POPULAR SONG SECRETS.

North Otago Times, 1 November 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

POPULAR SONG SECRETS.

—i—rersons who understand the lovo o[ good music are constantly quarrelling with tho public taste as evinced ill its selection o( llio songs il makes popular. Tlicy do not seem to bo able to comprehend why an inferior melody will be avidly seized by the public, whistled and sung until it has become, a nuisance, and then thrown aside for some other popular air, while the better class of songssongs that are musicianly— remain almost unknown, unless some accident should bring them before this public.

Nevertheless, the reason is exceedingly simple. We are a quick and yet a lazy nation. Wc discourage originality in music because wo are too busy to learn songs which have an unfamiliar air. We like to whistle and hum tho songs which we hear, and the only ones with which this is possible upon a first hearing are those which we unconsciously know. They may bo labelled new, but we have known them for years, even though we do not recognise them in their disguise. Sometimes the plagiarism of a tune is absolutely complete, note for note, as, for instance, in the case of "A little bit off the top," which was so popular a few years ago, and the air of which is identical with that of "When Johnny comes marching home." Usually, however, the time is changed, and a note altered here and there. Tho air of "Maid of : Athens," so treated, has done duty , for at least a score of now popular [ ditties, including at least one Gaiety success. Another example I Evcryj one knows a certain setting of the ! famous old hymn "Nearer, my God, |to Thee," Almost everyone liowa- | days knows "Bluebell." Try them over after each other, and see if they ! are not the same.

It is unnecessary to specify further. You can take any of the popular hits and you will not need a detective to find where it came from. Mow, I am not blaming the song writers. They arc merely supplying a demand. 1 am trying to help supply it myself, and if 1 want a hit I go back to a bit. Of course, this may not be very high art, but it is the only thing that pays in the songwriting business. That is the answer. The public demands the old tunes and the composers aro composing them for it every day. Believe me, you do not need to know anything about music to compose one. Practically all that is needed is a good memory, The arranger will do the rest.