MODERN MUSIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22935, 13 January 1938, Page 15

MODERN MUSIC

Sir, —"Condenser's" letter seems to show n certain amount of ignorance of mimical matters. There is just as large a proportion of really musical young people as ever, but, unfortunately, now, as ever, they are swamped by the "amusement" class, who are not musical really, but want something they can dance to; or have thrills up and down their spines listening to a crooner whining. Modern music, to a musician, certainly does not mean "jazz" or "swing" music. It is, perhaps, not as easy to understand as the beautiful old classics, but there is a good deal more to it than the swing-fiends could understand. Jazz -and swing are not modern —they are variants of old African music, certainly Americanised and sophisticated, but the bangs and whines and snorts and animal noises only remind one of New Year's Eve at 11.55 p.m. in a large city, and these noises are anything but newl Some of the jazz music is distinctly smart and clever, and, if left alone by the crooner, one could listen to it when played bv a good and reputable orchestra, free from ugly tricks, but I quite agree with the correspondent who suggested a special station where it could always be on tap for people like "Condenser," who imagine they are being young and modern by listening to it. Does he appreciate Hindemith, Debussy and Sibelius? That is what a nlusician would call "modern music," and these writers would hardly allow that "jazz" and "swing" were legitimate music at all. Music-lovek.