Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 33, 1 March 1929, Page 2

Auckland Notes

'(By

Listener

. Gomn time ago an Australian writer devoted considerable space to adducing opinions upon the unpopularity of pianoforte items as a class. His chief deduction was that in supplying musie for broadcasting the performer

studied his own appreciation rather than that of an audience the majority of whom were capable of enjoying igems of a less classical nature. Locally there hag been little to cavil at in pianoforte broadcasts, but there has been quite an object lesson to listeners upon the appreciation of organ music. There was a time when we had regular municipal organ recitals on the air, and it must be frankly admitted that the majority of set owners sought elsewher for their radio entertainment when these were in progress. The ammes were in the main quite above the musical taste of their scattered audience, and the relaying of the recitals was in itself often unsatisfactory, despite many tests and experiments. Now we have regular organ broadcasts from the Tabernacle organ, at which Mr. Arthur Wilson presides, and there is quite a different story to be told mainly because the organist "plays down" to his audience, and, where he wishes to develop their appreciation, he delivers a brief and interesting explanation of the piece which he is about to render. Certainly Mr. Wilm has done much to change listeners’ Vial upon the subject of organ relays. D RING this week 1YA has sponsored a series of talks upon vocaonal training, these having been deVered by prominent Rotarians of the ty. While none of the speakers has propounded any definite scheme for the solution of juvenile unemployment, each has emphasised some phase of it,

--_-- and suggested lines upon which remedies might be found. One of the most interesting in this way was Mr. ©. F. Bennett, who spoke most incisively upon existing conditions and the possibilities which the land held. The greatest benefit which will accrue from these talks is the community service they will render in focusing a large body of public opinion upon a problem which urgently demands solution.

LASt week we had a demonstration of how wonderfully effective the human voice can be upon the air. The occasion was the broadcasting of a radio drama, and the artist whose thrillingly effective elocution so stirred listeners was Mr. George Warren. In the writer’s opinion it was the finest thing in vivid impersonation that has yet been heard from 1YA. "THE formation of an Auckland Radio Society will be of great benefit to local listeners. The society has much wider aims than had the Listeners’ League, of which so little has been heard recently, and the members of the new body will be able to do much, not only in the encouragement of listening, but in the more difficult field of educating the big body of listeners who know little or nothing of how their sets function. All suecess to the efforts of the enthusiasts who brought the society into being.

YA has added another to its long list of meritorious achievements. On Tuesday last it relayed most successfully 2¥A, which was broadcasting a reception to the delegates attending the medical conference at Wellington. Almost every word came through splendidly. ‘There was very little of fading, and the small amount of interference noted suggests that such rebroadcasts may soon be a regular feature of our programme. It was probably the first occasion that Aucklanders had

heard the voice of our Prime Minister since he has assumed office. THE decision of the P.M.G. to refuse sanction to the proposals made regarding "B" class broadcasting has caused no heartburnings here. ‘Those who know the capabilities of the plant at 1YA and are aware of the eagerness of the staff to step into the breach on all special occasions when extra service is warranted, feel that the Ka--rangahape Road station can supply all of our wants, and will develop as these wants increase.