MUSIC THEY LIKE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 726, 12 June 1953, Page 7

MUSIC THEY LIKE

HE NZBS has devised a series of programmes in which 14 musicians ‘prominent in New Zealand will tell listeners about their favourite musical passages and then play recordings of them by way of illustration. In these programmes, which have the general title of A Chapter in Musical Autobiography, speakers will introduce a favoured theme from a symphony, from a choral work, a song, or part of a sonata. Each of the programmes will occupy half an hour (with one 20-minute exception). They are not intended to be "desert island discs" sessions, nor are they in any sense a request programme. The main idea has been to discover the highlights in the mass of music familiar to each expert.

The composers range from Bach to Bartok and from Vivaldi to Vaughan Williams. One well-known musician includes in his selections for discussion Rosemary Clooney singing "(Come on a’ My House," and Stan Kenton’s Orchestra playing "Blues in Burlesque," but he goes on to talk about Delius, Purcell, Mendelssohn and Mahler, Speakers taking part in A Chapter in Musical Autobiography are: Ernest Jenner (Lecturer in Music, Christchurch Training College), Dr. Charles Nalden (Lecturer in Music, Auckland University College), John Ritchie (Lecturer in Music, Canterbury University College), Mary Martin (Lecturer in Music, University of Otago), Dr. Vernon Griffiths (Professor of Music, Canterbury University College), Alex Lindsay (Conductor of the Alex Lindsay String Orchestra), C. Foster Browne (Organist and choirmaster, Christchurch Cathedral), Stanley Oliver (Conductor of the Schola Cantorum, Wellington), Dr. V. E.’ Galway (Professor of Music, University of Otago), John Longmire (English composer now living in Auckland), Owen Jensen (pianist and broadcaster on music), Frank Callaway (recently Director of Music, King Edward College, Dunedin, now Reader in Music, University of Western Australia), L. C. M. Saunders (Music-master, King’s College, Auckland, and music critic), and Dorothy Davies (concert pianist, Wellington). Some of the musical illustrations have been specially recorded for the series, which will start at 2YC on Monday, June 15,-at 7.45 p.m., with Ernest Jenner, and at 4YC at 8.30 p.m. on

Wednesday, June 17, with Stanley Oliver. Later it will be heard from the other YC stations and from the four YZ stations. A second series of NZBS musical programmes will also come on the air next week. Greyvale, as a note in the 2YA programmes on page 36 explains. is an imaginary North Island town which listeners should get to know well during the next three months. Every Thursday at 8.0 p.m. during that time (starting on June 18) 2YA will look in on the Greyvale Singers as they rehearse or give public or broadcast concerts. Mr. Sinclair, their conductor, is an Englishman who had his, own choir before he came to New Zealand about five years ago, and listeners will find that his long experience has given him

a rather incisive style. All the same, his authority seems to be challenged at times by the accompanist, Miss Jeremy, who has been with the choir so long that she feels it would not hold together without her. Besides these characters listeners will have reason to remember also the secretary-treasurer, Mr. MclIntosh; Mrs. Davis, the plump, hearty wife of a railwayman; and Mr. Tollerton, the society’s bore. And they will hear from the choral group. (which we believe is really directed by Clement Howe), an agreeable series. of items (solos, duets, trios and quartets among them), which range from traditional numbers like Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, to Purcel) part songs. The programme is written by Ulric Williams of Radio New Zealand.