Evening star., 1934-04-05
0[D-T|ME MUSIC
SCORES OVERLAP
Oldest Inhabitants Criticize
Modern Tunes, Praising
Those of Another Day.


ciation of Oldest Inhabitants last
night made the Old Union Engine
House at Nineteenth and H streets re-
sound to the melody and harmony Of
"old-time dance music" as many cou-
Piles ''tripped the light fantastic"
Jazz was variously scored as "Afri-
can Jangles," the Great American
Noise" and "a burlesque on music"
by Elra C. Palmer, vice president Of
the association, who played on an old
violin. The association officially COM
mended old-time music as opposed to
modern jazz.
The merriment was not confined to
the ancient fire engine house. how
ever, where the association for many
years has been holding its regular
monthly meeting. 1t was broadcast
by the National Broadcasting Co.,
through Station WMAL, with all the
colorful background of music, voices
calling figures for the quadrilles. clap
ping of hands and shutting feet.
Mr.. Palmer, with his ancient violin,
which had been played at Ford's The
ater on the tragic night of April IA,
1865, when Lincoln was aSsassinated,
was principal musician for the eve
ming, and ardent champion OF the
old-time tunes. Others, however. we're
moved also to recall many of the old
fashioned songs, James F. Duhamel
and John Clagett Proctor quoting at
length from some of the favorites of
years ago. All joined in Justify sing
ing My Old Kentucky Home" for a
finale.
Music in Olden Days.
Jazz music was roundly scored by
Mr.. Palmer in a brief discussion of
"Old-Time Dance Music vs.. jazz
which preceded the musical enter
tainment.
"I am here to assert" declared Mr.
Palmer, that the tunes or airs to
which we older ones used to dance
have music in them, that we can
prove it by both argument and DEM
onstration, and that we cannot only
hold our front-line trenches against
criticism, but can make counter-at
tacks on the ideas of those young
rattle-headed ignoramuses who since
the World War have driven good sense
out of their heads, ridiculed our stand
ards of morals, music and dancing.
Music to be good music for dane
ing" declared Mr.. Palmer, should
consist of an air or melody, harmony
of chords where more than one in
strument is played, and accent on the
first beat of the measures to mark
properly the rhythm of the tune. -.
who Is there who does not enjoy
the splendid airs played by our Gov
ernment bands and orchestras or the
magnificent harmonies and the fine
swinging rhythm of the marches Of
John Philip Sousa? Or whose soul
has not been lifted up by the beau
tiful music Of Victor Herbert? Yet
they wrote by the old-fashioned rules
Of harmony, tune and rhythm, for the
old fashioned instruments Of old-time
bands and orchestras.''
Quotes Jazz Authority.
Referring to a book by Paul White
man and Mary Margaret Mcbride on
sJazz." the speaker related their de-
Scriptions of the origin Of modern
Jazz and quoted from other authors
on the subject. Mr.. Palmer thought
rather that jazz originated in African
Jungle hamlets, with tom-toms and
bamboo flies. He criticized it as the
"Great American Noise, brazenly
called jazz" and scored the "rowdy-
like dancing which, good authorities
have charged. is induced by 1t"
Mr.. Palmer charged "jazz" should
be called African jangles."
In spite Of what Mr.. Whiteman
says" the speaker declared, "jazz is
not white American music. nor is it
the cultured colored American music ="
He criticized sharply the motions
made by two different jazz orchestras
and their leaders while playing and to
the blasts of noises which he said
reminded him of a nail factory.
The group applauded vigorously as
Mr.. Palmer declared, Whenever such
an orchestra starts its caterwauling
with its saxophones over the radio,
promptly turn it off until the pro-
gram tells me that real musical
orchestra playing real music is on
Hoping that something good may
come, however, out of jazz, the
speaker referred to Whiteman's prom
ise of "sweeter harmony" "Sweeter
harmony is just what jazz needs" "
declared the speaker, mot jumping
jacks
Notes Improvement Signs.
Recently, listened to his orchestra
play over the radio" said Mr.. Palmer,
land was pleasantly surprised to hear
some really sweet harmony and some
tune also-so I concluded that he Is
actually getting some real music into
It. At the same time, however, he
should realize that he Is getting out
Of the jazz class. for jazz Is nothing
but a burlesque on music. and it will
continue to be the clown in the circus
just for the amusement Of the chill
dren and half wits until the Jump
ing-jack' business has been eliminated
and 'sweeter harmony has been in
jected.
Il feel sure that Mr.. Whiteman and
his accomplished aide, Mr.. Grofe, will
continue to do the necessary elm
mating and injecting until the COM
mon people, who love music rather
than noise, will become contented
listeners as they have always been to
the real music in the good old
fashioned jigs, reels, schottisches and
waltzes."
Many couples joined in the dances
Of the evening, as Mr.. Palmer, accom-
panied by George E. Heisley. at the
piano. played. B. F. McCauley called
the figures for the quadrilles, and also
for the Virginia reel. Frank W.
Bowling, marshal of the organization,
was conspicuous, not only in group
dancing, but in some solo numbers.
Mr.. Palmer played one of his own
compositions, entitled Nations Re-
covery March," and concluded his
program with Come, Put Me in My
Little Bed"
Recall Old Songs.
Among the songs recalled by James
r. Duhamel were John Browns
Body" "Just Before the Battle
Tramp. Tramp, Tramp, Marching
Through Georgia" "swanee River. "