Broadcast Music for Coming Week

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 42, 3 May 1929, Page 10

Broadcast Music for Coming Week

Bv

Boiton

Woods

"Tis the deep music of the rolling world, Kindling within the strings of the waved airAeolian modulations." -Shelley.

mF A Chivalrous Knight. oo@WiTR ARTHUR SULLIVAN’S "Ivanmar hoe," his only grand opera, was "ainspired by and dedicated to Queen Vic- " toria. There was a grand perform---ance of "The Golden Legend" at the ‘««"Albert Hall, by command of the »™ Queen, who was present. After the "-@oneert the Queen sent for Sir Arthur ‘and, congratulating him, said: "You ought to write a grand opera; you «would do it so well." Sullivan later get to work on the opera, the libretto 4, being adapted from Sir Walter Scott’s ‘famous work by Julian Sturgis. The ‘Opera was produced on* January 31, .°1891, in the Royal English Opera «House, and was described as an orgy of splendour. Three days after the "first performance the Princess Louise wrote to convey the Queen’s congratulations. She wrote: "It is a particular

satisfaction to her, as she believes it is partly owing to her own: instigation that you undertook this great work." The Wellington Municipal Tramways Band will play selections from "Tvanhoe" at 2YA on Thursday, May 9. A Chopin Bracket. HETHER or not Chopin so intended, it is easy-to read into the "Polonaise in C Sharp Minor" a complete love romance. The earlier bars of the work are clearly an earnest question delivered with insistance and emphasis, followed by an equally clear answer, timid and hesitating, and so the lovely story is continued with the question and answer recurring as though the memory of the romance was dear to the composer’s heart. The "Polonaise" has no definite end; seemingly the romantic episode which it _

portrays came to the composer’s mind, lingered there for a while and was dismissed for the contemplation of other things. Whatever the story connected with it, it is exquisitely tuneful and one of the most beautiful of all the Chopin "Polonaises." The "Waltz in O Sharp Minor" is thought by many to be the most beautiful of all the ,Chopin waltzes. It has been described as picturing the feelings of an unhappy lover at a ball. Its wild melancholy, its tender lovesick longing, interrupted and dispelled here and there by the whirl of the dance, graphically portrays the feelings of the distracted youth, whose doubts are only half stilled as the music dies away. , In this composition Chopin’s nationality shows more clearly than in any of the others. There is more in it of the Slav temperament, and it is strikingly Polish. These two Chopin numbers have been included by Miss Edith Harrhy in her piano numbers from 3YA on Wednesday, May 6. Making Handel’s Reputation. ANDEL’S opera "Rinaldo" was first produced in London in 1711. Superior to anything that had yet been heard, and bearing quite a different stamp, it at once established the reputation of its author in England. On its appearance it was played fifteen times without intermission-a rare occurrence in those days. The poet Aaron Hill was at that time director of the Haymarket Theatre, and he made the Hnglish libretto out of an incident in one of Tasso’s works. The author-manager, who declares it was his object "to give to two senses an equal pleasure," spared no expense in staging the piece, and among. other things he ‘filled the gardens, where most of the scenes are laid, with living birds. Colley Cibber, writing at the time, says that "the elegance of the decorations and the beauty of the machinery were justly admired." Perhaps the most beautiful air in the opera is "Lascia che io pianga?’ It is moving and profoundly tender and will be admired and admirable to the end of the world. Miss Mary Pratt will sing "Weeping for Rver," an arrangement of this air, from 4¥A on Monday, May 6. ‘A Sims Reeves Number. NE of Sir H. R. Bishop’s most tuneful songs is that so-very-English "My Pretty Jane." The words are by Edward Fitzball, and it is interest- ing to read an extract from his "Thirtyfive Years of a Dramatie Author’s Life." "My Pretty Jane," inimitably sung by Robinson, made quite a furore, and was encored every night of the season (1833-34). Sims Reeves has taken up the air lately, and charmingly he ren-

ders it; but it ought to be sung in the open air, under the moonlit summer trees, as at Vauxhall. It almost always happens that that which is least thought of by the inventor is the point which tells best with the public. Bishop thought nothing of the melorly. Of the words I felt there was nqto boast.... Yet, notwithsta ing all these forebodings, and want ‘of self-confidence, that melody and these words have never been lost sight of by the public for twenty years." Mr. Sam. Duncan will sing "My Stead Jane" at 2YA on Thursday, May Paderewski’s Strenuous Life. HD Minuet in G is easily the most popular of Paderewski’s works, and one which, popularised through his playing, has become a world-wide favourite. It abounds in passages of alternate grace and sonority. Like the mazurka, the minuet is an ancient dance rhythm which has been a favourite with composers in every age since it first became popular. Ignaz Johann Paderewski was born in 1859, and is one of the greatest ) pianists in the world, and certainly the greatest exponent of Chopin’s compositions. He is a believer in hard work, and practises day and night for many hours at a time. He has been known to repeat certain passages in a piece 200 times running, thus showing that perfection is to be attained only by perseverance and industry. Bven when travelling, he continues his practising in the train, having a miniature piano which is placed in his carriage. The orchestra. will play an arrangement of the popular "Minuet" at 2YA on Tuesday,. May. 7. Immortal "Egmont." BEETHOVEN wrote incidental music to Goethe’s. tragedy, "Egmont," in. execution of a commission from Hartl, manager of the Court Theatres at Vienna. "he overture was composed in 1810, : Dr. F. Niecks, writing of this oveth ture, says it would be a mistake to ‘e-} gard it as a conventional introduction to a play, for in reality it is in itself a drama-a symphonic poem, if ever there was one. A fine interpretation of Beethoven’s music has been written by Mr. Walter Damrosch, "The overture beginia with an out-cry-a cry for help-uttered by an entire nation. Then follow heavy, determined chords, which ‘seem to press down the very life of ‘the people, who seem helplessly ;.. to yield:to their fate. Only ‘the woe remains, impressively Saunied fonth, first by isthe oboe. "Hrom every. side the. wail is repeat: ed... britigitig before: us;:as in a | picture, the ‘hands, of:; the: ‘nation uplifted in prayer to Hetived, until it is lost in the unison’ of thé first outery, fortissimo. .. . Only one ray of hope

