreciate .the effort to have ' this canker cut out of the heart of the country,' for it was something that deeply troubled them all. ■'

" Why should children have to listen to the horrible apologies for what was supposed to be music? Good music, like good literature, was an inspiration, and served to uplift one's thoughts. ft was revolting to hear the moanings that passed for singing in songs that all seemed to talk about being temporarily in the arms of someone or other. It was a wonder young people managed to start the day fresh and clean in mind when they heard music like this first tiling every day. To women would go the great responsibility after the war of being in themselves and making their homes a stronghold for tho men and girls returning from service. They could create an atmosphere where all the best and finest in life was to be found, and to do this sho urged them to seek inspiration from good music and from lovely English literature."

Commenting on this report, a correspondent wrote as follows:—" 1 was pleased to see thht at last some organisation has raised a protest against tl:«< jumble of noises to which we are subjected over the major portion of the radio programmes. 1 do not know the object for which the League of Mothers was formed, nor have I the pleasure of Miss Mackay's acquaintance, but I do know that the subject of the remarks made by her has also been bitterly criticised in many homes. If Miss Mackay and the League of Mothers can remedy ' the canker ' they will earn the gratitude of many who are heartily sick and tired of the almost continuous jumble of noises supposed to be music, and the senseless stringing together of words into airless jargon supposed to be songs. I realise radio programmes must eater for a variety of tastes, but surely we do not have to listen to a preponderance of ' tripe' hour after hour. Some time back a director of broadcasting was appointed, and several of us looked forward to an improvement in tho general tone of the programmes, but so far I have not been able to discern much change."

Well, the foregoing are, as I. said, typical of those disgruntled persons who often find fault, but rarely have a good word for anything. Miss Mackay's views command our respect, of course, but it is very evident that she, like the above correspondent, does not study the daily radio programmes as set out in the New Zealand ' Listener.' The flood of stuff " poured out every day into the ears of young people," of which ' Miss Mackay complains, emanates mainly from certain radio stations that are recognised caterers for the musically illiterate. There is ho compulsion upon anyone to listen to it if they do not wish to. Alternative programmes of better quality are nearly always on tap, and obtainable by a little dial manipulation. As for the statement that since the appointment of a director of broadcasting there has been no improvement in the general programmes—well, it is entirely untrue and contrary to ascertainable fact. Let mo cite evidence in support of my contention.

A glance at the ' Listener ' shows us that during a recent week, October 11 to 17, inclusive, programmes of reallygood music were broadcast at night from tlw following stations:—lYX, 2YA, 2YI), 2YH. 2YX, 3YA, 3YL, 3ZR on October 11; IYX, 2YA, 2YN, 3YL, 4YO, 4YZ-on October 12; IYA. IYX, 2YC. 2YI), 2YH, 3YA, 4YO on October 13; IYX, 2YC, 2YH, 2YN, 3ZR, 4YA on October 14; IYA, 2YC, 3YA, 2YN, 4YZ on October 15; IYX, 2YC, 3YL, 4YA on October 10; and, finally, from IYX, 2YB, 2YH, 2YN, 3YA, 3ZR, 4YA, 4YZ on October 17.

,I'n other words, during that week 44 programmes of _ music of first-rate calibre were available to choose froin by listeners throughout New Zealand. Moreover, careful examination of the ' Listener ' files reveals this is by no means exceptional. On an average, some 40 such programmes are to he heard every week from the national stations. _ If people prefer to hear the commercial stations, that is their own affair. Nobody is compelled to listen to " tripe," so "what all the fuss is about goodness only knows. 1 assert emphatically, and have proved my words, that since Professor Shelley took control of New Zealand broadcasting tho programmes have improved beyond measure, and arc now-definitely superior to those heard from the 15.8. C., Australian, and American stations. In the matter of broadcast music New Zealand certainly leads the world.