OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 22

OVER THE AIR

[By ARIEL] Yehudi Menuhin, the famous young violinist, will shortly arrive in New Zealand. Will the BroadI casting Board take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity? A very important question this, because New Zealand is so essentially a second-hand country, existing on canned music, library thought, borrowed ideals. In fact, and as a very talented person said to me yesterday: "H. G. Wells is out-of-date; Bertrand Russell is an old man. And we are still living according to the precepts of John Wesley." Well, here we are in New Zealand, a few thousand miles from anywhere, living very much as the children of Israel lived, surrounded by our cows and our ewes and our wool-bales, with perhaps an occasional tram-car or a telegram or an income tax demand to let us know that this is the thirty-fifth year of the twentieth century. Far, far away exciting things are happening. There is a revolution in Greece, Schnabel is giving a concert at the Queen's Hall, Igor Stravinsky is conducting the British Broadcasting Corporation orchestra, Hitler is moulding the destiny of one great nation, Roosevelt the destiny of another. And from far away, to our brown and (fairly) pleasant land, there is coming young Yehudi Menuhin. There seems no doubt that Menuhin belongs to that tiny group of masters of the violin. Paganini, Kreisler, and now Menuhin. There is something magical about ?. violin, a few thin pieces of wood glued together and varnished over, and some stretched gut. And there seems some equally magical quality inherent in the being who can create glorious music out of these few materials cunningly fashioned by the hand of man. The idea of there being something magical in a violin is perhaps understandable, for one of the essential and inherent qualities of magic is that all the materials used should be personal. Thus the magician does not go to the nearest chain store to purchase his wand. No, the wand is a very personal matter indeed. First the willow tree must be selected, a willow far removed from the high road, and motor-cars, and cows. Then the wand must be cut with a knife made entirely by the magician himself. The iron should be mined, the metal smelted and forged, the blade hardened and ground, each process must be done personally. And finally, the little slip of peeled must at all times be kept away from contamination by the people. The violin of your master musical magician is somewhat the same. Violins are not casually purchased. As a rule, they have their own history, handed down from the time they were fashioned by some master craftsman of Cremona. Like pearls, violins take on the lustre of their owners. They acquira a "mana." a distinct personality. A violin is made from materials that have lived, living wood, living gut. The bows are made from horsehair. That is perhaps why violin playing attracts the attention of the emotional centres of the listener, an organic link is forged between player, instrument, and listener; whereas with an instrument such as the piano, this triple link is missing. Paganini In the days of Paganini it was j whispered that he had sold his soul jto the Devil. Those who heard Paganini play assured each other that only by diabolic assistance would it be possible to achieve his perfection. Nicolo Paganini was born in Genoa —a porter's son—in 1784. By the age of nine he made his professional debut. And from that day onward people were terrified at the very sight of him! As he passed them in the street, wrapped in his black cloak, they made the sign against the evil eye. They watched him with horrified apprehension on the concert platform, with his violin bent to the ground, right hand tight to his body, executing his amazing tricks, twisting the emotions of his listeners with diabolic virtuosity. He died at Nice in 1840. Kreisler was another infant prodigy. Born in 1875, by the age of 24 he had studied medicine and art and had been an officer in the famous Uhlan corps. He was an accomplished violinist at a very early age, and in 1899 he returned once again to the concert platform. During the great war he fought with the Austrians against the Serbs and was wounded. Kreisler also possesses the faculty —and this can hardly be fully realised by listening to his recordings, however perfect they may be—of profoundly stirring his audience. The emotional contact is broken by the medium of the gramophone to an even greater extent than by the radio. Yehudi Menuhin, the third member of this trio of