Music from the Disc

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 27

Music from the Disc

Christmas Hymns. ,' Six of- tho most popular Christmas hymns nro sung by tho Westminster Central Hall Choir under Arthur Meale and admirably arranged on to one record. . Therpimfcy »nd balance of the tone as .very fine indeed, and tho inter-1 preiationsarotrtie to English tradition. JNotlimg lv sacred music is moro simple! oranorc beautiful'than these old hymns that brcatuo the spirit of tlio English Christmas. .Tlio -organ isclearand helps to give, atmosphere ■ tolho smgmg.; Among' the hymns arc .'AVlulo _ Shepherds .Watched,» "it "fl^T Jliduig''t Clear," Weber's '' Oberon '■»"•. Overture. fIWn eD? M™S°]belS aiia the AmsternT ° f tdwl raf Ye, «ad■ing..of AVeber's -famous: "Oberon" St?' ™, ti™ Ulo»th's>-Columbia lists, mo playing carries us from tho first note into fairy realms. Exquisite tonal colourings, and instrumental efieets of the utmost ingenuity, make this recording one of tie most delicate and xanciful yet released. Particularly rich -2 S^?? 1? 11 are tho HSnt movements of -the-tames"-on" tie-clarinets and Oberon >s theme on the horn. Mongolberfc has ; tho ,gramophone's repertoire with- a.Avorit:-tlKit for ethereal beauty \n II. ; rema;hr;iong unsurpassed On tho J fourth,,side;of : these two recflrdsjve^ire gjven .tlieSlavonic Dance 2.v & Minor, tf Dvorak; splendidly play-ed'by'Sir-Henry Wood.and the' New O^n^Hail^-^rciiestfa^ (Columbia Old Favourites,^;,/ rk( ■ ' ' ~v :' r llecen : try^clc;^ffli^a ? ul Winnie ilelvilie. v .^aye : ;-"us. vtwo^ery.; 'Enjoyable duets. : from : : .flic;; old avobitc light opera.,-•'•'■feroiia[tte/?*.;;On:toX) of. this comes ; ,a:record.: containing' this :voeal gems from the. sanv^TO&rij sung by tbo These inc]ude 'TakQiEstelle. and- Vevonidue," "Then iW'iS^*. 'fV°*k&' Pnet,».' ■ and _ Tie Bloom.oi-an Apple Tree.'^Nothing could, bo; more; delightful. Equally a^ractive nj^tiiq; :#&#.< :g 6ni3 - from .ThcArcadianS^.pii.theother side, including "My potter-I';'JThe Girl With the JBrogue,'? .:"Pipe' S ; c 6f: Pan," and , Weathir,; - ; ; .. (H.M.V., Hungarian Dancej..', „Ampnf f thQ^hpi;tei-:^6rks oJ! Brahms -few have attained' the of the Hungarian.Dances, o-f which Numbers o and ,6.ai;e perhaps the best known, lihs month's hst,includes a splendid pairing of these two by Sir Hamilton Harty and the Halle' Orchestra. An essential: feature, of. all the- Hungarian. Dances is the abrupt change from grave melancholy (lassen). to *wild nierriment (friska), involving many changes to time and tonality ana a peculiar richness of harmony.- I n No. 5 Harty handles with the understanding of an artist the change from tho slow sensuous opening to the gayer theme. 3STp. 6 is characterised by astonishing variety of melody, rhythm, and. harmony and every shifting mood";is. handled with the ty- o f a'master. (ColumNursery Rhymes. - The merriest collection of nursery rhymes imaginable is given on a record that has come to hand this mouth. Tho singers are Uncle George's Party and their jollity is Uruly,. iifcctious. Nothing could be more, suitable for children. Ine pieces include "Humpty Duinptv " "Little 80-Peep," "Old King Cole'," bmg a Song of Sixpence," "GooseyGoosey Gander," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," "Three Blind Mice," bee Saw, Marjory Daw/" "Little Tommy Tucker," "Londonbridge is Jrokon Down," and others,,: Here are tho old nursery rhymes given with the' Vropei- intonation. (H.M.V., B2SG6), Grand Opera in English. Few arias from grand opera ' are more popular than the "Barcarolle" from Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman" and "Give Me Your Darling Hands " from Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" An English version is highly welcome, especially sung with such brilliance and sympathy as Isobel Baillie, NellieWalker, and Francis Eusseil bring to them. Bella Baillie is the find of tho Covent Garden year. This soprano has an. exquisite legato, and has a warm ■vital quality very roininiscont ofMelba at her best. Particularly fine, too - is Praneis