The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-13
DECLARES MUSIC BLUES"
OF CLASSIC CHARACTER
Marion Harris Discusses Origin
OF Popular Feature.

What are the now famous blues
in music?
"Slnce the very first time / went on
the stage" says Marion HaTris, the
dainty and talented little singer who
is being featured with the Columbia
SaNophone SeNtet, at Polls. Sunday
afternoon, January 10, for a novel
performance, 1--WE been singing what
is called today blues numbers.
"Often I've been asked: What are
blues songs? or course, | have my
own version Of what they are and my
own ideas as to how they should be
sung. Perhaps some OF our compoE-
Csrs who have studied what are "alled
folk songs may not agree with me
when I say that the blues numbe re-
are nothing more than negro ballads
but students of the COlored race and
those who have lived in the South all
their lives. especially in the country
and along the water fronts, ere OF
that opinion.
THE best examples ] know OF these
peculiar strains were brought out ia
John PowelPs 'Rhapsodie Negre- for
piano and orchestra, which is familier
TO most muslc-goers in this country.
Another hitting example was brought
out in the music used in the drama
Martinique
Being daughter of the South and
always having negro servants about
! the house, as "A child | was always
I interested in the folk tunes. BE tho
negro happy or sad, his music always
had "A minor strain. He always seem
cd TO be longing for something just
without his reach. Some students say
1t was his longing for his native
country. Others claim that slavery
had much TO do with it. Whethcc this
be the true solution or not. do know
that all negro music has harmonic
strain entirely different from that OF
any other race. 1t is said that negro
melodies are the only folklore in this
country. This ! believe.
Some fifteen years ago two cJlored
boys. Pace and Handy, started in the
publication of songs based upon ne
gro melodies. They produced hum
Der entitled st. Louis Blues. 1t
proved a big hit and soon was sung
in all parts of the country. To me II
was the true musical spirit OF the ne
gro, and when | started to sing IL
found it brought back many IA niliar
strains sung TO me by my ole colored
NANNY. In style this number had
true ballad form. 1t was not rag
time or jazz, and have already con-
sidercd IL classic in character
THE SANOPHONE.
Because the saNophonc Is somcWha I.
new as we'll as an odd instrument,
and commonly identified in this coun-
try with the jazz band, music patrons
OF the more cultured class should not
get the impression that II IL not truly
a musical instrument. 1t was invent
cd some cighty-odd years ago. BY
Adolphe Sax. and was first used in tn
French army bands In France II be
came highly developed, and in the
leading musical organizations of Ger
many and Russia high salaries were
paid the expert players TO join or
chestras and bands. in order that tn"
instrument should be played in the
most expert manner.
The members of the Columbia SaNO-
phone SeXtet, who appear a. iolis
Sunday afternoon. are all expert play
ers. All will tell you the FaNcpnone
is an easy instrument to play. N"t
they viii also admit they spend sew
eral hours each day in ardent prac-
tiCe.
The pop" concert is being present.
ed by the Columbia Grafonola dealer
Of Washington