GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Shannon News, 3 August 1928, Page 1

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Emphasising Mr Frank Crtimit.

The comic singer who can bring an involuntary smile to the face of-a highbrow must be distinctly worth while. Mr Frank Crumit in his own inimitable fashion can .dp that, though *• his humorous productions may be as tal a s he himself. A Crumit V item makes a nice little J?it of seasoning for a programme of geperal entertainment. "Here arc a few*Selections, with index numbers: —

"Abdul Abulbul Amir" (EA227),"Bye, Bve, Pretty'Baby" (EA225), "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune'' (82440). "Da-Da-Da My Darling" (EA27B), "Fraukie and' Johnnie" . (EA227), "Girl Friend"* (EA229), "Grandfath er's Clock" (P]A226), "High, High, Up in the Hills" (82440), Greenery" (EA225). "Wake Nicch denuis" (EA294).

A Keally "Popular'' Symphony. "Dvorak's New World Symphony ,No. 5, in E ni'nor,"-writes Compton. Mackenzie, in "The 'Gramophone," .-is. as good an album as H.M.V. have yet issued, and rjie* difference ;*hat electric recording makes is really startling.'ln old, days, particularly in the "Andan-, le," one listened to the horns as one listened uneasily to a singer who seemed to be straining his voicce. None of that now. I shouldn't bo surprised to hear that after the 'Unfinished Symphony," this is the most popular of all symphonies.. The effect of suggestion on the public is-evident in this case; they have been told that* the, -themeswere taken by, the composer -frcmr; negro tunes he fieard on his visif'to America, and so they were prepared to j find : tunes in it. The tunes are there right enough, but I wonder if the symphony would have been as popular if it had been merely called 'Op. s'in E minor,' and if the public had been told that the composer owed a great deal to Beethoven! For it certainly seems to me that Dvorak owes a'great deal more to Beethoven than to negro melodies, Well, here it is, as jolly a work a*s. one could wish to hear; and conducted by Sir Landon Ronald in just the way it should be conducted. —H.M.V, D 1250—4. Gems From the '"'Valkyrie." It is impossible in a brief note to do justice to the fine set of "Valkyrie'.* -records- issued by 'Oils. Master Voice.'_ last month. One is therefore tempter, to return now and then to mention some of the gems to be found in the opera. The brief orchestral preludi (D 1320) ): which-precedes theorising oi the curtain is one of Wagner's'most* remarkable descriptive passages. B\ simple means he conveys a vivid impression of daiV-^tMd-gl-ooirfiy for. est, the trees which bend rain-swept before the onslaughts of the roaring gale; the crash of thunder and tlu ghostly flicker of lightning. Through the storm flies .Siegmund, weary ana exhausted, frotn, the cruel and relent less f oerri en* Tie persistentfigure in the bass, forging on and* on changeless ly, tells us more of the pursuit thai, any words could do. The curtain rise; after a terrific climax followed by tlu booming crash of. thunder. The liv ing rooiii of Huriding's dwelling is re vealed. Suddenly the door of tlu house opens and Siegmund appears; oi. the threshold.;. He staggers wea*kl\ to the fireside and' .' throws himseli down before the ; flames. "Whoevei may own this house, here-'I must rest,' he exclaimsfi, as .sleep overpowers hin. and he falls back senaeiess; *' ,A Fine Scene in "'The Valkyrie." One of . tho most extraordinary scenes in •'tlie H/M.Y'.; recorded. set- o. "The. Valkyrie" is ..that in wliieT Wotan bids Brunnhilde farewell. Hav ing decided to punish her, he, decree that she shall be .put into a deep sleep ' and guarded by fire until such tinu as a brave youth (Siegfried), shal brave' the flames and', rouse her.. •' li. his scene (D 1332), Wotan (Friedricf Schorr), holds Brunnhilde gently ii his ■ arms,. a,ud.gazes long and lovingh upon her face. (T,he. motif" of"Magh;' Sleep" is heard 'in' - ' -tho orchestra.) "Farewell, my valiant, child!" h. cries/ and grief ,ov.'qnyhelnis ; him. .NV. more may. he-welcome, her as she,re' turns to Walhalla from the field "o.r battle-;., no more in Ay she ride besicL him, nor pour out "mead for him at'bahy quets . . .'he nilist 'abandon Mm:.. ■..:>;' but a great fire shall be kindled arouiif, the Fell. '' One. Alone shall '.Reach, tk;. Rock, and Win the Bride," pronouncdV Wotan (and from the orchestra corner the Siegried theme), "He shall bi freer than 1,. the' god! " Brunnhilde has sunk in ecstacy on Wotan's breast. The concluding passage on"-this record is one of the most... poignant in the opera. ■' . .