Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 11, 28 September 1928, Page 24

Our Mail Bag

Will correspondents please practice brevity, as heavy demands are now made on space. All letters must be signed and address given as proof of genuineness; noms de plume for publication are permitted. Address correspondence Editor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

The Model Programme. HE: "Radio Record’ does not profess to be a humorous paper, but the ."Mail-bag"’ does at times provoke much hilarity, especially when it comes to programme matters! The letter of J.K. (Trentham) in your issue of the 7th inst. has given me much more amusement than last week’s "Punch"! Let us consider his claims first and then’ his "model" programme. ‘Thirty years ago he was a member of an or-chestra--his musical education apparently stopped when he: left-and therefore, presto! he must be able to appreciate good music! Could anything oe more certain, definite, or more easily proved! J.K.’s musical taste is probably of equal standard with his humour. We can therefore leave to the discrimination of your readers his delicate remark concerning the "‘barrow" tone with a case of the studio at 2YA. What humour! "The artist in question has a good voice, sings good songs, evidently too good for J.K. of Trentham, on his own admission. Let me briefly consider the "model programme." J.K. has succeeded in choosing some of the most hackneyed, murdered and overworked items in the whole range of music, and probably nearly exhausted the extent of his musical repertoire of titles. "William Tell Overture’-murdered nightly by every third-rate and fourth-rate village orchestra since it was composed. There are others. Violin soloMendelssohn’s "Spring Song." Not intended as a violin solo at all but nerpetrated by young violinists as a "show piece" after they have been ‘earning about three months. J.K. might not be aware that Mendelssohn wrote many more "songs without words" besides the "Spring Song."

‘Cello solo-The sloppy "Broken Melody," also perpetrated by young beginners on the piano and the violin! Or "Barearolle’ ("Tales of Hoffman’). How poor Offenbach must squirm in his grave as he hears this pretty melody variously rendered as a soprano and contralto duet, piano solo, solo with instrumental obbligato, ’cello solo, full orchestra, and every other possible combination. ‘ulk about over-work-the poor melody has been mauled and maltreated to such an extent that it has at least earned a rest, I wonder that J.K. omitted the "Prisoner’s Song." Xylophone solo-‘‘Les Clotches de Corneville-otherwise "Les Cloches de Corneville’--an ancient fourth-rate opera, With even very little decent melody. Piano solo-‘Militaire Marche." Presumably Schubert’s "Marche Militaire" is intended. Not a piano solo at all! Orchestra (repeat item or encore )- Possibly the dear old ‘"Barcarolle" over again in another form. (As I write this it is being massacred as a fiute solo in the children’s session from LYA!!) Orchestra--"Blue Danube Waltz." Hammered out with one finger by every budding infant piano prodigy in every suburban street in the world. The smug satisfaction with which J.k. recognises good music appears to consist solely in a short string of titles familiar to everyone who has hammered, blown or bowed a note of music during the last 35 years! J.K.'s friends may take heart of grace. They are probably better programme directors than he-they could not conceivably be worse. So much space was taken with J.K.’s fatuous model programme that I trust room may be found for this attempt to check its

pernicious influence.-

B.P.

S.

(Orewa).

In Radio Land. FEEL that I ought to let you know how we appreciate the programmes broadeasted by New Zealand stations, capped off by excellent reception of Kingsford Smith’s Tasman flight. I think J. K. Trentham, with his four-teen-item programme, and "Homo" with his King’s English, both growlers, and the racing officials, could be done

without in radtoiand.-

Tenderfoot

(Pahiatua).

An Appreciation. FEEL I must express our appreciation of the efforts of the R.B.C. during the flight of the Southern Cross across the Tasman. Throughout the night we listened-in, and waited, until the final triumphal landing in Christchurch at 9.23. We cannot praise the announcers enough for the way they handled the situation throughout, putting on bright records and keeping us well posted as to the progress of the Southern Cross. To hear the roaring of the "plane through the night made it all seem very real indeed to us, and we would not have missed this memorable event for anything. Just as we listened in to the Moncrieff-Hood broadcast, so we stood by again waiting and hoping

for the best, and rejoiced to know this latter flight ended successfully. While Il am writing I should like to express my indignation at some of the objectionable letters sent in as regards our announcers. We think they are all just splendid, each different, yet each doing his very best at all times. The best eure for those who complain would be to put them before "Mike" for an hour, and then Jet them stand back and receive the criticism hurled at themselves likewise. It is quite impossible — to please everyone, evidently. We enjoy every item that is broadcast, and I often think it is only people like us who live "out back’’ who really do know how to appreciate wireless. It means so much to us, that it has almost become a necessity, and though we are living in a wonderful age, we consider wireless the most wonderful invention of all, for it brings to our homes all that whieh we are denied through liv-

ing in the ecountry-

~Mrs

J.

