COLUMBIA.

Shannon News, 8 October 1929, Page 3

COLUMBIA.

Pour Numbers by the Don Cossacks.

Don' Cossacks are always welcome, for their superb unaccompanied choral singing is a perpetual treat. * They make a "brilliant success of "Kolj Slavenj" (How Gently the Lord is Glorified), a splendid example of Eussian Church music, in which their voices blend in perfect .unison, rising and falling with the sweep ox a wave. On. the reverse side they give us three sharply contrasted Eussian folk songs—music of the people and sung as only Russians can sing them. Those who remember their visit here two or three years ago Will recapture from this admirable record all the thrill they give us then. (Columbia 02712). Two Favourite Songs by Maria

Kurenko.

With two such lovely airs as "The Lass with the Delicate Air," and " 'Tis the Last Eose of Summer," Maria Kurenko does well to leave the beautiful music to tell its own story. She does not force the sentiment, but with natural simplicity and perfect ' diction unfolds the melodies for our delight. She has a voice of crystal clarity which she uses with nice discretion, and if some people it a trifle cold they will agree in time that this is for the best. She has shown elsewhere that she has intense dramatic power. It is not wanted here. Natural, unaffected singing suits these songs. (Columbia 03590). Excerpts from "The Desert Song." Now that the famous Drury Lane musical comedy success "The Desert Song" is touring the Dominion, "Desert Song" records are'all the vogue, There is a fine bunch for gramophiles to choose from. Columbia score well in securing the original Drury Lane artists to record. Harry Welchman, an old favourite with London audiences, gives a stirring rendering of two of the best numbers, "The Song of the Riffs" and' the famous "One Alone." In bold, manly style, his singing goes straight to the mark. (Columbia 01238). Another Drury Lane artist, the Amer- ; ican, .Edith Day, who scored the big hit in the London production of "Rose Marie," sings the two important "feminine" numbers "Romance" and "The Sabre Song" (Columbia 01239). The humorous "It" with which Herbert Mundin is delighting New Zealand audiences, is in the competent hands of Gene Garrard and chorus. On the other side is the duet "Eastern and .Western Love." (Columbia 01240). . The inevitable "Selection" is rendered to perfection by the Debroy Somers Bands, who play with a cheery vigour and a clever use of orchestration (Columbia 02700). Some excellent singing by the Columbia Light Opera Company is heard in "Vocal Gems," which brings in the best of the "Desert Song" lyrics. (Columbia 02558). "Shinaniki Da." .

* One of the most popular dance hits of the, season is the high-spirited "Shinaniki-Da," a 6/8 one-step with exactly the right rhythm for the new dance. It is played by that combination, Debzroy Somers Band, and is paired with another humorous num'ber, "The Egg Song" (Columbia 01523). From the talkie "Annapolis," which will shortly be heard over /here, comes a fine theme song "My. Annapolis," brilliantly played by Paul Specht and his Orchestra. On the reverse side the Ipana Troubadours give us "Deep Nitfit" (Columbia 01539).