prodigies, made his professional debut at the Carnegie Hall as a child of 10, playing the Beethoven violin concerto with the New York Symphony Orchestra. With this performance there seemed no possible doubt that Menuhin was a genius. To-day, at the age of 17, his j genius seems to be ripening. He has played in London, Paris, Ber- | lin, Rome, and other great musical centres, and his reception by both i critics and public has been tremendous. It seems impossible that a boy of his age can sail through works of Paganini in their original form. Apparently Menuhin can do so without turning a hair. Last year he recorded among other discs the Mozart A major sonata, with his sister Hephzibah, also the Bach Double Concerto with Enesco, which was awarded the Paris Prize as the best record of the year. An Opportunity Now the point is this. Will the Broadcasting Board take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity given to them by the announced arrival of Menuhin? Music lovers in New Zealand will indeed be bitterly disappointed if he comes and goes without having broadcast at least two violin concertos with the best orchestra that this country can provide. Public memory is short; but many people remember with sorrow the

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT

affront offered to a visiting musician last season, when he was offered a miserably small sum for the rights of broadcasting part of one of his concerts, with a "take it or leave it'' attitude. Therefore I make the suggestion now, on behalf of every radio license holder in New Zealand and the thousands of people who will purchase radio sets if my advice is taken. A Broadcasting Board Orchestra must be formed immediately on national lines, the cream of the orchestral players from the country must be collected at Wellington, rehearsals must start very shortly. I suggest that Menuhin be asked to play the Brahms, Beethoven, Tschaikowsky, and Elgar concertos, and I think he will be willing to play at least two of these. Advertising It is pleasant to record that a firm stand is being taken on the subject of radio advertising. MiAdam Hamilton, Postmaster-Gene-ral, appears to be adamant on the question. He is to be congratulated. First, it should be a principle that the air of New Zealand is a common heritage of the people of New Zealand, and free from the taint of commercial interests. Personally I am always relieved when I see the notice outside garages, "Free air." It is very charming to reflect on the fact that air, so unlike other necessities of life, is free. Second, the case for New Zealand advertisers is very different from the case put forward by supporters of the American system. There, the great national advertisers can afford to spend millions of pounds each year on superfine programmes. In New Zealand it is quite obvious that the revenue from advertisers would not be sufficient to pay for programmes of the calibre we receive at present. Third, the ultimate potentialities of radio are so enormous that it is distinctly unwise to allow such an instrument of culture, education, and entertainment to pass out of the control of the State. Perhaps it would not be a very alarming thing to have to put up with a few numbers of advertising matter at the present time. But imagine when pleasure is a commonplace! Imagine the terrifying sight on tine television screen of Mr So-and-So before and after taking X's Tonic! Imagine the pleading advertisements of household commodities, dust bins, motor-cars, bottled beers, and all the hundred and one things that would appear. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMMES SYA, CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 8.30 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.0: Time signals from Dominion Observatory. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.30: Sports results. 4.0: Time signals from Dominion Observatory. 4.30: Special weather forecast for farmers and special frost forecast for South Island fruit growers. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Aunt Pat. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals from Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. Recordings, Paul Godwin's Orchestra (a) "By the Swanee River": (b) "Down South" (Myddlcton). 8.10: Anne Welch (soproano), Norton Collyer (tenor), and Victor Conway (bass), "Chappell Ballads" 8.18: ' Raie De Costa (piano). "Music in the Air" Medley (Kern). 8.24: Fraser Gange 'baritone), (a) "Bedouin Love Song" (Pinsuti); (b) "Achal by the Sea" (Laurance). 