Eusseil, who scored- a big' success in tho Covent Garden season this year. Ho.sliares the Puccini duet with Bella Baillie, and shows a manly unaffected^ style that dodges all the serious iraults of the Italian school. Kecords like this, capitally suug, and capitally accompanied, should bo in every collector's possession. (Columbia 02935). Gem. from ' 'Messiah.'' Tho. English tenor, Walter Widdop, who has played a big part in the successes of the Wagnerian issues of the last few months, is also one of the foremost of England's oratorio singers, and has made notable appearances at several of the big English1 musical festivals in 'Messiah." His voice-is east in an heroic mould, powerful and resonant ■in the fortissimo, and capable of tho' softest pianissimo without loss of character. This month he gives perhaps tho most famous tenor passage in oratorio tho recitative "Comfort Ye .My People," and the following air, "Every Valley Shall be Exalted," from Handel's "Messiah." In the recitative there is a philosophic calm in even.the most emotional moments, and the aria is characterised by an exaltation that carries with it the listener. Widdop leeeives splendid support from the orchestra under John Borbirolli The strings which play an important part are particularly beautiful. (H.M.V. Gladys Mqncrieffi ' Gladys. Monerie£f';makes: au'exeellcnt pairing on. her latest record, giving on, one- side_»Where;is the' Song of Songs ior.Me?.-" Irving: Berlin's/big hit from "The. Lady of the Night,'' and on the other, "I Pound Happiness When I I'ound You," from "The- Eiver." Both these popular theme- songs will.be faurilur to thd majority.. of listeners* It airuply -remains to say that Australia's" "Queen of Song" turns them into excellent vehicles for her glorious voice (Columbia 01684.). Stirring Music."" i Those who enjoy . straightforward, clean-cut, vigorous and: resounding performances of rousing tunes by an army band (land who doesn't?) will like tie marches .'■? Gridiron. Club '■ ? and '' The National Game," recorded by Sousa's famous band. These are just the things for schools or siiininer camps, or under any other conditions where rousing and stirring music of a rhythmical character is required. (H.M/V., EA591.) Norman long, Eentertainer. That jolly entertainer, Norman Long, gives us one of his typical bits of wise foolishness in a pairing of 'Aren't We All?" and "That Back Garden of Mine.". The first will tickle you about tho incident of tho vicar who calls to tea at four, arid his meticulous host wondering'if he's seen the bottled beer behind the door. Tho .second is not the sentimental thing it sounds, and is chiefly a grouse at the salmon tins that find their way; over hia-fence. (Columbia 01675).

Popular Artists. r Two of America's most popular vaudeville artists, Jack Smith, tho orig- , i_al wbisijering baritone, and still tho } best, aud Johnny Marvin, tho silver tenor, contribute an outstanding record to tlio lighter class of this month's issue. Both have now had a Jong run oi- successes on tho gramophone. Smith «"c? S Wltl! orcllcstr-t] accompaniment pbo s a Keiv Kind of Old-fashioned trjrl, and his inimitablo tone shadmgs give a pleasing touch of scntimont. Marvin's number is "Down iL m?, n.S the Sugar Cane" (When I'm Wallun wnh my Sweetness), another Medley Toxtrot. Jack Hyltou gives the dancers a lot ior^thcir money in " Medley Fostrot,"mace up from tunes out of the talking w,Tn' V°X Movieto"o Follies of ttrni , -, c Pieces introduced are -That sou, Baby," "Walking -with 'm °'„ Breakaway," and "Big City Blues," all of which have been popular as individual numbers. The orcb.estratiou is ingenious, and Hylton's sense of rhythm never fails. CHMV B 5658.) ' *' King's Thanksgiving record. St. George's Chapel, attached "to Windsor Castle is always a Mecca of lovers ot good singing, ".f Or " t i/ e e , loir is among the most famous-hi-fhc~worl,"l Uus month Sit- Watford. Davies leads them m a nue record of the music ! sung on tho occasion of. the King's! Thanksgiving. First comes tho _? a . I tional Anthem, and surely it has never I been