Some Descriptive Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 27, 18 January 1929, Page 15

Some Descriptive Notes

ROMANCE and black magic mingle in the plot of Weber’s Opera, Der Freischutz ("The Marksman’), the overture from which is to be played at 1YA on Wednesday evening. It is all about a young forester’s love and ‘his rival’s machinations, . An import-

--- ant part is played by magic bullets, which are cast at midnight amid the terrors of a haunted glen. The melodies in the overture come from the body of the work, so some of them are tender and some gloomy and menacing. All alike show Weber’s skill in making excellent tunes that, once heard, are easily remembered. At 1YA on Thursday evening Mr. John Bree, baritone, is to sing "The Giorni" by the Italian composer, Pergolesi. Another song of the same composer "Mina," is to be sung at 4YA on Tuesday evening by Mr. Bicknell. Pergolesi lived up to the tradition of genius by dying of consumption at the age of twenty-six, so poor that every stick he possessed had to be sold to realise the cost of his funeral. During this brief lifetime he wrote a dozen or more operas, in addition to cantatas, instrumental music, and sacred musie (of which the Stabat Mater is one of the few that have survived with any distinction). Most of his longer operas have gone the way of all flesh. The most famous of them was L’Olimpiade, during the performance of which in Rome in 1785 an orange was thrown with good aim at the composer’s head. Grieg wrote but one pianoforte concerto, which is probably the most popular of all his instrumental works. Per gramophone records, this concerto will be reproduced at 2YA on Friday, January 25, at 1YA on Sunday, January 27. The recording artist is the great pianist, Ignaz Friedman, and a finer rendition it is not possible to imagine. The concerto was composed by Grieg when he was in his 25th year while he was spending a summer holiday in Denmark. It has all the freshness and romantic charm of a youthful work. Through the medium of gramophone records Mr. Arthur Cortot (pianist) and the London Symphony Orchestra will play the Second and Third Movements of Schumann’s "Concerto in A Minor Op. 54" at 3YA on Thursday, January 24, The first movement of Schumann’s Piano Concerto was composed in 1841, the year following his marriage with Clara Wieck. It is written in free form, and the composer intended at first to publish it as an Allegro for piano and orchestra under the title of Fantasia. The other two movements were added and finally completed in 1845. The Concerto ranks as one of the finest of Schumann’s compositions. The Concerto was first performed by

-- -_ wow ee >» *=5 Madame Schumann while touring on the Continent in 1845-6. Two movements, the Intermezzo and the Allegro Vivace will be presented by 3YA, "THE tone poem "Danse Macabre," or "The Dance of Death," by SaintSaens, will be an orchestral number at 38YA on Thursday. The weird legend of the piece is familiar to most listeners. The composer gives a vivid representation of Death fiddling for the midnight capers of skeletons. Their bones knock together as the xylophone tells us. The dance goes on until cock-crow disperses the ghostly crew. HE "Skye Boat Song," which is to be sung by Mrs. Ross Brodie at 8YA on Wednesday evening, dates back to the time when Oharles Stuart, "Bonnie Prince Charlie," endeavoured, to secure the throne of England and Scotland. With almost fanatical zeal the Highlanders had flocked to his standard and died in thousands on Culloden field. After the battle, Prince Charlie and his followers were hunted through the glens, but though a price of £80,000 was put on the prince's head, not a Highlander attempted to betray him. At length he and his little party reached the coast of the main- land opposite the isle of Skye. The sea Was very rough. The Hnglish pursuers were close at hand. ‘The fugitives embarked on a little boat, it was pushed off from the beach, and the long tow started. The English soldiers reached the shore, looked at the angry sky and the tossing waves, and the little boat was able to reach Skye without being pursued,