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 I Won't Take Back One Word
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I Won't Take Back One Word - The 10 rule notice sent out by Hitler's cultural commissars in the late 1930's to Clubs & Band managers - mainly in Austria & other Nazi "occupied" territories - Jazz music & Cabaret was extremely popular in Germany. (Thanks from 3rd Ear Music & The Hidden Years Music Archive Project to Hannalie Coetzee for bringing this book to our attention in 1993. Does this sound familiar to pre-1990 SAfricans? Read the Publication's Control Board Letter to Mr. Roger Lucy, 1981.)

Editor's Note: I Won't Take Back One Word was finally published in 1966 as EINE KLEINE JAZZMUSIK. The detailed story of the intrigue surrounding this book may be found in JOSEF SKVORECK'S "ALL THE BRIGHT YOUNG MEN & WOMEN" - Peter Martin & Associates, Toronto 1971.

  1. Pieces in foxtrot rhythm (so-call 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 music of the barbarian races and conducive 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 cow-bells, 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 violoncello, the viola or possibly a suitable folk instrument.


Issued without permission by 3rd Ear Music
3rd Ear Music Company est. 1969 (Pty)Ltd.

P.O.Box 50633
Musgrave 4062
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
email: [email protected]


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