THINGS TO COME

New Zealand Listener, Volume 8, Issue 192, 26 February 1943, Page 2

THINGS TO COME

A Run Through The Programmes

HE other day two New Zealanders were discussing the great men this country had given to the world. A. said that New Zealand had produced three world figures-Rutherford, Kathatine Mansfield, and David Low — and probably a fourth, Sir Truby King. B. conceded the first three, but would not admit the fourth to world rank. A. said that Sir Truby King’s influence was world-wide and that there were people who knew New Zealand by the fact that it had produced him. A.’s argument is supported by BBC talks which the National stations will broadcast shortly, among them one by Sir Charles Read, a New Zealander now practising in Harley Street. This talk, which furnishes impressive proof of Sir Truby’s influence on modern mothercraft, will be heard from 2YA on Tuesday, March 2, at 11 a.m, Gold Rush One of the characteristics that distinguish man from animals is man’s ability to postpone the pleasure of the moment for greater pleasures in the future. In order to get rich quick men left comparative comfort and flocked to the gold-fields there to endure thirst, starvation, heat, cold, or Charlie Chaplin adventures in the hope that they would be able to smoke cigars and drink champagne for the term of their natural lives. The Klondike gold rush of 1899 is one of the classic examples of money madness, but stories of Klondike adventures are none the less entertaining. You may hear a fair sample if you listen to Klondike, the serial which plays from 4ZB on Tuesday, y Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. Self-Taught Composer Gerard Williams was originally an architect by profession, and music was no more than an enthusiastic hobby until he was over thirty. Since then (1920) he has devoted himself to composition, and has:had many successes. Like Elgar, he is’ taught, except for a few "criti "- from Richard Walthew in 1913, "talight himself by singing in choral societies, playing in orchestras and chamber music, and studying printed music at home and at concerts. Williams began trying to compose about 1911, but until 1920 this was a sparetime occupation. To-day he is principal _M™usic editor and arranger for the BBC. From 2YA on Tuesday, March 2, the NBS String Orchestra under Andersen Tyrer will be heard in "A Bach Suite" arranged by Williams from movements (all dances but one) out of the "Eng- ~ and "French" keyboard suites by ac If Summer Comes Last year Summer was on Wednesday, This year the NBS have waited with commendable caution before officially warning us that it is here; in fact they have waited until the last day (officially February 28) in order to present to sunbaked listeners "Summer Pageant, in Poetry and Music," Off hand, we find it hard to remember anything that the

poets have said of note about what should, after all, be the pleasantest season, which makes us all the more anxious to hear this programme from 2YA this Sunday afternoon. High Toby Had we lived in the 18th century we should probably not have cherished the romantic feelings toward highwaymen that many of us feel to-day. The serial Paul Clifford, adapted for radio from

Lord Lytton’s novel, should provide fifteen minutes-a-night-worth of escape to the swashbuckling past, when roads were ribbons of moonlight looping the purple moor, when black-eyed damsels plaited dark red love-knots into their long black hair, when young heroes had rightful heritages as well as -rightminded heroines for which to fight, and when marriage never meant anything but living happily ever after. This serial, which has just begun from 2YA, was produced in Australia, and the title role is taken by Warren Barry, a young New Zealand actor who was known here as Warren Toogood (see page 10).

Musical Autobiography Listen to 3YA at 9.30 p.m. next Wednesday for a musical autobiography and self-portrait lasting 40 minutes. The musician is Richard Strauss, the composition A Hero’s Life. It has six parts: The Hero; His Adversaries (once regarded as a most savage indictment of the tribe of music critics); His Helpmate; His Battlefield (a "frightful and prolonged noise" according to Eric Blom, English music critic); His Works of Peace (a series of quotations from Strauss’s own tone poems); and His Renunciation of the World and the end of his Striving. Strauss, as far as we know, still lives in his native Bavaria. Beethoven Day By Day The coming week will be a good one for lovers of Beethoven, who will find something by Béethoven in the programmes on every day but one. On Monday evening, March 1, 2YA will broadcast a Quartet in E Minor at 8.12 p.m., and on Tuesday, 1YX features the Variations in F on its evening programme. Thursday brings the third Leonora overture and two songs, opening 4YA’s evening programme, and on the same evening Nelson listeners may hear the 32 Variations in C Minor. On Friday it is Invercargill’s turn, when 4YZ will broadcast the Seventh Symphony in A Major at 7.45 p.m, The Saturday evening programmes include the overture, "The Consecration of the House," and Romance in G for Violin (both from 1YX), and the fifth piano concerto, "The Emperor" (2YC), Finally on Sunday afternoon, 3YA offers a special Beethoven programme at 4.15 with the Sonata in E Minor, Op. 90 and the scena Ah Perfido, followed by Eleven Viennese Dances (which will also be heard from 2YN that evening).