Chopin Would be Good at “Hot Music”

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 5

Chopin Would be Good at “Hot Music”

DANCE SEQUENCE IN “THE SHINING HOUR” AS PROOF (Regent: Screening Friday 10.30 p.m.) If Chopin lived to-day he could he one of the world’s greatest exponents of “hot music.” So declared Franz Waxman, Viennese composer, who offers as proof the dance sequence filmed in “The Shining Hour,” with Joan Crawford aud Tony DeMarco. With no other music than Chopin’s, the dance includes a classical waltz, the rhumba, the tango and ‘ ‘ swing. ’ ’ Waxman arranged and conducted tho number, an adaptation of Chopin’s Waltz in C Sharp Minor. Instrumentation was varied, tempo was changed, but otherwise Chopin’s music was untouched.

The number opens with the music played in traditional style on fivo pianos as Miss Crawford and DeMarco go into a traditional classical waltz. Almost imperceptibly trombones are introduced and the tempo is altered as the dance goes into a tango measure. Then, as maraccas and such percussion instruments are added, tho dance becomes a rhumba, finally goes into modern “swing,” then returns to the classical waltz with traditional music for the finale. “Not a note of Chopin was altered,” explaius Waxman. “But altering the tempo makes the music fit any dance step perfectly.” The picture is an adaptation of the New York stage success by Keith Winter. Appearing with Miss Crawford are Margaret Sullavan, Robert Young, Melvyn Douglas and Fay Bainter.

Tho “Extra” Girl says: “It’s the hard boiled egg that brings home the bacon. ”