HOMOCHORD

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 14

HOMOCHORD

THE LATEST RECORDS.

"■Softly awakes my heart/* the best known solo from Saint-Saens’s "Sunson and Delilah/* is a stock song with contraltos, but is a song that does not lose popularity with frequent repetition. In the opera it is sung as a duet, but it is not often recorded in this manner. On a plum label Ilnmochord # disc, however, ICarin Branzell and Biorn Talon give a particularly good rendition of it, and one that will commend itself to every discerning gramophile. Karin Brangell is an operatic star nf note, known in both England and America, and Bjorn Tnlen is a baritone who is well-known on the Continent. Both artists aro possessed of magnificent voices which blend well Tho reverse side is occupied bv a recording of the finale of act 4 "barmen" another good number. •*• * *

“Solveig’s Song’* is among the Ik*sl known airs from Grieg’s “Peer Gynt/* and is a favourite with sopranos all over tho world, but rarely does one hear it so well sung on a new TTnmochord disc by Madame TTeckmnnn-Bcttondorf, an artiste who has gained world-wide renown Her voire is of -warin timbre and marvellous quality, and to hear it is to love it. Her other number is “Maria Weigenlied” (cradle song), by Rip-gar, which she sings magnificently. This record. howevc'i*. is ehieflv valuable for madnme’s rendition of “Solveig’s Sontr.” Tho sustained flute-like nassage at the conclusion is magnificently sum r . • • • •

Tn the new ITomoehord issue there are three discs by Eugene Brockman’s Dance Orchestra, which are worth hearing for this orchestra plays with more refinement than is usual with dance hands. Their numbers are : D 986 “Ukulele Dream Girl'* (foxtrot), “GoodNight** (foxtrot), D 987 “Summer Rniu” (foxtrot), “Tlucre's a Shine for ev’ry Shadow** (foxtrot), D 989 “What About Me?” (waltz). “Buy Bananas” (foxtrot). Of these '‘Good-Niglit’* is tho best, there being less Baxophonc and more violin. Its companion number, also good, completes an attractive disc. “What about Me?” (waltz) is a haunting melody very cUsv to daneo to. Its rompunion number is reminiscent of “Yes, Wo have No .’*

• • » * Eddie Normnh’s Dance Orchestra has recorded two bright discs on the latest Homoehord list: D 990 “I’m Knee Deep in Daisies** ((foxtrot), “I Never Knew how Wonderful you Wore” (foxtrot), D 989 “Who'd be Blue” (from “Lady be Good**) (foxtrot), "Lonesome and Sorry” (foxtrot). “I Never Knew” is a record with a good melody, and probably the best 'number. Tho “Lady oc Good” number is bright and breezy. This orchestra is rather noisy if anything heavier than a medium needle is used.