(14) Irvine Lawrence, of 2YN

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 36, 1 March 1940, Page 12

(14) Irvine Lawrence, of 2YN

RVINE LAWRENCE, officer in charge at Station 2YN, Nelson, was born in ~~ Christchurch (1915), and* educated at St. Andrew’s College. He was taking lectures (science and arts), at Canterbury University

College when, in 1933, he joined the staff of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board. For two years he was in the technical section, working on equipment maintenance and construction. Then followed. "a more inter- . esting period" as relay technician at 3YA, and after that work as studio technician and announ cer at 3YA. During the two years. before they were taken over by 2YA and _= rebroadcast elsewhere, he handled nearly every breakfast. session at 3YA. In 1938 came his transfer to Nelson. : Among his recreations, mountaineering heads the list. He plays golf for his own amusement (and, he’

says, for the amusement "of anyone else who happens to be about"), and some tennis. He is a keen amateur photographer, likes music, with a leaning toward classicism, but no prejudice against modern dance or. swing music. Episode of " The Plight = -But among all these recreations it is mountaineering which takes most of his spare time. He is a member of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, and spends most of his leave "struggling up river beds with a heavy pack or ploughing through deep snow." One episode, commonly known in Canterbury as "The Plight, from the poster displayed by an evening newspaper, gave him some claim to fame zmong broadcasters. Caught in a fog on Mt. Phipps — the only patch of fog for a hundred miles — he and a fairly large party decided to sit down and spend the night in the snow. Search parties were organised. They met the "Plight" party next morning, returning safely and happily, but not before 3YA had broadcast an S.O.S. for one of 3YA’s staff! He remembers his work as a studio operator as one of the most fascinating parts of broadcasting. It brought him: into contact with many famous artists, such as Grainger, the Spivakovsky’s, Kurtz, the Budapest String Quartet, the Comedy Harmonists, and a host of others, i

Programme Preferences "I suppose this is touchy ground," he commented when~ he was’ asked about ‘his preferences in programmes. However, he took the risk, and said he personally preferred

classical music, but was also able to enjoy dance and swing music. "To my mind, it does not make sense to decry one and refuse to listen to it merely on principle. There are times when I can sit and listen contentedly to a lot of classical music, and _ other times when I prefer Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ellington, or Teagarden. " Conversely, he entered a plea for toleration among critics of classical music. The mere mention of the word seemed to bias some people, but such modern pieces as Prokofieff’s " Classical" Symphony were music that must be enjoyed by anyone who admitted a liking for music generally. As "a _ very indifferent pianist," he says he likes good piano records, with Egon Petri, Artur Schnabel, Fisher and Geiseking, and the Beethoven compositions as a favourite selection. Bach, Beethoven. Franck. and "some

of the Russians for instrumental and orchestral music," with Wolf, Schubert, and Moussorgsky for songs, are his favourite composers. Among the dance bands he listens to Goodman, Shaw, Ellington, Bob Crosby and perhaps Dorsey.