remains-Egmont. But even his lighthearted nuture seems imbued with anxiety for his oppressed country, His motive is as if bound in chains. by the simultaneous repetition of sombre chords. In deep melancholy the violins repeat the motive, seeming to languish more and more. .But with sudden impulse it revives; Egmont shakes off the gloom which surrounds him; his pulse beats quickly and gladly. On every side his fellow-citizens ery to him for aid. They. flock together, and in excited bands surround him, their only champion and deliverer. As if to arouse Hgmont still more to action, the sombre chords of the introduction are heard suddenly, but now in agitated measures, shorter, more commanding, and more incisive. "Kgmont heeds not. these warnings. "His short, lightly-given answers indieate that the decisive moment has not ‘yet arrived for him. Three times the stringed instruments thunder forth the word of command. ‘Then, as if Hgmont with a prophetic eye saw the future before him, he seems to press forward with a mighty rush to meet the oppressors. The hosts of followers, faithful to his call, rally to a spirited attack, and in fierce contest the victory seems to be won. "But this is only a dream. ‘True to his nature, he is playing with his doom. Two vehemently interrupting chords try to arouse Egmont from his reveries; but still he dreams on, and hears them not. Beethoven then leads to the dramatie catastrophe and to the musical climax. Harshly and powerfully the authoritative chords resound again...’ This time they arouse Rgmont from his reveries, and for the first time he seems to have a presentiment of the actual danger. But his vision of before has not left him. It still hovers about him, and even the repeated alarm will not shake it from his mind. "Wor the third time the _ terrible chords resound with trumpets and kettledrums thundering out from the orchestra fortissimo. Atlast the illusion is over. A cry of anguish escapes him. His fate is sealed. Death is his doom. In mute horror the people surround the seaffold of their idol, and their hearfelt _ prayers ascend to Heaven. "But now their wrath, gaining double force from the martyrdom of their hero, and from the hope that Heaven will listen to their prayers, bursts forth. At first a distant murmur is heard. But in wild turmoil the storm of insurrection swells onward, and ' soon triumphal sounds of victory an‘nounce the tyrant’s downfall. We hear the ¢hains resolutely -rent asunder and louder rises the ery of victory." A record of the "Egmont" overture Played by the Royal Italian Marines will be broadcast from 1YA on Sunday, May 5. "Pagoda of Flowers." MY WOODFORDE-FINDEN was born in Valparaiso, Chile. where her father was Consul, She received a

very good education and si ~~ 1 music privately under several f..... ritmsicians. She has written many songs, and has been specially successful with those of an "atmospheric" nature, Her "Indian Love Lyrics" are favourites the world over, and they see.n to be the very expression in music of Lawrence Hope’s poems, of which they are the setting. Another popular composition is the song-cycle, "The Pagoda of Flowers." This dainty work contains solos for four voices and concerted numbers. The "Pagoda of Flowers" will- be produced by the "Melodious Four" at 8YA on Thursday, May 9. "Military Polonaise." F all Chopin's works, this "Polonaise" in A Major is the most consistently bright and joyous. It contains no trace of the underlving melancholy or tragic utterances that are found in nearly everything else that he has written. The proud, bold, martial character of this piece, its well marked and regular rhythm, have caused it to be known as the "Military Polonaise." It is full of life and power, festival uproar and buoyancy. Mrs. Ernest Drake will play ‘"Polonaise in A Major" at 4¥A on Monday. May 6. Violinist, Pianist, Composer. {tz is not generally known that Fritz Kreisler, one of the world’s greatest violinists, might perhaps, had he chosen, have attained equal fame as a pianist. Born in Vienna in 1875, Kreisler studied there and later in Paris, under such masters as Massart and Delibes. He has composed several numbers for violin, and has arranged a large number of classical pieces for violin and piano. One of the most conspicuous successes of recent years, in the light opera field, is his delectable operetta, "Apple Blossoms" The Studio Trio at 1YA will play selections from "Apple Blossoms" on Tuesday, May 7. . "Rule Britannia!" THIS song appeared in the Masque of "Alfred" which was first performed at the residence of Frederic, Prince of Wales, in 1740, th occasion being the commemoration of the Accession of George I, and the birthday of the Princess Augusta. The words of the Masque were written by Thomson and Mallet, the words of this song being attributed to Thomson. The music is by Dr. Arne, who after altered the Masque into an opera, which was performed at Drury Lane for the benefit of Mrs. Arne, in 1745. The song "Rule Britannia" became a favourite with the Jacobite party, which produced a version, altered and adapted to their views. Wagner declared ‘hat the first eight notes of this song portrayed the English character-its vigour, its resolution, and its eternal greatness. Mr. McVie will render as a clarinet solo, a "Rule Britannia" fantasia, at 4YA on Wednesday, May 8. The Opera "Turandot." T his death Puccini left his last opera, "Turandot," unfinished, It was‘ debated as to whether the opera

should be performed in its unfinished state or whether it should be completed according to the sketches left by the composer. At last the latter course was decided upon, and Maestro Alfano, himself a composer, set to work to complete the opera. It was produced in April, 1926, in Milan, and was immediately acclaimed as a work of Puccini in a more virile style than his previous operas, Signora Marotta will sing "Tu Che di Gelo" at 2YA on Monday, Muy 6.