8.30: Rudy Star Three (vibraphone novelty) (a) "Diane" (Pollack); (b) "Polly" (Zamecnik). 8.36: Recording, John McCormack (tenor), "A Pair of Blue Eyes" (Kernell). 8.39: The Bohemian Novelty Quintette (instrumental). "Rose Marie" Selection (Friml). 8.51: Recording, Scott and Whaley, Denis Warren Kentucky Banjo Team, "The Kentucky Minstrels" (Warren). 9.0: Weather forecast and station notices. 9.3: The Bohemian Novelty Quintette (instrumental). "Glow Worm Idyll" Gavotte (Lincke). 9.7: Miss Marjorie Clark (soprano) (a) "Just to Linger in Your Arms" (Arnold); (b) "Speak to Me of Love." 9.13: Recordings, Jean and Pierre Gennin (piccolo duet). "The Jolly Whistlers" (Gennin). 9.16: Recording, Columbia Light Opera Company, "The Quaker Girl" Vocal Gems (Monckton). 9.24: The Bohemian Novelty Quintette, "Trees," a Ballad Study (Rasbach). 9.28: Recordings, Richard Crooks (tenor), "One Alone" (Romberg). 9.31: Mai De Mer." A further episode in the lives of a Japanese Houseboy and his employer. 9.46: Bohemian Novelty Quintette, "Blue Butterflies" Intermezzo Valse 9.51: Miss Marjorie Clark (soprano), "Here's to Love" (The Sunshine Girl). 9.57: Bohemian Novelty Quintette, "Popular Medley" (arr. Pollard). 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10 to 11.15: Dance music. Alternative programme, 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Programme of classical music, featuring at 8.3: Chopin's Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, played by Alexander Brailowsky (pianist) and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Q.O: "An Hour with Mendelssohn," featuring at 9.0: Symphony No. 3 ("Scotch"), played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 8.30 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service, conducted by the Rev. P. L. A. Crampton. 10.15: Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.15: Sports results. 4.30: Special weather report for farmers and sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Cinderella. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Talk, The Gardening Expert, "The Development of the Garden." 8.0: Concert programme. Abridged Opera, "Die Fledermaus" (Strauss). 8.45: Recital by Pablo Casals ('cellist), "Goyescas Intermezzo (Granados); "Melody in F" (Rubinstein);. "Gavotte" (Valentine); "Tonadilla" (de Lasema); "Nocturne in E flat Major" Op. 9, No. 2 (Chopin). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.2: Variety programme. The Variety Ensemble, "To-night's the Night" (Rubens). 9.12: Recording: Jack Hulbert (comedian), "Keep Tempo" (Stanley); i'My Last Year's Girl" (Alter). 9.18: Xylophone, Rudy Starita. ;'The Dancing Tailor" (May). 9.21: Olive Groves, soprano, "Sing Gipsy, Sing," (Marlen). 9.24: The Variety Ensemble. "Vagabond King" (Friml). 9.34: The Forwards (sketch), A Football Match" (Evans); "After the Match" (Stanley). 9.40: Sigmundo Del Oro (organ), "Mexicali Rose" (Tenney). 9.43: George Baker (baritone) and Olive Groves (soprano), "Desert Song" Vocal Gems. Pt. 1 only (Romberg). 9.47: The Variety Ensemble, "Wedgwood Blue" Intermezzo (Ketelbey). 9,o0: Murgatrovd and Winterbottom (humour), (Ronald .%, a - n £ au <, and Tommy I-landiev), Winter Sports" (Frankau). 9 53Saxophone: Lewis Ruth, "Czardas" ..^ ont 1 1) - The Variety Ensemble, : March of the Giant" (Finck). 10.0- : Sports summary. 10.0 to 11.0; Dance

music. Alternative programme, IYX, 880 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: "Hunting in Couples," featuring famous dues in music and comedy 9.0: "Songs of the Sea," featuring the sea in music. 2YA, WELLINGTON * (570 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 8.30 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Chimes. Selected recordings. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals from Dominion Observatory. 11.15: Talk prepared by the Home Science Extension Service of Otago University. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2 p.m.: Light musical programme. 3.0: Sports results. 3.30: Special weather forecast 'for farmers. 4.0: Time signals from Dominion Observatory. Sports results. 4.30: Special weather forecast for farmers. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signal from Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. Alfredo Campoli and his Salon Orchestra, "Princess Charming" Selection. 8.7: Greta Keller, light vocal, "I Love You Very Much, Madame" (Grundland); "For all We Know" (Lewis Coote). 