THINGS TO COME

New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 288, 29 December 1944, Page 4

THINGS TO COME

A Run Through The Programmes

MONDAY ACCORDING to Dr. Goebbels the Germans are now in the dangerous position of fighting with their backs to the wall. Such an admission gives interest to an item_to be heard from 1YA at 8.17 p.m. on Monday, January 1, from a BBC programme, "Changing the Tune," dealing humorously with the curious manner in which the little man works his publicity department. Goebbels, it may not be widely known, derives his doctorate from his studies not of medicine, or of law, but of philosophy. Also worth notice: 2YA, 8.0 p.m.: Musie by Handel. 3YA, 10.0 p.m.: Old-time dance music. TUESDAY HE practical farmer recognises many different kinds of soil, grading them in a succession from heavy to light. Sitting in a railway carriage, he gazes eagerly at the passing scene. Show the slightest interest and he will discourse earnestly and pleasantly, giving his city fellow-passenger an eye-opener or two on ‘the productive capacity of mother earth. On the other hand there are home gardeners whose orbit is confined to the boundary fences and who have their pet theories about planting, or not, by the moon and the virtues of a properlyconstructed compost system. But whether listeners to 4YZ at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, are station-holders or backyard potterers, they will hear something interesting from W. Hessey, whose subject in the "For the Man on the Land" series will be "The Soil and Fertility." Also worth notice: 2YA, 8.22 p.m.: "Missa Solemnis" (Kyrie and Gloria only). 3YL, 8.0 p.m.: "Les Plaisirs Champetres" ( Monteclair). WEDNESDAY "WELL, young fellow, what are you : going to do when you grow up?" "I’m going to be an engine-driver, sir," Junior used to reply before the days of manpower officers. His ambition ‘was hot -as hot as the wood fuel used to fire the boiler of George Stephenson’s steam engine. In the children’s session from 3YA at 445 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3, a BBC programme will feature "Famous Names," Stephenson being the choice for this occasion, and the story will of course cover the whole journey from the first steam locomotive to the famous (and furious) "Rocket." Also worth notice: 2YC, 8.0 p.m.: Elgar’s "Falstaff." 3YA, 9.30 p.m.: "New World" (Dvorak). THURSDAY "THERE may be some curiosity to know how disorders of speech can link up with thealth in the home. They can, as the Health Department will demonstrate at 10.0 am. from 4YA on Thursday, January 4, Listeners to this talk will hear an exceedingly interesting subject examined, for good everyday speech-and it doesn’t matter if) you favour the much-discussed "Oxford accent" or what some are pleased to call the "New Zealand twang"- is of importance every hour of the day. Actual speech disorders among the inhabitants of the Dominion may or may not be as

preyalent as in other countries-we just’don’t know-but whether you suffer from a lisp or a slight stammer, the Health Department’s talk is likely to hit somebody’s nail on the head. Also worth notice: 1YX, 8.0 p.m.: "Concerto Grosso" (Bloch). 2YA, 9.40 p.m.: 2YA Concert Orchestra. FRIDAY APPINESS, many unfortunate people think these days, is about as difficult to capture as the pot of gold at the foot of the rainbow. And so a first-class comedian becomes worth his weight in gold. He brings, for a space, complete forgetfulness of trying times, and healthy exercise to important muscles. There are, in fact, philosophers who believe that a day without a hearty laugh or two is a day completely wasted. Every comedian, at one time or another, makes the clergyman a subject for his pleasant jesting and the parson enjoys the fun as much as the next man. So listen to 4YA at 7.34 p.m. on Friday, January 5, when Vivian Foster will be heard in .a twosided record "The Parson Pleads for Happiness." Also worth notice: 1YA, 8.0 p.m.: ‘"Scheherezade"’ (RimskyKorsakov). 2YC, 9.0 p.m.: "Arpeggionen Sonata" (Schubert). SATURDAY HE land area of the Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics looks as big as the face of the moon-and throughout all that territory the inhabitants regard the ballet as a supreme expression of their’ culture. No fewer than 30 Soviet cities support their own companies. New Zealand audiences have been fortunate in seeing something of the Russian ballet. But the Russians have also developed the allied arts, for their drama and their music have long been famous. Today the Russian armies are pursuing the Germans in enemy country, and so, it is fitting that from 1YA, at 7.35 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, should come "The Peoples of the U.S.S.R.," a musical tribute to the Soviet Union (BBC programme). Also worth notice: 1YX, 9.1 p.m.: Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21. 3YL, 9.42 p.m.: "Brigg Fair’ (Delius). SUNDAY lace and arsenic have been so much talked about lately that we are afraid to join our wife on an afternoon’s shopping in search of a spot of taffeta. Now, by way of a change, poetic justice is to be associated with arsenic in a play "Chance" (NBS production), which is to be broadcast from 1YA at 9.33 p.m. on Sunday, January 7. "Arsenic," a work on poisons tells us, "occurs in the form of a white powder or in lumps of a white porcelain-like appearance. When mixed with food it is almost tasteless." Unfortunately, we cannot always be alongside our wife when she is making the summer salad. But we can listen in to this production and hear just how Monica Marsden, the writer of the play, manages to make arsenical preparations do foul deeds. Also worth notice: 3YA, 3.0 p.m.: Symphony No, 1 in F Major Shostakovich ( xs 2YA, 9.50 p.m.: "The White Cliffs of Dover."