THINGS TO COME A Run Through The Programmes

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 45, 3 May 1940, Page 6

THINGS TO COME

A Run

Through The Programmes

FURTHER discussion in the " Microphone Round the Table" Winter Course series will be broadcast at 7.32 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8. Speakers from 3YA’s distinguished. panel will talk this time about the effect of Europe’s overflowing into Australia. Taking place in our time is one of the most significant social re-orientations in world history. The old countries fill until their boundaries strain, until hard-dying customs are burst, until some outlet must be found for the steam forced up by the impact of the hot coals of new things on the too placid waters of the old. These discussions attempt to take count of what is happening, to assess its significance to the peoples of the world, to follow the migration of mankind from the worn-out old to the lively new. Strong Meat Merrick W. Horton’s radio play, "Waters of Sorrow," is, in these days of drawing-room-drama, pretty strong meat. A settler takes up

land on the edge of a bay, hoping to make a happy home for himself there. But, long before, Maoris have laid a curse on the place; the name of the bay in Maori is "waters of sorrow." It is said that whoever settles there will regret it bitterly. And the curse comes true. But to tell you more would spoil the surprise; so you'll have to wait until this play by a New Zealand author is presented at 9.25 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, from 1YA Auckland. Another by Mr. Horton Some New Zealand authors are careless of authenticity in their plays and stories, but Merrick W. Horton always pays particular attention to truth and accuracy in giving local colour to his pieces. Mr. Horton’s "The Tartan of Rangi Ngatai,;" which won the second

prize in the 1937-38 radio play competition conducted by the NBS, will be produced from 3YA, Christchurch, in June. It tells of a little-known page in the history of this country. It commemorates the bravery and chivalry of Rawiri Puhirake and the Ngaiterangi Tribe, and the gallantry of Henare Taratoa and Heni Kiri-Karamu. A Nation Grows Up Italy is in the news in more ways than one these days. Her supplies of coal (of which she produces only 20 per cent at home), and the British Blockade, recently brought her prominently into the diplomatic news. More pleasant was the reference made by Heddle Nash, English tenor, in an interview in the last issue. Mr. Nash discussed the musical tradition of Italy. The contrast lends point to the argument that this nation of singers and artists and sculptors and dark-eyed women and fiery young blades, is also a nation welded out of a conglomeration of petty States into a unit to be considered in international affairs. George Bagley will no doubt discuss these and other points in his "Understanding Europe" talk from 3YA at 7.45 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Mendelssohn's " Elijah " At the age of thirty-eight, Felix Mendelssohn produced his oratorio "Elijah" at the Birmingham Festival in England, and in the same year he died. Although Mendelssohn was one of Germany’s most brilliant composers (before he was 15 he had written as many symphonies and an opera, all later to be discarded), his music has been cast off and denounced by the Nazis on account of the composer’s Jewish origin. But in more tolerant countries he is still taken at his true ‘worth-as a great musician. To open the Centennial Music Festival celebration, "Elijah" will be presented in Dunedin on Saturday, May 11, and 4YA will broadcast the performance at 8 p.m. Memorable Massey Some politicians turn up again after their death in various shapes and sizes of carven stone. Some stay buried, in memory as well as fact. Some, like Mr. Massey, are remembered in the sort of magnificent monument erected on Point Halswell, overlooking Wellington Harbour. But stone is not always as sure and enduring as another sort of memorial. For Mr. Massey, probably his best memorial has been that he was called Bill, and still is. But a long-lived memory is not the only

excuse for 4YA’s broadeast of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart’s talk on Mr. Massey. He will be discussing him as a leader, and listeners will think of Bill Massey in terms of the leadership he gave New Zealand from 1914-18 in circumstances which are now repeating themselves. The talk is scheduled for 7.45 p.m. on Friday, May 10. Saga’s End In the first three operas of the "Ring of the Nibelungs," Wagner wove an immense plot, embracing dozens of small, colourful plots and scenes. With "The Twilight of the Gods," the last opera, the loose threads are gathered up and the huge fabric of legend and music is finished. Siegfried has his last adventure and dies, the ring is returned at: last to the depths of the Rhine, and Brunnhilde rides into the flames: of Siegfried’s funeral pyre-the flames which destroy Valhalla and the old Gods. "The Twilight of the Gods" will be heard at 9.25 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, and Friday, May 10, from 3YA Christchurch. Wrestling As announced two weeks ago in The Listener's sports page, the NBS has again made arrangements for the broadcast of commentary on this season’s wrestling matches. So far, only Wellington and Auckland have got going, with a group of wrestlers recently arrived from America. Soon the sport will be in full swing through New Zealand, with most of last year’s stars re-appearing in spite of the -war, and a good number of new men present to provide the interest of unknown quantities. No doubt listeners are already tuning their sets, and themselves, to the enjoyment of the vicarious thrills of crabs and locks and halches and dumps and tackles and jabs, sent safely through the ringside microphone. Next week, 1YA and 2YA will broadcast commentaries on Monday, and 3YA on Wednesday, at 9.25 p.m. Composer's Centenary Where nations are concerned, New Zealand’s Centenary is probably the most important anniversary of the year. And in the world of music, the centenary of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovski similarly stands pre-eminent. Scores of people have made their first contact with Russian music through Tchaikovski, who is undoubtedly one of the most popular classical composers. Perhaps it is because his music is emotional enough to appeal directly to nearly everyone. However you may feel ‘about it, you will have an excellent chance

to become better acquainted with the composer’s work on Sunday, May 5, for on that day, 2YA, Wellington will present programmes of his music in the afternoon as well as in the evening. Featured also are a talk on Tchaikovski by Dr. Markham Lee, and a play, "The Marriage of Tchaikovski." Waters on Water The date at the beginning of next week is May 6, and not April 1, so we have to accept as literal fact the 4YA programme announcement for 7.40 p.m. on that day. E. F. Waters, of the Department of Agriculture’s Horti-

i Ln gail cultural Division, will discuss the technique of growing plants in water: "Hydroponics, or Soil-less Growth." Apart: from this slight touch of humour, introduced by us in all modesty and with due apologies to Mr. Waters, abetted as you see by the artist, we find that the talk has possibilities of unusual interest. First, hydroponics by itself is an interesting subject. Second, the Department of Agriculture’s views on this new method of growing plants will be interesting. Will they condemn it, praise it, or simply stay neutral? Poor Everyman If 1YA’s programmes are to be believed, poor little Everyman is having a difficult time at present. The Auckland station has him (Thursday, May 9, 7.30 p.m.) looking at the map. With things as things are these days, we feel for him. He will not know whether the mapmaker has gone all cubist, or whether the night before was too close to the morning after. However, his observations usually manage to get to the root of the subject, and if the map remains constant long enough between the broadcast and his preparation for it, listeners will no doubt find the Winter Course as useful as usual.