Open Microphone

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 933, 28 June 1957, Page 19

Open Microphone

NEWS OF BROADCASTERS ON AND OFF THE RECORD

DUO-PIANISTS

TUDITH McDONALD 4nd © Shirley Power are two attractive young brunettes with the disconcerting habit of talking in almost identical phrases. This is not altogether surprising, for

they are duo-pianists who must spend a great deal of their

time practising together. They will be cone from 2YC this Sunday (June 0). Judith and Shirley miet at~ school, and their friendship grew when they

were both studying with Diny Schramm. As friends they went overseas four years ago to further their musical studies and see as much as possible. In the first year Judith studied music in Paris, where her teacher also taught at the Conservatoire. Then in London they both became pupils of Margaret Lander, who had taught the young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Mar-

garet. "She was very charming," Judith remembered, while Shirley added, "with a definite personality." About two years ago they decided to become a working team, and they studied for this purpose with Mary Peppin. She and her twin sister, Geraldine, form one of the few duo teams in Britain today. "What we chiefly had

to learn," said Judith, "was how to make two pianists sound as one. Miss Peppin, as one of a duo, could give us the benefit of her experience of the best methods of attack for a team. We find we need to know each other’s’ reactions very well-to have a mutual understanding." "Of course," put in Shirley, "we have had the same teachers all through, especially Miss Lander, and we had the same background and technical approach _ to works. That’s a tremendous help. We _ usually discuss the tempo and interpretation while rehearsing, but in per-_ formance we just have to feel together." Judith and Shirley gave several studio recitals in England, and the recording they made for the New Zealand Music Society has been broadcast here. They are hoping to make music their career, and their plans for the immediate

future include a recital in Wellington early in July and an appearance at Canterbury University College later in the month. While in Christchurch they will also broadcast. "So we'll be very busy," they agreed with each other. When we asked finally whether they found any special difficulty in duo work the two voices replied as one, "Yes, getting two pianos."

ONY HANCOCK, the comedian who makes laughter out of disaster in Hancock's . Half-Hour, the BBC programme heard from ZBs and ZAs on Sunday nights, was less hard hit than most by the recent petrol rationing in Britain. Though he has a habit of buying sleek and expensive cars from time to time, he says he never drives faster than 15 miles an_ hour. Incidentally, nothing will induce him to enter a car

with a woman driver. "Between ourselves," he confided recently, "I don’t feel safe with them in London. When I’m invited to take a ride with a woman driver, I always accept-flag down a taxi for myself and follow along behind."