IS THE TASTE FOR JAZZ PASSING ?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16836, 27 December 1928, Page 4

IS THE TASTE FOR JAZZ PASSING ?

2BL’S “REQUEST” PROGRAM?'E There is a well-known principle ir. salesmanship which is impressed on budding salesmen—‘'the customer is always right.” The customers of the broadcasting stations are members of the general public, and when in no uncertain voice they demand a certain ; class of music, it must be assumed that ‘‘they are right.” Lately the New South Wales Broadcasting Co. initiated the idea of a long musical programme of studio music every Sunday from station 2BL between the hours of 12.30 p.m. and 2.0 p.m. It was intimated through the announcer that these programmes would be made up of request numbers. Immediately following this announcement, numerous requests were received, and the selection made was significant.

It would seem that there is a distinct desire on the part of the majority to hear music of a classical nature as opposed to music of a- modern jazzy type. Is the taste for jazz on the wane? It certainly would seem, judging by a test such as this, that it is. Here are a few of the requests received: ‘‘Solveig's Song,” from Peer Gynt suite (Greig); ‘‘Prologue,” from Pagliacci; “Melody in F” (Rubenstein); “Minuet” (Beethoven); ‘"Serenade” (Tosselli); “Onibra Mai Fu” (sung by Caruso); “Impromptu and Mazurka” (Scriabine); “Serenade” (Moskowski), etc.

It is astonishing how many people wanted to hear organ music.