Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 92, 28 March 1941, Page 24

Around The Nationals

(CHARLES MARTIN is a pianist who has been heard frequently from the main stations. Before going to London and Europe to further his studies, he graduated Bachelor of Music in the University of New Zealand. While in London he obhiained his L.R.AM. and studied composition with Harry Farjeon, and in Munich he also studied composition with Dr. Cohen. Mr. Martin recently gave a performance from 1YA of Mozart’s Pianoforte Concerto in A Major, and will be heard from 4YZ next Tuesday (April 1), in Mozart’s Sonata in B Flat. * * * ARION ANDERSON, who is one of the greatest negro contraltos of America, started as a housemaid but after many difficulties rose so high in her profession as a singer that she has packed out the Carnegie Hall in New York and has sung at Mrs. Roosevelt’s musicales at the White House. She will sing one of Brahms’s compositions, accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra, from 1YA on Friday, April 4. * * ES INE of the most experienced radio singers in New Zealand, Rex Harrison, who is frequently heard from 3YA, will again present a baritone recital from that station on Wednesday, April 2. Mr. Harrison has 1000 songs in his repertoire. Two of the songs he will sing on this occasion, the rousing "Wanderer’s Song" and the delicate "On Wings of Song" (Mendelssohn), give a@ good indication of his range. * * * "THANKS to W. G. Nield, the dis- '" trict organiser, Southland already has 6000 National Savings accounts. The present objective for Southland is 10,000 and Mr. Nield is confident that in a district so rich in patriotism, productivity and pride this level will soon be reached. Mr. Nield has already broadcast several talks from 4YZ on National Savings, and the war effort The new series, beginning with a talk entitled "National Saving means Freedom and Security," will be heard from 4YZ at 7.20 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. * * * "THE Royal New Zealand Air Force ‘" Band, during the course of the Air Board recruiting tour of the Dominion, will give a studio performance from station 2YA on Sunday morning, March 30. Similar studio performances given from other stations on recent Sunday mornings attracted considerable attention, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that this band, under the conductorship of Flight-Lieut. Gladstone Hill, has very quickly reached a stage of musical ability that has taken many New Zealand bands years to acquire. The explanation is of course that the band members are serving Air Force personnel and have to devote a considerable part of each day to practice. It is a pity, though, that listeners will be unable to see the clever stick work by the eight kettle-drummers who, wearing white gauntlets, march in front of the band and give it a distinctive appearance,