sung with such -fire dud beauty On the samo side follows a "Psalm of of Sn AValford in las capacity of Mas\f •S If ■ Kl"g s- Slusie—a son of Musical Poet Laureate. The reverse side ls taken up with an Elgar pieceCoronation OfEertorium"— one of the gems from this great composer's pen. The singing.throughout is sheerly lovebW_936) kW a Capital I' eC°ra* (Golum-G-lorious PohseUe. The singing of Eosa Ponsello is a tlnng of beauty that should, not bemissed. Few sopranos of the present day have, that rich quality, that can convey _ emotion without seeming to strive Cor it..This month" S he sings4e "Cosla Diva" aria from Bellini's opera JSoi-ma," which was especially revived at Covent Garden ior the prima donna's benefit. In this aria Norma, as as her right as High Priestess, refuses to declare war. on tho Romans feho smgs this, very number to the Queen of Heaven, calling upon her to bring peace on earth, and to guard them against war. Norma also prays for her lovey, tho Roman pro-Consul. The melody is one of the most remarkable in all opera, developing from the first notes to the finale without once repeating. There are extreme difficulties for the singer in ; the rippling coloratura passages that call for perfect breathing, but Ponselle ascends into -he higher registers .with,the same ease that she descends to the contralto scale. J?h e .soprano is supported by tho v 1 orchestra and chorus of tho Metropolitan Opera. House, and the martial anf M?;< asg| ) fa *""»'-* Dawson in Sacred -Numbers. The issue of "Nazareth," by Gounod, and "Gesu Bambino " {ThefLitf-ln Jesus Child), by Kotro Yon, sung^by Peter Dawson, is very appropriate°thte month. The magnificent timbre of Dawson's bass-baritone voice expresses with true reverence these two sacred numbers, and,he as assisted by a nicely toned organ accompaniment and a wellbalanced choir. It is certain that Dawson has not done anything finer, and, as ne has made" more records for the gramophone than any, other artist, that bi^sly 8 a. great ? eal< (h.m.t.Sir Harry Xauder. ■,f Sl' r. -Harry ta.der has re-recorded one of his most popular songs, "Wee Hoose-M-a«g the Heather"/ this time with, .a 'c.ello,obhligato. Lander's fine voice and his gift of blending comedy and sentiment have made him the greatest entertainer of his kind the stage has. ever known, and tho eleetiic recording of ."W e e Hoose" __, made the song as typical of the Scotssdosirw 3 very i best- On the other sidcSir Harry makes merry in "Portobello Lass,".wliieh has a fine, swinging rhythm... (H.M.V., D 1623.) S Within three years Sir Dan Godfrey has turned the Bournemouth Mu,l cipal Orchestra from a municipal band mto an orchestra of international repute, small, measure of success he owes to the brothers Gennin, Pierre ■f, aa-f°.^'- hia woodwind experts. Now mo°r o tel^ t: CM .haS compose. C 2°, f , hlf, a"y h*"o fragments for our delectation, and whimsical and ap.Pealing, little- pieces they are, too. The hrst, "The. Merry Brothers,'M s _ due? S'w'W-- Prancing high-spirit-ed affair. "Echoes of the Valley" with great realism.uses.a-fluto and an echoflute, and the effect is singularly rich and. sweet. Sir Dan-Godfrey supports the duettists with his orchestra! (Columbia 02930,) .... X . The band of H.M: Grenadier Guards have given us this month a fine- series of marches that will prove highly acceptable.to those of us who like a thrOl The first is j. pairing of a naval and military march, introducing many popular numbers. (Columbia 01640) Equally^vigorous is an Anglo-American" march though why such preponderance should be given to the Minstrel Boy' which 1S neither English nor American,' is hard to say However, that does not affect the excellence of the playing On the reverse i* a medley of Scottish tunes deftly.dove-tailed together fColumbia 01641). _ The last Sf the seSes isaiiench pairing of Marche Lorraine, .bringing in the celebrated ball.Lt, hn passant par la Lorraine," and a- qinck-mwch, "Belphegor." a -and infectious tuife of great eclat. (Columbia 01642). Tho Guards play with spirit and efficiency, and wo Stc^nan^ 013^3^11^