GRAMOPHONES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 June 1927, Page 14

GRAMOPHONES

Since the introduction of the new electrical process of recording a great many enthusiasts have been wondering about the re-recording of past successes, under the old process. This is, of course, a task which had to be faced, and is being faced. Owing, however,

to the necessity of supplying entirely new recordings to an expectant public, the recording of old numbers has so far been a somewhat slow process. Still, something is being done. Take “Faust” for example. In H.M.V., D.B. 899, we have a fine recording of the “Church Scene,” in which Chiliapine (bass), Florence Austral (soprano), with a chorus and orchestra, give us a fine display. * * * Throughout all the changes in the fashions of the dance, the one-step retains much of its popularity, and records are still in demand. Among recent successeses may be mentioned the Savoys Orhpeans “Bobadilla,” bracketed to “A Night of Love,” by the Goodwich Orchestra (H.M.V. E.A. 77); the Rio Grande Tango Bands, “Marvetta,” “Troubadour” (H.M.V. B 5078); “My Carmenita” (85143), and “Sea Songs Medley” (B 2103), by the Savoy Orpheans. Variety of time is the essence *of the lure of the dance in these records we have no lack of it. * * • There is an inescapable charm about choral music well sung. In recent months there have been quite a number of really excellent achievements in this branch of recording. One of the most striking of recent times is, of course, the Royal Choral Society’s “And the Glory of the Lord” —“Amen Chorus,” bracket from the “Messiah” (H.M.V. D 1135, and on H.M.V. D 1108), “Behold the Lamb of God”—“Hallelujah Chorus,” from the same immortal work. The Trinity Choir has given us a good moderate-priced record of the “Hallelujah Chorus” bracketed to a fine rendering of the famous “Gloria” from Mozart’s “Twelfth Mass.” In lighter choral work of a religious character the disc containing the impressions of the singing of the choir of the Chapel Royal in the beautiful “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” and the inspiriting “Onward Christian Soldiers.” On the secular side, what could be sweeter than the Gresham Singers’ “Meeting of the Waters” and “The Shepherdess” (82294), the Peerless Quartette’s “Good-night” (82321), or the Shannon Quartette’s “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” on the same disc? And this is to say nothing of numerous concerted vocal recordings in the field of light and grand opera. • * • A fine duet by Arthur Middleton and Karlform for Edison is of “Solo, Frofugo,” from “Martha,” coupled with “Io non sono pill L’Annetta,” by Frieda Hempel. Then we have a most attractive recording by Anna Case with three isongs, “Mighty Lak a Rose,” “The Birth of Morn” and “Little Boy Blue.”