The New York herald., 1922-05-21
Did You Hear?
About the Three Opera Revi-
walls With Jeritza and the
Origin of Jazz.
BY LUCIEN CLEVEs.


~ be revived next season at the
Metropolitan Opera House will
have Nine. JeritZa in the leading roles.
Since two of these works contain the
most famous roles in her repertoire,
according to the taste of the Wen
nese public, she will have an oppor
tunity to continue her successful ca
reer here.
II is not new that she will sing the
title role in "Thais," and that Masse-
nets work has been revived especially
! for her. In addition to the part which
did so much for the reputation of
Mary Garden and so little for Miss
Farrars, Nine. Jeritza viii also as
sumo another role which added spe-
cial luster to Miss Farrar's early years
at the Metropolitan. Nine. Jeritza will
add to her repertoire at the Metro
D politan Elisabeth in ''Tannhaeuser."
4 She has been one of the most popular
interpreters of the work at the opera
house in Vienna for several years.
| When Der Rosenkavalier" is sung at
the New York opera house next sea-
son Nine Jeritza will be seen as Octu-
uion Here are at least three new
roles for the soprano who made such
sensational success last winter as
7'oscd.
But the preparations for her success
at the Metropolitan do not end with
the selection of next years repertoire.
| During the season following she will
be heard here for the first time as
SdIon'e.
Gatti Rings Up Ziegler.
Before he sailed for his Work in Eu
| rope-since General Director Gatti-Cs-
sazza never takes a vacation-he pre-
sented TO his associate. Edward Ziegler,
| executive secretary of the metropolitan
Opera Company a rare Roman ring
made of an antique coin. Thus Is coin
appreciated in the highest realms of
| art
Clarence whitehill has been engaged
to sing Wotan i'm the performances OF
che Nibeungen triogy which are to be
given at the Covent Garden by the Brit
ish National Opera Company. Nine.
Stralia. who sang here in concert, viii
be the Brunnhtlde.
Mr.. La Rocco ON Jazz.
d. James La Rocco manager and
director of the Original Dixieland Jazz
Band, has his own theories on jazz. he
writes:
"Mr. Lucien CIeves-Dear Sir: After
reading your article regards to Jazz
in THE SUNDAY HERALD May II. 1922.
by people who know nothing about jazz
or it's origin. / thought Of sending you
Q few lines on this subject. Being a
member of the first and original Jazz
band in the world Ohe Original Dixie
land Jazz Band). think am fully quail
fled on this subject
The word jazz is OF Northern origin.
We had never before heard this word
used in New Orleans until after we
started working at the Boosters Club
in Chicago in 1914 After finishing play
ing a dance a couple upon the dance
floor kept on calling for jazz. the man
sger OF the club hearing them, thinking
the idea or name good for our band,
thereupon billing us the next day as
such. We later came TO find out this
word was used in the theatrical profess
sion meaning pep and that we were
adding to the music never before heard
outside Of New Orleans by any other
! hand than the Dixieland Band.
This style OF music came from New
Orleans. La, (or Rhythm) and was
brought North by the Original Dixie
land Jazz Band. the first novelty dance
band in the world ; we also introduced
this style into Europe and may add
: this is all American and not OF African
J or Spanish origin. The members of the
Original Dixieland Jazz Band are
Americans inclusive OF their parents
all born In the United states all white.
: "Syncopation was used thousands OF
years ago: most all the great operas
contain syncopation.
"The phonograph records will bear out
} my statements We are the first novel
" dance band I'm the world-players of
} the first novelty dance record ever -
be put on the market for sale. entitled
Livery stable Blues this being ouT
own composition. In this record we ii,-
terpoIated the rooster crow. the horse
neigh and the donkey bray This was
the revolutionizing OF the music indus
! try. Then came in later years the saxo-
: phone laugh. the trombone laugh But
! the Original Dixleland jazz Band
pointed the way.
, we are termed as takers. as we do
! not read music but play from ear. IN
other words. We made our own arrange
, mcnts. retaining in memory only the
parts we each had TO play. same as Tho
, special arranged music put on score "a
be played by any learned musician
same as the orchestras are using to-day
. Whereas they have never been able u
play the music as we have played u
| o. arranged same. being OF our own
, origin.
Now much has been said about jazz
music, some going so far as TO compare
Jazz with the grtase dripping doughnuts