Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 99, 16 May 1941, Page 24

Around The Nationals

WHEN the history of this war comes : to be written not the least significant contribution will be found to be the part played by the various Air Forces of the Empire, either as ancilliary to the Royal Air Force, or as complete Air Forces from their own Dominions. From 4YA on Tuesday, May 20, Michael Terry will tell the story of the Air Forces of the Empire-South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealandfrom the end of the last war to the beginning of this one. The Royal Australian Air Force, for example, has already been a _ separately organised force, with its own distinctive uniform, and the Royal Canadian Air Force exists, of course, independently of the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada. In South Africa the badges on the uniform include the Afrikaans initials Z.A.L.M., as well as S.A.A.F. These and many other interesting features are brought out by Mr. Terry in a talk from 4YA on May 20 which is as topical as it should be fascinating, * % * ENNETH NEATE, the popular Australian tenor who recently made a concert tour of New Zealand with Oscar Natzke, has been engaged by the NBS for a series of studio recitals from 1YA and 2YA. He sang from 2YA on May 1 and 8, and will be heard again from that station on May 15 and 18, and from 1YA on May 21, 23, 25, 26 and 28. a * x NYONE who had his interest aroused in Walton’s music by the talk from 2YA on Sunday, May 11, entitled "Realising Great Expectations; the Amazing Career of William Turner Walton" will have the opportunity of hearing one of Walton’s well-known pieces from 1YA shortly-the Portsmouth Point Suite on Saturday, May 24. The talk on Walton was the last of the series on outstanding modern British composers. This series started with "Under Three Sovereigns; Elgar, Musical Laureate of Empire" on April 13, followed by "A Study of Dual Personality: Peter Warlock"; "Percy (Grainger) in Search of a Tune," and "Vaughan Williams: Rural England’s Musical Spokesman." The method has been to devote the greater part of the half-hour session to a popular talk on the life, work and background of the composer, interspersed with the playing of three or four examples of his composition. * % 1 ‘THE choice of music selected by world’s workers (or at any rate the portion of them brought before the microphone by 2YA on Friday nights) is extremely interesting. There have been sessions by a traffic inspector, a motor salesman, a bus driver, and a carrier. The carrier not only chose a wholly classical programme but he knew enough about it to know why he chose it. The taste of the others could be said to be (not unkindly) middlebrow, with melody predominating. On Friday, May 16, an old soldier of the Imperial Army will demonstrate his taste in public, and it will be interesting to see what he adds to the (almost) inevitable Barrack Room Ballads, :