The Washington times., 1936-05-28

| top ana Ute Lhem IN dtpH10eLlcu'
What is "swing-music?" We
have been asked this question
and in turn have asked others,
but with practically no definite
results. When Leopold Stokow-
ski renounceS the dictatorship of
the Philadelphia Symphony Or,
cheStra in order to do research
work in music and mentions
specifically his interest in swing.
music, it makes one all the more
anxious to learn at least the
definition of the rhythm.
AS we seldom have time to
listen to the radio, and are
usually working at the time
when others are wont to undulate
lightly over the dance floor,
swing music has heretofore
passed over our head. The usual
answer we have gotten from
even experienced dance band
players was that Swing-music is
smoother and has a strange
rhythm which our informant
could not define.
The elusive attempts to define
Swing-muSic have caused many
hours of research and worry
Now we have at hand an explana,
tion that is partly satisfactory in
an article by the well-known
American composer, Virgil Thomp
son, in the last issue of Modern
Music. The three sample meas.
ures of rhythms given above will
serve as Introductory to the idea
of the Swing-muSic rhythm.
Previous to 1912, there were no
pronounced fads in dance music
There were the conventional
waltz and the twostep. The first
nomenclature for a popular dance
rhythm was the rag-time style
The Twelfth Street Rag" was q
notable example of this rhythm
It will be noted that there was
a regular accent on each main
beat in the ALA breve Cor cut)
time.
About the time of the World
War the jazz fox-trot swept the
dance field with a more frequent
accent beat, as noted in the sec
ond example shown above. Dark
town Strutters Ball." will be re
membered as a good example OF
the early jazz idea.
Then in addition. came the
Latin influence with the tango
rhythm. The third example
shown above gives the basic
rhythm Of the tango; the accent
is on the first beat of the meas
ure only. The well-known 'Ls
Paloma" may be cited as ar
example of this rhythm in the
accompaniment, although this
work is not strictly a popular
dance tune. This rhythm is com
mon among the primitive Afri
cans. and may have been brought
to the West Indies and there
appropriated by the Spanish.
AS space at the head of thL
column does not permit the USE
Of more than three examples O.
rhythm day, this discussion viii
Of necessity be continued couple
more days. In his introductory
statement, Virgil Thompson says
"Swing-music is for the laymar
just a new name for what an
other generation called jazz" W.
shall present principal rhythm!
in order that they may be con
traSted with the present da!
swing-music rhythm.
A delightful program was pre-
sented last night by the Alict
Louise Hunter Dancers at th'
Roosevelt High School Audi
torium. Most of the dance
were Of the ballet type although
there were several of the popula
tap dance style.
Miss Hunter presented a groul
Of ballet dancers including Cert
rude Elmendorf, Eileen Jordan
Marjorie McGann, Gloria Cone
Kathleen Davis, Gloria Masgoret
Helen Richardson, Rosemary HaC
leigh and Priscilla Makela, that az
peared in various dances. Thes
; young ladies showed high interprt
tative values and went througl
| their routines in an exper
, fashion.
; Principal among the ballet pre-
sentations were 'Thwarted":: 9TH
Masquerade BALI: "Pas de Trois'
(Valse Trieste by Sibelius); an
the group of Chopin works, 'Not
turne. Opus 81, No. q, "Mazurks
Opus 7, No. l." waltz in C Shar
Minor, Opus 64, No. g." "Prelud
Opus %, No. IT., and waltz in