McKenzie

(Bay of Plenty).

Rebroadeasting. ONCERNING the subject of howling much has been said, written, and broadeast on this most annoying type of interference, but why do not the company’s engineers look closer at home, presumably they have the best apparatus offering. The recent shortwaive broadcasts both from America and Australia were badly distorted at times, and it was plain to any shortwave listener of any experience at all that a great deal of the same was caused by the receiving station, when intense fading was experienced a finer adjusement was almost always attempted with disastrous results. Again on Saturday evening 2ZI. and 1YA were rebroadeast; 1YA direct was. erystal clear, but from 2YA oscillation was very much in evidence. A check-up over the ’phone with a city resident. proved results there to be identical. I suggest that the interference was very close to the receiving station in both eases. On Saturday night I listened to 1YA via 2YA.and 8YA. My brother asked what would be the result if Auckland should tune in and rebroadeast 2YA at the same time without any previous announcement, I suggest that the ensuing silence would be a terrible

howl. Thats Irish:

Constructive

(Lower Hutt).

Concerning 2YA. WOULD like all listeners-in who have complained about the reception from 2YA to be present with me at the moment, 7.30 p.m., September 138. I am using one stage of radio detector, four stages of audio, and an aerial nine feet long, and am getting good loudspeaker strength. I am quite convinced in my own mind that 2YA is in every way perfect. The only explanation I can personally give for the poor reception I receive is that it is due to outside interference. At times I require three stages of radio and a good aerial of 150ft. to receive signals so weak. that I cannot distinguish speech from music. At present modulation is absolutely perfect, and I ean distinctly

hear the announcer’s intake of breath | as. he is speaking about the flight pf Vlight-Commander Kingsford from Christchurch to Wellington. 3YA can never under the best conditions approach 2YA as I am receiving: iat present, but at 8 p.m. no doubt I will have all my eight valves in commission and

will be "standing on the gas.’’-

Her

bert

Ziele

(Napier).

Stepping the Doll Dance... — LASst Saturday night 2YA listeners were treated to the usual. combination of good music and merriment for whieh the Saturday night concerts are becoming: rapidly famous. One item, however, marred an otherwise perfect programme-the proverbial fly 4 in the ointment, so to speak.: Who the studio pianola expert is, I know not, but whoever was responsible for the manipulation of "The Doll Dance’’. should have been tarred and feathered. If the artist in question were made to dance in time to his own music, it would probably bring home to him much more forcibly than by mere words the speed at which he rendered the item in question. One artist, in his items, mentioned four-wheel brakes in connection with.aeroplanes-it would seem that the same would not go amiss on player pianos. These instruments, when played properly, are capable of rendering some excellent numbers, but in the hands of a Hercules whose main object seems to be speed and noise, they become no more than a mere band-box of musical jargon and cacophony. I have no wish to discourage any bud-. (ing young piano player artist, butlet’s whisper in his pink young ear-

{Whoa-a-a-Dohbin

A.W.

L.

(Khan-

dallah) .

Mushiness Overcome. . F SHOULD like to know if any shortwave "fans" heard an American station on 26 metres on Saturday evening (15th inst.). I tuned him in about 6 p.m. when he was giving -pidnoforte selections and coming over R3-4. Rapid fading spoilt intelligibility to a great extent. I heard him announce that It was a test transmission and the eall-sign sounded like 2X AW, but I understand this station operates on 15 metres. T am_ working a three-valve receiver (detector and two audio), and, although it is only about two months since I built it, I have a respectable "log" of 87 telephony stations. 44 of which are on the broadeast band. While I am on the job, 1 should like to mention what may. prove an interesting point. In the afternoons 2YA comes through at good ‘speaker strength and as clear. as a bell, running the set at about "half-power." In the evenings I found that by using a low aerial and shortening it until °2YA owas reduced to "daylight strength," the quality of the reception from 2YA left nothing to be desired. I was very gratified at this result as 2YA on my main aerial is almost out of the question .for his "mush" and "roar." For those who may care to try this idea, the following are the dimensions of my aerials :- wh, a .

