Evening star., 1938-01-16

played over the radio. and after that
they wanted to 20 and see the orches-
tra perform, for whereas in former
years they had been used to enjoying
orchestras - . whole, the thrill Of
going to hear an orchestra made up of
star musicians whose solos set ones
pulses speeding was . delight.
J. The tricks to Harlem of the Yales
and their girls certainly gave the ap-
probation Of swing . shove forward,
For, not only did the young hear some
f1ne artists and see the birth Of such
dances - truckin' and suxie-Q, but
they learned the targon Of swing. which
gave them feeling Of superiority over
their playmates who did not under
stand it. So, with the shufiline dances
finding their way to Park avenue,
bringing with them the music, 10 the
twisted vocabulary Of swing crept in
and settled it as . concrete thing.
After all, II . thing has q language Of
it, own, it cannot be . flight OF imaRi-
nation nor an elusive fad that keeps It
alive.
Earlier Big Apple
Would Not Have Made Hit.
I. Had the big apple come out four
years ago, 1t would never have caught
the public ~ 1t did this year. This Is
due to the fact that four years ago
few people knew the steps that come
into it-and unless they had gone to
Harlem or the deep South they would
not have found the music.
5. At dances the young demand
smart tunes"-in other words. tunes
that are show music and not CONNER
cial. Having heard certain orchestra
tions recorded, they want to dance to
them-hence the demand for such
pieces rs Satan Takes q Holiday" and
Marie" This seems to be the sign
OF trend in appreciation for WORTH
while orchestration, which, say the or
chestra leaders, is gratifying and q
good thing.
6. What is it that has caught the
bright young things Imagination? 1t
Is the color and creative side Of swing.
The feeling that the instructive emo
tions Of . human being have been
caught and put on paper and made
legitimate musically. AS the dance Of
. savage IL intuitively correct rhythmi-
cally, and all native music IL instinc-
lively correct in harmony, 20 this
music Of the spirit has been captured
and imprisoned on paper, to be set free
again by whatever musician plays 1t.
This feeling Of immortalized freedom
creates an ecstasy and an elation be-
yond comparison, and the young peo-
pie feel it.
Z. No. swing does not affect the ap-
probation Of music that Is not Jazz.
For it should make the sense Of rhythm
more sharp, the sense of hearing more
acute, and. IS these are the bases Of
musical appreciation, they cannot
harm it.
3. Swings future is assured, but not
for either Of the reasons mentioned.
Free improvisation will always exist,
but it will not be immortal unless
heard and put In writing. Trick
orchestrations no longer exist +.
the only reason that they seem to be
trick" is that they are expressing
swing in the notes and rhythms; but
this is genuine form, original and
complicated as it may seem. No,
swings future rests in excellent or
chestrations, worthy crystillizations of
the freedom that we have spoken of.
Older People Beginning
To Accept Swing.
.. The proof of Swings influence is
in the fact that the older people are
beginning to accept it. Dismissing it
as craze At first, there are some who
still frankly dislike it. Others, how
ever, have q distinct feeling for It,
finding its inventive quality increas-
ingly interesting. Another sign Of
swings presence Is the trend toward
new and more complicated dance
forms; the dancing Of young America
has considerably improved in the
past three years. Which, the god Of
the dance, Fred Astaire, would say.
Is also a good thing.
10. Swing Is definitely not . fad.
Although its progress may not be
marked by An increasing number Of
trips to New York to cape at Gene
Krupa's quicksilver sticks; although
the family bills for records may soar
no higher the families will rebel If
they do) and although there may be
no added apoplexy Is Dorseys latest
hot break hits the air, and the shag-
ging and shining may cool down :.
yet will the youth Of America con-
tinue to advocate swing, and musicians
like 1t 80 much that they will insist on