8.13: Patricia Rossborough, piano, "Mother of Pearl" Selection; "Foxtrot Medley" Introducing, "Birth of the Blues"; "That Certain Feeling": "Blue Room" and "Who." 9.19: Jack Doyle with Fred Hartley and his Quintet, tenor, "Just Pretending" (Doyle). "That Tumble Down Shack in Athlone" (Pascoe, Sanders). 8.25: A further episode in the lives of a Japanese Houseboy and his Employer "Oyster Stones." 8.40: Billy Rcid and his Accordion Band, "The Chelsea Pensioners" March (Munro-Tilsley); "The Aldershot Tattoo" March (Butler-Tilsley). 8.46: Light Opera Company, vocal gems from "Viktoria and Her Hussar" (.Abraham). 8.54: Frank Westfield's Orchestra, "The Cabaret Girl" Selection (Kern). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.4: Programme of modern dance music. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10 to 11.30: Continuation of dance programme. Alternative programme 2YC, 840 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: An hour of grand organ music, recorded by eminent Continental organists, including Berkeley Mason, at 8.5; G. Thalbeu Ball at 8.27; and G. D. Cunningham at 8.41; with vocal interludes by British choirs, including at 8.13, Lambert's "Rio Grande." 9.0: Variety programme, featuring "Minstrel Show" by the Kentucky Minstrels; "Crazy Pantomime"; Gillie Potter in "The Truth About Society"; and songs by Clarkson Rose. 4YA. DUNEDIN C 790 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 8.30 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.30: Sports results. 4.30: Special weather forecast for farmers. 4.45: Sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Aunt Anita and Cousin Molly. G.O: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 8.0: Chimes. The Concert Orchestra, conducted by Monsieur B. L. H. de Rose: March "Shoulder to Shoulder" (Komzak); Waltz, "Comfort in Vienna" (Schrammei). 8.13: W. Stevenson (baritone), "Oh, Could 1 but Express in Song" (Malashkin); "Pass, Everyman" (Sanderson); "Glorious Devon" (German); "Hinton. Dinton and Merc" (Holliday). 8.25: The Orchestra. "Album Leaf" (Cm); "Air de Ballet" (Borch). 8.32: Dorothy Sligo (soprano). "The Wind's in the South" (Scott); "The Bird that Came in Suring" (Benedict); "Dawn" (Curran); "Dawn, Gentle Flower" (Bennett). 8.44: Recording, Ticicnese Choir, Bern, "Lovely Teresina";

"Arrival at Palermo" (Traditional). 8.50: The Orchestra, Suite, Three Light. Pieces (Somerville). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.2: Dance music. 30.0: Sports summary. 10.10 to 11.15: Dance music. Alternative programme, 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 5 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: An hour of novelties, "In a Lighter Vein." 9.0: Programme of band music, with spoken interludes. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND G.S.D., 25.53 metres; G,5,8., 31.55 metres: G.S.F., 19.82 metres, New Zealand summer time. 7.15 p.m.: Big Ben. Donald Thorne, at the organ of the Granada, Tootling. 7.45: "Major Butterfield's Adventure" (electrical recording). A play in one act by Henry A. Hering. Produced by William Greenwich time signal at 8.15. 8.15: Picture Palace. A programme of music from the films. Presented by William MacLurg. 9.0: The news. 9.15: Close down. SUNDAY 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from St. Michael's Anglican Churc\i. Preacher: Canon H. Williams; organist and choirmaster: Mr L. G. Rickard. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.0: "Don Quixote," Symphonic Poem. Fantastic variations on a theme of knightly character. 3.36: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from Dominion Observatory. 5.30: Children's song service by the children of the Salvation Army. 6.15: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening meeting from the Salvation Army Citadel. Speaker: Major Tong. 8.15: Selected recordings. 8.30: Relay of concert programme from Station 4YA, Dunedin, including, "Greek Tragedy," presented by Professor Adams and company. Alternative programme. 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 6 p.m.: Musical programme. 8.30: Symphonic programme, featuring at 8.38: Max Bruch's "Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26" played by Yehudi Menuhin (violin), and the London Symphony Orchestra. And at 9.25: Brahms's "Symphony No. 1 in C Minor," played by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. IYA, AUCKLAND 9 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning servfee from Mount Eden Congregational Church, Preacher: Rev. Frank de Lisle; organist: Miss Ella Postles. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 12.