Leopold Stokowski and His Symphony Orchestra

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

Leopold Stokowski and His Symphony Orchestra

FEATURE OF “THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937” I In order that tho movie-going public have the opportunity of hearing one of | the most inspiring fugues ever written, Leopold Stokowski, world famous symphony conductor, chose * ‘ Fugue in G Minor” by Johann Sebastian Bach, for the symphonic number in “The Big Broadcast of 1937.” * It lias long been my dream to make a movie of one of Bach’s greatest (fugues,” Stokowski said, “and I am happy to have been able to make this dream come true, because I want to share with everyone the inspiration I have received from Bach’s music. This is the first tme that anything like this has been attempted and I am sure that everyone who loves muse, even if he has not the slightest musical education, will undestand the thrill of this great: music by Bach.” ►Stokowski defined a fugue (pronounced “fyoog”) as a musical composition whose theme is repeated and imitated by tho different instruments. “First one instrument plays the theme,” he explained. “Later a second instrument plays it but m a contrasted key. Hoon after a third plays the theme. Then a fourth and fifth and sixth.

Meanwhile all the earlier instruments have continued playing. As we listen to the music we see on tho screen each instrument and player as he begins to play. Later on not only single instruments, but groups of them begin to play the theme, until at tho end the whole orchestra is seen on the screen and the music reaches a thrilling climax.” ! In addition to Leopold Stokowski and j his symphony orchestra, “The Big Broadcast of 1937” boasts perhaps tho greatest, cast of radio, stage and screen stars to be assembled for one picture. The performers include Burns and Allen, Shirley Ross, Ray Milland, Bob Burns, Martha Baye, Larry Adler, Aleanoro Whitney, Louis DePron and numerous others, who present specialty items.