Evening star., 1924-06-17
American Jazz
Invades Far East
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Chinese who have been educated IN
the United States have introduced
American jazz music in the Far East,
where it is becoming increasingly
popular. This is shown in official
dispatches from Consul Leroy Web
Der at Hongkong and Trade Commits
sioner G. c. Howard at Shan ghai.
Because Chinese music differs SO
radically from that of western peo-
| pie, the developing craze for jazz. for
band music and symphony orchestras
| means an important trade develop
ment with the United States, second
| only to Germany in supplying the de-
| mand for instruments
| Official reports from Trade Com
missioner Howard show that Shang-
| hal has a symphony orchestra OF
| about fifty pieces, playing on Sunday
afternoons during the winter months
| in the town hall and at Jessfield
Park and Hongkew Park several eve-
nings a week during the summer. A
brass band of twenty to twenty-fiv
pieces plays in the bund park during
the summer.
In addition, there are some dozen
more or less permanent dance or
| chestras of from five to ten pieces
using the usual piano, traps, violin
Saxophone, cornet, trombone, banjo
and bass viol combination common in
America. There are also groups OF
from three to ten Chinese who play
foreign-style horns and drums in
wedding and funeral professions, pa
rades and for advertising purposes.
X 4 x
In the case of the symphony, the
instruments are owned by the indi-
vidual musicians. 1t is purely vol
unteer organization. made up of vari-
GUS nationalities. and only a small
charge is made for admission to its
winter recitals, while the summer re-
citals at the parks are free; a small
charge is being made for chairs
its recitalS are all well attended
In dance orchestras the instru-
ments, with the exception of the pi-
amos, are individually owned, and in
most cases brought to Shanghai by
the owners.
and there Is some demand for band
instruments from the various mill
tary organizations in China
Sales are recorded in banjos, man
dolins, guitars. ukuleles, etc, to in
dividual purchasers, both foreign and
Chinese.
There is a good demand for sheet
music in Hongkong, China, and deal
ers report a marked Improvement in
this line during the past few years
according. to Consul Webber of Hong
kong.
X x X
1t is estimated that so per cent
represented dance music and popular
songs. and the remainder classical,
semi classical and band music. Prac-
tically all of the sales are confined
to the foreign residents of the col
ony and the more prosperous class of
Chinese.
Imports from the United States
have consisted chiefly of dance music
and popular songs, while most of the
classical music was secured from con-
tinental Europe. However, local deal
ers report that they have lately been
able to secure a very good selection
of classical and Semi-classical music
in portfolio and album bindings from
the United States and that American
sales of such music are on the in
crease.
Some dealers have made arrange
ments with representatives of Ameri-
can firms located on the Pacific coast
to have regular supplies Of dance
and song music sent them; the local
importer in turn sells to other large
retailers on a thirty-day basis, with
discounts varying from 20 to 40 per
cent Shipments are as rule ef-
fected byrparcel post.