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: Alfred Cortot (pianist); "Etudes Symphonique" (Schumann). 3.56: Selected recordings. 6.0: Children's song service. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Luke's Presbyterian Church. Preacher: Rev. J. A. Thomson; organist: Mr S. Yallop. 8.30: Concert programme. Symphonic programme: Paris Philharmonic Orchestra, "Pratton" Symphonic Poem (Saint-Saen:). 8.42: Beniamino Gigli (tenor), "Chanson Indou" (Rimsky-Korsakov). JJ.46: Willem Mengelberg and his Con- ! certgebouw Orchestra, "Les Preludes"' (Symphonic Poem) (Liszt). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.2: Willem Mengelberg, conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, presents: "Tschaikowsky's Symphony No. 4" (Tschaikowsky). 9.45: Sophie Braslau, contralto, "Romance" (Rubinstein). 9.48: London Symphony Orchestra, "Polijola's Daughter" (Sibelius). 10.0: Epilogue. Alternative programme, IYX, 880 kilocycles. 6 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8.30: "Musical Bric-a-Brac," featuring odd pieces from masterpieces. 21' A, WELLINGTON 9 a.m.: Chimes. Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from St. James's Presbyterian Church, Wellington South. Preacher: Rev. W. R. Milne; organist and choirmaster: Mr A. A. Brown. 1 p.m.: Lunch music. 2.0: "Concerto No. 2 in B Flat for Pianoforte and Orchestra," Op. 83, Arthur Rubinstein, pianist, with London Symphony Orchestra (Brahms). 3.0: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from Dominion Selected recordings. o.O: Children s song service, conducted by Uncle William, assisted by the children's choir from St. Giles Presbvterian Church, Lyall Baw 7.0: Relay or evening service from the Church of Christ, Wellington South. Preacher: Mr Geo. M. Mathieson; organist: Miss Eunice Inkersell. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30; An opera

in three acts, "Rigoletto." Alternative programme, 2YC. 840 kilocycles. 6 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: "The Elements." Introducing music and song inspired by the earth, air, fire and water. 4YA, DUNEDIN 9 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from Moray place Congregational Church. Preacher: Rev. A. Mead, M.A.; choirmaster: Mr A. Walmsley; organist: Mrs H. C. Campbell. 1 p.m.: Lunch music. 2.15: Recorded talk by H. J. Massingham, "Woodland Birds." 2.30: Recording, London String Quartet, "Quartet in F" ("Nigger") (Dvorak). 5.30: Children's song service. conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.30: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evensong from St. John's Anglican Church. Preacher: Rev. L. Groves: choirmaster: Mr W. H. Allan; organist: Mrs W. H. Allan. 7.45: Selected recordings. 8.30: Recording: Mengelberg and his Concertgebouw Orchestra, "Elegiac Melody" (Grieg). 8.38: Miss Ruth Perry (mezzo-soprano). I A recital of four Hebridean songs: 1. "Sheiling Song"; 2. "The Sea Gull of the Land-under-wave" 3. "Sea Reivers' Song"; 4. "The Christ Child Lullaby" (Kennedy-Fraser). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.2: Recording: Pablo Casals Symphony Orchestra of Barcelona. "Ruins of Athens" Overture (Beethoven). 9.6: Professor T. D. Adams and Company, Euripides, pioneer of the "No More War" movement 24 centuries ago—Scenes from his "Tro.ian Women." 9.56: Recording: Concertgebouw Orchestra, "The Ruins of Athens." Turkish March (Beethoven). Alternative programme, 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 6 p.m.: Selected musical programme. 8.30: Operatic programme: Gems from famous operas, vocal and instrumental. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND G.S.D., 25.53 metres; G. 5.8., 31.55 metres; G.S.F., 19.82 metres, New Zealand summer time. 7.15 p.m.: Big Ben. A recital by Eileen Ralph (Australian pianist). Rowland (Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home) (Byrd). The Lord of Salisbury, his Pavin (Orlando Gibbons). La joyeuse (The Merry Maiden) (Ramea'u). Souer Monique (Sister Monica); Les tricoteuses (The Knitting Women); La commere (The Gossip) (Couperin). Minuet from Suiie L'Arlesienne. (The Maid of Aries) (Bizet, arr. Rachmaninoff). Irish Folk Tune (arr. Arthur Alexander). Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (Debussy). Paganini Etude in E (Liszt). 7.45: A Scottish religious service (electrical recording), relayed from St. Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen. Greenwich time signal at 8.15. 8.30: A recital of songs and duets. Ridgway West (tenor) and Clements Russell (baritone). .9.0: Weekly newsletter and sports summary.