Wow - amazing!
On Mar 13, 2012, at 4:37 AM, Gary Digman wrote:
> Famed Czech radical Josef Skvorecky recently died at 87 in his adopted
> land of Canada.
> In the Atlantic, JJ Gould remembers Skvorecky through his memoirs,
> including a detailed list of the rules for jazz performers during the
> Nazi occupation. The Reich's Gauleiter for the Nazi Protectorate of
> Bohemia and Moravia issued a 10-point regulation that Gould calls "the
> single most remarkable example of 20th-century totalitarian invective
> against jazz."
> 1 Pieces in foxtrot rhythm (so-called swing) are not to exceed 20% of
> the repertoires of light orchestras and dance bands;
> 2 In this so-called jazz type repertoire, preference is to be given to
> compositions in a major key and to lyrics expressing joy in life rather
> than Jewishly gloomy lyrics;
> 3 As to tempo, preference is also to be given to brisk compositions
> over slow ones so-called blues); however, the pace must not exceed a
> certain degree of allegro, commensurate with the Aryan sense of
> discipline and moderation. On no account will Negroid excesses in tempo
> (so-called hot jazz) or in solo performances (so-called breaks) be
> tolerated;
> 4 So-called jazz compositions may contain at most 10% syncopation; the
> remainder must consist of a natural legato movement devoid of the
> hysterical rhythmic reverses characteristic of the barbarian races and
> conductive to dark instincts alien to the German people (so-called
> riffs);
> 5 Strictly prohibited is the use of instruments alien to the German
> spirit (so-called cowbells, flexatone, brushes, etc.) as well as all
> mutes which turn the noble sound of wind and brass instruments into a
> Jewish-Freemasonic yowl (so-called wa-wa, hat, etc.);
> 6 Also prohibited are so-called drum breaks longer than half a bar in
> four-quarter beat (except in stylized military marches);
> 7 The double bass must be played solely with the bow in so-called jazz
> compositions;
> 8 Plucking of the strings is prohibited, since it is damaging to the
> instrument and detrimental to Aryan musicality; if a so-called
> pizzicato effect is absolutely desirable for the character of the
> composition, strict care must be taken lest the string be allowed to
> patter on the sordine, which is henceforth forbidden;
> 9 Musicians are likewise forbidden to make vocal improvisations
> (so-called scat);
> 10 All light orchestras and dance bands are advised to restrict the use
> of saxophones of all keys and to substitute for them the violin-cello,
> the viola or possibly a suitable folk instrument.
> I wonder how the nazis felt about notes inegale.
> Gary
>
> --
>
>
> To get on or off this list see list information at
> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
