GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS. (By SOUNDBOX.) This week's definition. Recitative, a declamatory way of singing, without any particular melody, and only a fragmentary accompaniment, usually leading up to a song. Following the practice I have adopted fof some years, this week I should review the issues of the September quarter, but as lately I have dealt with three extra catalogues in the hope of assisting readers of slender means to find music to their taste on the cheaper makes, I have not yet finished with the September issues of Columbia and His Master's Voice. This quarter, therefore, I shall not bother with the usual general review, but if any reader has found it worth while in the past and prefers the old order I shall be happy to revert to it if requested to do so. Suggestions are always welcome as indicating interest and assisting me to make these jottings helpful.

The Capet String Quartet has rerecorded Mozart's "Quartet in C Major" (K465), which is issued as an album work by Columbia. (04328-31, 12-inch.) Two sacred songs are the contribution to this monthV, lists of Richard Crooks, tenor, who sings "Open the Gates of the Temple" (Crosby-Knapp) and "The Star of, Bethlehem" (Weatherley-Adams). (His Master's Voice, E.D. 10, 12-inch.) John Turner is at English tenor with a large following as a singer of light ballads. His latest will by many be considered his greatest, "Mother Machree" and "I Hear You Calling Me." (His Master's Voice, 82876, 10-inch.) Described as a contralto, but actually a clever comedienne using a very good voice to sing trifles, Grftce Hayes succeeds in being different. In a style peculiarly her own she sings "The Man I Love" and. "Did You Mean It?" and merits a warm welcome. (His Master's Voice, 82688, 10-inch.)

The Musical Art Quartet is a string quartet, and iriight well be so described on the label. They have taken two wellknown light pieoes of the American school, Nevin's "Mighty Lak a Rose" and McDowell's "To a Wild Rose," and set them very effectively as string quartets. (Columbia, 0150(5, 10-inch.) Do you remenroer the old-time minstrel show where "the company" sat round a semi-circle and were announced for their items by the "interlocutor , ? ? Well, a record called "A Minstrel Show" will revive pleasant memories. There are. ten items in this miniature concert, all tuneful successes of yesterday. (His Master's Voice, E.B. 39, 12-inch.) ■ The Madrid Symphony Orchestra definitely puts Spain on the map among countries that maintain symphonic bodies of the highest order. It is heard this month in "£a Procession del Rocio," a composition by Joachim Turina of the modern Spanish school, colourful and interesting music. (Columbia, 02880, 18inch.)

A. Robert Poole, a baritone who sings with sympathetic -understanding, has a very acceptable offering in the current Columbia list. Hβ hao chosen two quietly peaceful songs and. sings them most appealingly, "Here in the Quiet Hills" (O'Reilly and Carr) and "O That It Were So" (Landor arid Bridge). (01537, 10-inch.) Of the host of noted organists now recording for the gramophone, by no means the least famous is Edouard Commette, of' the Lyons Cathedral. His previous records have been universally acclaimedy and he now gives us Cesar JYanck's "Pastorale," a great organist playing one of the greatest orgamcomposers. This has been described as a study in the softer shades of tone-colour. (Columbia, 02876, 12-inch.)

Sigrid Onegin is one of the leading I contraltos of the present day, and she I recently joined the ranks of His Master's g ..Voice, her lirst record for this company 1 .being now available. From Meyerbeer's I "Le P-rophete" shesings "Ah! mon fils!" 1 ai'd from Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice" | "Che faro seriza Euridice." Onegin has i a great range with the real contralto I lower register. (D.B. 1190, 12-inch.) I Rosa Ponselle, who, by the way, has u achieved a tremendous success at Home 1 this season, sings the "Miserere" duet 0 from "II Trovatore" with Martinelli, and B a very fine version is the result. With H Pinza (bass) she sings "May Angels. H Guard Thee," from "La Forza del Des- I .tin.o." The former has the chanting of | the priests sung by the Metropolitan Eg Opera chorus. A fine record. (His :Mas- R ter's Voice, D.B. 1199, 12-inch.) |] Before the Capet String Quartet lost S their leader recently by his untimely | death, they had made a series of records, 1 another of which is available this month, 1 Beethoven's "Quartet No. 14 in C Sharp M Minor." This work written;: in Eg 1826, the year preceding* Beethoven's I fatal illness, and bo represents the B mature development of his\ genius in i chamber music. It is'■> issued as an I album work with annotations. (Colum- I bia, 04322-26, 12-inch.) ' I

Gramophonists , who, like myaelf, attended the presentation of "Carmen" by Lewis Eady, Ltd., in conjunction with the Columbia Company, will be glad to know that similar presentations of other complete operas are contemplated.- The idea of presenting the words and illustrations of the scenee as the: records are played is admirable, greatly aiding appreciation of the music and plot. Those- who missed this treftt are advised not to let future opportunities passl by. .

Cimarosa was. an Italian composer, 749-1801, of unusual facility, writing i eventy-six operas in twenty-nine years; Vhile Court composer at St. Petersburg ie wrote five hundred "pieces of music" or the court. He also produced two oraorios, seven symphonies, and several antatas and masses. Contemporary dth Mozart, he displayed a fluency of ielody and orchestral richness that has een'described as almost challenging Dmparison with the greater man. Of his uge operatic output, "II . Matrimonio egretp , ? ("The Secret Marriage") was is masterpiece. The overture to this -ork has been recorded by the Milan ymphony Orchestra, another of the jlendid European organisations that oiumbia bring before the recording aerophone- (02877, 12-inch.)