The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-08
MADDY ATTACKS JAZZ
IN ADDRESS BEFORE
LOCAL W0MAN'S CLUB

In one of the most stirring speeches
made before the music department of
the Woman's club. Prof. J. E. Maddy,
supervisor of music in the public
schools. deplored the reign Of jazz mu-
sic and urged that more pride be taken
in the cultural assets of classic music
than in the financial assets of jazz
music.
"If we take pride in our culture"
he said, 1--WE would certainly consider
it an asset; but if we think only in
terms of business and money, we
might even consider culture a liabil-
ity. A large percentage Of the Ameri-
can people consider culture old-fash-
toned.
Mentions Exclusive Sets"
us it not true that certain class
of American people, who consider
themselves the better class, spend a
goodly portion of their time at exclu-
sive summer and winter resorts where
Jazz music and immortality reign SUI
preme?"
Denouncing the low tastes of these
exclusive SETS" Mr.. Maddy said:
Fully 90 per cent Of the metropolis
tan weddings and debutante parties of
the social set consist largely of dane
ing, with jazz music as the principal
entertainment"
He defined "the greatest blessing
of the common people the fact that
they do not possess the above men,
toned tastes and the worst curse we
have. he stated, is that so many of the
tn
follow the standards set by this
class.
Praises Common People.
While. such a state of affairs would
he disastrous in any other country
Prof. Maddy said I'VE can thank God
that we are in America where the
common people can degenerate faster
than the highbrows can degenerate.
Richmond is fortunate in not having
any such social set and in her people
not being highbrows in the sense
have used the word"
Mr.. Maddy attributed the popularity
Of jazz to two things--the shreWdness
Of its publishers who he said sell their
goods because they advertise them so
extensively, and also popular music is
for the most part composed OF WORD
hits" or tune hits which are so
simple that they can be memorized in
one hearing"
Good Music Not Recognized.
Good music" on the other hand, Mr..
Maddy explained, "is unpopular be
cause of its lasting qualities which of
necessity make it. more difficult to
memorize. 1t is unpopular because
people are not willing to spend the
effort necessary to enable them TO ap'
preciate good music
--.. Says Jazz Jades ~. -. F.
Popular song publishers, Mr.. Maddy
declared, know that if they do not
keep the market constantly flooded
with new and snappy hits popular
songs would soon pass out OF vogue.
That music can be classical and popu
lar at the same time he pointed out
was illustrated by fix songs, which
are Simple tunes that live" and as
he said, folk songs are accidents"
People must be educated to good
music was another paint made by the
speaker. This can be done. he showed
through the children, through talking
machine records in the home, and by
making the parents realize that the
kind of music they provide in their
homes is the kind they must expect
their children to like.
Urges Good Music
He urged the Importance of forcing
good music on the public on every oc
casion pointing out that that was one
of the methods Of the popular SONG
publishers who sent de1uges of music
to the bands and orchestras every
where and paid vaudeville actors roy
ally for singing their latest songs Tc
bring good music to the front We must
meet fire with fire" for he added, ''it
the public hears more good music thar
trash it will learn to prefer It.
Good music in park concerts, II
theatres. and the popularization o
community musical enterprises ant
symphony concerts were also named
as methods of educating the people t.
an appreciation OF better music.
Speaking of the symphony orchestr;
Mr. Maddy stated that it is not yet {
civic organization" because it is sup
ported by only five percent of the PEG
pie At the same time he compliment
ed the city highly for its interest II
music and predicted that steps for
ward were being taken all the time.
Emphasizes Influence.
He emphasized the fact that must,
has broader influence than any sub
ject taught in the schools with thu
single exception of English. ut is,
he declared, "the source of pleasure
and healthy recreation through life.
Public school music begins in thu
kindergarten. extends through higl
school and does not stop there, bu
goes on through the symphony orches
ira, and the festival chorus and Incl
dentally makes UP our church choirs
Sunday school orchestras, singing SO
cieties, and theatre OrcheStraS."
LEGION COMMITTEE