GRAMOPHONE NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 20 July 1929, Page 9

GRAMOPHONE NOTES

Yodelling. Jimmy Rodgers, who accompanies himself on the guitar, sings “My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans” and “Treasure Untold,” introducing yodelling into ithe choruses —musical yodelling. (Zoiioplionc).

Shortly Coming to New Zealand. Music lovers will be pleased to hear that Harold Williams, the famous leading baritone of the British National Opera Company, will soon be touring New Zealand and his native Australia. His compatriot, the brilliant pianist William Murdoch, will accompany him. It is interesting to recall, by the way, that Williams played as a Waratah against the All Blacks; in prewar days, and also appeared regularly for the Waverlcy Cricket Club of Sydney the club which has produced, more of Australia’s famous cricketers than any other. In his latest record—to get back to musical matters — Harold Williams pairs Wagner’s “O Star of Eve” with Allitson’s “The Lute Player.” His striking, voice should be immensely popular lmro, ior he hides a line poetic insight under a" simple unaffected delivery. (Columbia).

On the Wurlitzcr. The wonderful range of tone colours has made the Wurlitzcr organ an orchestra in itself, and its scope is almost unlimited. Thus when an accomplished musician is at the console the result is always interesting. Such a musician is Terence Cosey, whose first record is just to hand. He plays on the New Gallery Cinema organ, London, one of the greatest instruments in the world, and the melody of his two pieces, “Longing” (Haydn Wood) and “Broken Dreams” (Spitalny), is strikingly reproduced. (11.M.V.)

Schubert— by the Musical Art Quartet. If there are any record buyers that consider that Schubert is “high-brow” let them for a start buy record No. 02734 —the slow movement from the Quartet in A Minor. Schubert must have loved this tune himself, because lie used it shortly after for the third Entr’acte to “Rosaiinuide,” and years later as the main theme for his Impromptu No. 4 (recorded by Ethel Leginska, pianist —Columbia). This is music that the man in the street will love —Out it is good music. The musical Art Quartet, led by the brilliant \ iolinit't. Sas’ffin Jacobsen, plays the whole work.

Ballet Music. In his ballet, “Pet'rouslika,” Stravinsky completely unfolds lus striking per- \ sonality. His art obeys no rules but I those of lus own making, and these • again are subject to no definite system. ' However, his music is far from shapeless, but is determined by the nature of the work itself and not by any rigid patterns deliberately chose beforehand. He shows no dissonance and avoids no I orthodox chord if it happens to suit his purpose. His orchestral series aic full of colour, and “Petroushka,” as regards brilliance and originality of scoring and aptness of characterisation, still remain/; his masterpiece. The whole of this fascinating ballet lias been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, under Albert Coates, who is one of the greatest interpreters to-day of Russian music. The music vividly depicts the tragedy, and the feature of | these four records is the book of words accompanying them. The tone of the j orchestra is strikingly realistic and the balance perfect. It is said that this is I London’s reply to Philadelphia (H.M.V.) part F’ddh'ng by Joseph Szigeti. Sz'ireD the young Hungarian • . . vf.ilprr' + . ;ly f shies of Tnrtini’s Sonata in G Major. It is an object lcssoii in broad phrasing and doublestopping. It is hardly a masterpiece, but so great are this artist’s poweis that it seems possible to listen to it for ever and ever. Great technical demands are overcome as if they didnt exist, and there remains the joy over the purely musical eminence of this errpat violinist. The Beethoven is dashed off brilliantly. Ought to he heard by the million. (Columbia.) Carillon Records. It is a pleasure to note the great improvement in the quality of the carillon •as played by W. E. Jordan the borough carilloneur of the Loughborough War Memorial Carillon, and the comparative subjection of the overtones which came nef to spoiling some former carillon reimds. Mr Jordan’s records include “Country Dance” (Newtoun), “Fantasia oil Popular Songs,” and Spring Song” (Mendelssohn). There is an appealing quality and purity of tone about these records. (H.M.V.)