POPULAR MUSIC DISLIKED.
OPERA RIGHTS CONTESTED. (Unltea Press Association —By Electrio Tel egraph—Copyright.) (Received June 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. Sir Landon Ronald, the well-known composer, was one witness in a law suit, in which the owners of the copyright of “Madame Butterfly” are contending that airs from that opera form the basis of items in “Silver Wings,” a musical play now being performed in London. The defence denies the allegations, and says the fundamental air of one of the songs complained of was taken from a Sankey-Moody hymn tune. Sir Landon Ronald, giving evidence for the defence, said there was no similarly between the opera and the musical play excerpts, but he positively refused to hum a Sankey-Moody hymn tune, unless the judge ordered him to do so.
Questioned with reference to the abominable practice of taking melodies from great composers and incorporating them in dance tunes, he said: “I think it is scandalous. Nobody is more bitter about it than I.” He added that he never listened to modern dance music, unless he could not possibly avoid it.
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18583, 2 June 1930, Page 12
Word Count
181POPULAR MUSIC DISLIKED. Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18583, 2 June 1930, Page 12
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