THINGS TO COME A Run Through The Programmes

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 51, 14 June 1940, Page 6

THINGS TO COME

A Run

Through The Programmes

EN minutes of the week’s radio programmes from all four main national stations are now being given to national prayers: each Wednesday night from 10.50 p.m. The first session was conducted by Archbishop West-Watson. This week the preacher was to be the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson. Next week the service will be taken by Archbishop O’Shea (on June 19). The Guy As the authors of "1066 and All That" admitted, ungrudgingly, November 5 is a specially memorable day, not only for the fact that it was on that date in a year which does not matter that an attempt was made to blow up Parliament, but also for the fact that this was the first noticeable sign of the Great British Public’s belief that this was the best way to handle Parliament. Perhaps Lord Elton’s view of history is not quite so

revolutionary-nor quite so prophetic as our artist’s-but there are no doubt many other considerations which make it possible for him to discuss, in June, the second most memorable event of the second last month of the year. Not the least of these considerations is the soothing quality of his Lordship’s dulcet voice. It will come over the air again from 2YA at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. . At The Hague High in a garret above the streets of The Hague, streets which now echo to the tread of the Nazi invaders, a young Frenchman sat in the summer of 1882 working at an opera which, above all the others he wrote, was to bring him fame. The young Frenchman’s name was Jules Massenet, the opera was "Manon," and the room in which he laboured was the same room in which, years

before, the Abbé Prevost, author of the famous French classic, "Manon," had dwelt. Musically, the opera is notable for the use of leading themes as motives, rather in the Wagner fashion, and the use of spoken dialogue instead of customary vocal recitatives. "Manon" will be presented at 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, from 4YA Dunedin. Research As Bobbie Burns says, it would be useful to see ourselves as others see us; and no doubt many employees would also like to see themselves as they see their employers, or at last as their employers see them. In speaking’ on "Industrial Relationships: A New Zealand Research," at 7.40 p.m. on Monday, June 17, from 2YA Wellington, Frank Campbell will bring a viewpoint to the question gained by experience both as employee and as employer, in England and in New Zealand. Years ago he was President of an employee’s union, now is Chairman of Directors of a large firm, has directorial status in another, and is past President of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association. Pointers from an interview with him: "New Zealand is far in advance of most countries . . . but in industrial relationships we must be careful not to use 40 year-old dogmas... the problem is one of distribution as much as production ... the other day I saw a halfton lorry deliver a box of chocolates..." Pictures In Music Richard Strauss has been described as a "pictorial artist in music." The description is given point by the following anecdote: Strauss is said to have asked a famous conductor whether he had ever noticed that there was a red-haired woman in his symphonic poem, "Don Juan." No, replied the conductor; often as he had conducted the work, he had never dreamed of this. "Then I have failed," sighed Strauss; "I thought everyone would recognise it." See if you can differentiate between blondes and brunettes in Strauss’s "Der Rosenkavalier," when it"is presented at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, from 2YA Wellington. Success of a Song Sung on almost every theatre and concert platform in the Empire, with more than half a million copies sold, "The Trumpeter" has rightly earned a place among famous popular songs. Its composer, John Barron, died at the age of 71 in an English hospital early this

year. At the time of his death he was trying to write one more song-"The Last Long Voyage." When he had written the words of "The Trumpeter" 36 years ago, Barron asked his mother, "Shall I sell the rights of my song?" "Why not?" she replied, "you can write another to-morrow." Perhaps it was his mother’s faith in him that inspired him to go on; three years later he wrote another favourite, "My Old Shako." Now he is dead. But he will be remembered in a special programme, "The Trumpeter," to be presented at 8.20 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, from 2YA Wellington. Health In The City How many rats in your town? How many homes not connected with the sanitary system? How many condemned dwellings? How much malnutrition? How many cases of contagious disease? How many stagnant pools? These questions are only a few of the many that come to the notice of public health officers. Their work is a vital part of modern living. Without them and the regulations they enforce, disease would ravage civilisation as surely and as swiftly as war. Sometimes, in fact, pestilence strikes more swiftly than any army’s blitzkreig. All this sounds very impressive. Also impressive is the list of letters after the name of Professor C. E. Hercus, who is to speak on public health from 4YA on Tuesday, June 18, at 7.30 p.m. He is M.D., B.D.S., D.P.H., D.S.O., and O.B.E. More than that: he is Professor of Bacteriology and Public Health at Otago University. Genuine Spanish It is not so long since composers who wrote "Spanish" music lived in Paris and were not unlike Sandy, the Laird of Cockpen, who (in Du Maurier’s novel "Trilby") "sat in simple attire at his easel, painting at a life-like picture of a Spanish toreador serenading a lady of high degree (in broad daylight). He had never been to Spain, but he had a complete toreador’s kit ... and he had hired the guitar." When Sandy at length went to Spain and- painted the real thing, his paintings did not sell. So it has been with Spanish music. But that is now changed. Albeniz, Granados, de Falla, and Turina have shown us the real melody of their country; and if you would like to hear something in truly Spanish vein, listen to Turina’s "Fantastic Dances" at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, from 3YA Christchurch.

Oo, "Orrible! It was Bill, the office boy, who drew our attention to an item called "Witches and Warlocks," to be presented at 9.15 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, from 2YA Wellington. "Coo," said Bill, "it says ’ere that this is a norrible programme. I always thought music was meant to ease the aching ’eart and not send people potty with fright." And, more truculently, "What’s a warlock, anyway?" There Bill almost had us. But Roy ’Ill (pardon, Hill), who will present this "horrible programme," referred us to Shakespeare’s

"King Lear" for a definition: "The foul fiend Flibbertgibbet begins at curfew and walks till the first cock. He squints the eye and makes the harelip." Bill interprets this, fairly correctly, to mean that a warlock is a witch’s boy-friend. Anyway, Roy. Hill’s programmes are always full of novelty and interest and we dare to suggest that this one -warlocks and witches notwithstandingwill be no exception. Fanmail Just as most people like soda with Scotch, listeners like comedy with light music-at least that is the evidence to be deduced from fan mail which arrives in ever increasing abundance each week for the session -now being presented from 2YA Wellington: "Every Friday Night at 8." The session, featuring Harry Howlet, Esther Katene and W. Graeme-Holder, has made many friends all over the country, who listen in at the appointed hour with unfailing regularity. The band is an excellent one and it is deluged with requests for various items; but as most of the numbers requested are slow ones, they have to be treated in strict rotation. If you haven't already sampled the fare this bright show provides, why not tune in?