BROADCAST MUSIC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18287, 4 January 1934, Page 6

BROADCAST MUSIC

(To tho Editor of ths Herald.) Sir,—Your correspondent who is contented with the. present choice of music broadcast- in New Zealand certainly easily pleased. As Landor once wrote, “Those who are quite satisfied sit still and do nothing; those who are not quite satisfied are the sole benefactors of the world.”

A perusal of a 8.8. C. weekly programme reveals the great inadequacy of ours in choice and variety. Here jazz predominates, which is not a good thing. Jazz is neither dangerous nor iniquitous, but simply poor music. As it is enjoyed. by " many . people, by all means have it, but not to tho exclusion of other forms of the art.

What we want in the world is not a sharp division of opinion labelled highbrow and lowbrow,- but a judicious blend—the broadbrow.

Radio broadcasts should be cultural as well as enjoyable. The field exploit-ed-should bo of the broadest, from the tomtom’s thud to the abstruse fugue. This would lead to a fuller appreciation of the universal tongue, and do away with the present monotony. It would then be a case of “when my Wagnerian overture met your little Pekinese.”—Yours, etc., R.L.L.

(To the feditor of the Herald.)

Sir,—May I be allowed further space in which to correct “Contented” on his answer, to my letter on Tuesday. Firstly, I wish to inform him that I did not say I wanted humorous items “all the while.” Secohdly, I am not alluding to all dance music or iteriis “in the lighter vein” as trash. All harmonious music, whether dance or otherwise, appeals to me, but I cannot call the American idea of songs and dance music. It is just noise—a big noise—and what is more, a noise without harmony. That is not my idea of music. Thirdly, I am quite capable of distinguishing between the 8.8. C. Dance Orchestra, etc., and the other kind, thank you! And the person who cannot do so has Yny sympathy and pity. I quite agree that tho Broadcasting Board lias organised the programmes to meet everyone’s taste and as this is so, then for goodness sake, let us try to cut out the repetitions. I think “Contented” lias got tho wrong impression from my letter altogether. I have no objection to “The girl in the little green hat” (which was only given as an example) or many other songs of that description. It is repetition I object to. No one would want to listen to dialogues—musical or humorous —sketches or plays all the time. What we want is more variety of items with certainly less American “music.” There is enough good dance music without that. I am sure I am only voicing the opinion of many others who up to the present have not. heen hold enough to come forward with their protest.—Yours, etc., “FED UP.”