Main aerial: Height, 40ft.; length overall, 100ft. Short aerial: Height, 10ft.; length overall, 30ft. Those who complain of 2YA’s "mush" should try this; I am certain that if it works fer them as it works for me, we shall wever hear another’ growl!--

"Q.R

K: 9)

(Wairoa, H.B.).

A Crystal Puzzle. I AM a crystal-set owner, and have been getting very indifferent results. One night I would get good results and the next very poor. I tried several crystals and cat’s whiskers with the same result. I then ran two earths, and although the volume was greater the results were just the same. fi have.a low outside aerial of about "SOft., two earths and a coil of about 120 turns on a bakelite former of about 2in. diameter. I get results about half way along the slider. The power lines’ run past the front door. Now here’s the problem: I decided to get a permanent crystal, so I tried two carborundums and didn’t get: a sound, although I was getting good signals with the ordinary erystal. I then borrowed another good set with the same result. Next I borrowed an R.J. Varley semi-permanent crystal and got good results. T have now purchased one and still get good results. The carborundums were O.K. in their own

sets Pe

G.

Floyd

(Petone).

[From the facts given it 1s diicult to diagnose the cause. ‘The difficulty seems to be unique. Some crystals would seem to have freakish propensi-. ties. Has any reader had a like ex-perience?-Hd.] The King’s ~inglish. we have received several further letters in appreciation of 2YA’s announcer, but as the ground has been well covered, we would ask these belated correspondents to excuse our not publishing their letters.-Kd. " Reception on West Coast. FEEL I must write a few lines to tell you how much I appreciated the splendid all-night. transmission of the Tasman flight. Although static was plentiful we heard nearly every report. Transmission was steady, with very little fading. It was a unique Yevent in the history of radio. Since moving to this locality, which is on the sea coast, I find ~adio reception very much improv.d. Wellington is my best New Zealand station for ¥clarity and steadiness. Can _-iopick sAussie in the daytime here with a 5-valve neutrodyne set. Is there a station in Sydney with the call 20W? T have had 2UR, but 2UW (that’s what it sounds like) is about 20 or 25 metres below 2UB. [Yes. "2UW works on 267 metres with 500 watts.] The other night I logged station 38ZC, Christchurch. The station came through fairly clear, but not loud. Has 3ZC very powerful generator? He is good for an amateur.. [8ZC’s power is 250 watts-it is a trade station. ] Quilty a number of your correspondents afe commenting on your announcer’s | pronunciation of the Wnglish language.. Allow me to state that the annduncer’s English is absolutely A1. ~"T certainly agree with "Fernleaf" and a few others. who are ¢riticising *FfTomo’s" letter. Let him try announc-

ing.

Well-wisher

(Granity).

Changes in Programmes. if SHALL begin in the usual popular style and state my grievances. Twice lately selections from Sullivan's "Ruddigore" have figured on the programme of 2YA’s orchestra. I think on both occasions "Lilac Time" was substituted. While everybody likes to hear Schubert’s melodies, a number of "Sullivanites’" were disappointed. I do not know whether laws of copyright prevented the performance of "Ruddi-gore’-or was it considered a danger to the Kellogg Pact? but certainly "Gondoliers," "Mikado," ete., have been played. The orchestra has given us some splendid music. One could write its praises at some length. I do not play the piano or any other instrument, but two pieces I should like to add to the list of "request" numbers are these: (1) "Fingal’s Cave" overture, composed by Mendelssohn when he was twenty-one; (2) the overture "Oberon," by Weber. A local picture theatre orchestra has played the former; about "Oberon’-well considc’ "The Flying Dutchman." When some vocalists realise it is best to sing something within their range there will be fewer "vocal villainies"’ and more _ programmes of the standard of that arranged for last Sunday evening. The pianist seemed to "rejoice greatly" in recognition of the fact. Some months ago Mr. Ray Kemp sang "Largo Al Factotum" from Rossini’s "Barber of Seville’; I feel that the average listener does not remember the song now and would not mind its repetition.-

P. H.

Warren

P.S.-For superior programmes see every Friday night at 2YA. E.W.P. (Christchurch): We do not think it would be quite fair to the group of artists concerned to publish your strictures and comparisons-our rule is not to publish criticism of individuals, if possible. We are, howeyer, passing your point of view on to the programme organiser concerned. It must be remembered that there are people who do like operatic selections, and they are:entitled to their share of "time." The majority must concede something to the minority-assuming the operatic lovers to be in the minority, which is not proven.-Kd.