Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 145, 2 April 1942, Page 20

Around The Nationals

Le -_- the Winter Course Talks from 4YA with two talks on "Evolution." On Tuesday, April 7, at 7.35 p.m., G. H. Boyes, M.A., Assistant Lecturer in Education, will continue the series with a talk on "Sociology and Reconstruction," to be followed by one on "Psychology and Reconstruction." Whatever material reconstruction will be necessary after the war, there can be no doubt that social reconstruction will be important. Bombs have blown up slums, but it is also necessary to blow up the poverty, unemployment, ignorance, and exploitation that have caused them. The question is How? Possibly Mr. Boyes will suggest a way. His two talks will be followed by two by G. W. Parkyn on "The Social Basis of Education," and "Education and Reconstruction." Winer LAWSON _ opened * * x VicTOR OLOF has been playing the *" fiddle since he was seven years old a stretch of thirty-seven years. He was born in London, the son of a Swedish farmer and English mother, both musicians, and studied music at the Guildhall School. He is a great believer in the smaller instrumental combinations for broadcasting, and he confesses to missing the inspiration of a visible audience. Olof’s sextet possesses what is claimed to be the most valuable collection of musical instruments «belonging to any similar ensemble. The Victor Olof’s Salon Orchestra will be heard from 4YA on Friday, April 10, at 9.54 p.m. % * * [VOR GURNEY, whose songs you will hear from 1YA on Wednesday, April 8, at 8.48 p.m., was not only an admirer of Schubert. Like Schubert, he was unselfish, untidy, and a dreamer. But the similarity went further. A story _is told of Ivor Gurney’s first appearance before the Board of Examiners at the Royal College of Music. Sir Hubert Parry, the principal, was greatly excited ever Gurney’s manuscript composition and was pointing out to his colleagues the similarity in idiom and even in handwriting to Schubert, when Gurney was called in. As he walked into the room Parry said in an awestruck whisper, "By God! It is Schubert!" * * * OUGH Schubert was once called ‘" the "Midas of Melody," nothing he could do seemed to improve his finances. A year before his death he would dine on coffee and biscuits because he lacked the money to buy something more substantial. He sold his Trio for 17/6 and his songs at tenpence each, and left an estate valued at £2. Four Schubert Violin Solos played by Ina Bosworth will be heard from 1YA on Saturday, April 11, at 8.26 p.m,