Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 42, 3 May 1929, Page 26

Our Mail Bag

A Rendering Appreciated by an Author. HE following was forwarded to ™ .Mr. Barton Ginger, elocutionist :- "Will you accept my thanks for your very fine delivery of "The Bushman’s Child’ on Monday evening last. No one realises more than I, the writer, the many faults in the piece and its crudeness, and I greatly appreciate the manner in which you brought out and made to ‘live’ its one or two good situations. I feel that the congratulations I reéeived from my friends on the occasion of the broadcast were more honestly deserved by the reciter than the author.-

Beryl

Windsor

(Westland).

2YA Trio Wanted. 18 there any likelihood of the Symons -Elwood-Short Trio ever being heard again from 2YA? During last winter this trio used to provide the "star" items of an evening’s programme, but since the Studio Orchestra came into existence the trio has become conspicuous by its absence. I am sure many listeners will. agree with me in saying that a weekly performance by the trio would be a very welcome addition to the programmes of 2YA. In reference to the broadcast by 2YA of the second instalment of "Rigoletto," what happened to the soprano aria "Caro Nome"? Certainly, a portion of this aria was broadcast, but, if I remember rightly, that was only the few bars which, after singing the aria, Gilda is repeating when she is seized by the courtiers. The omission of the complete aria. rather spoilt an otherwise excellent entertainment.-Hom-bre (Masterton). {In endeavouring to suit all tastes, the trio was amplified to the complete orchestra. The personnel still remain and are frequently heard in solos. The aria was rendered complete as far as the gramophone recording is concerned. Any omission was made by the pro-ducers.-Hd.]

Piay Reading Questioned, py discussing the merits of the N.Z, Broadcasting Company, I have very often spoken of their programmes being clean and healthy, such as we delight to have our children listen to. Last Friday night (19th instant), at 1YA, a play was read which I thought was rather unparliamentary, especially as children were listening-in. I think that for the children's benefit Billingsgate could be left ou‘ and let the programmes continue to be clean and healthy. I would like to thank the ladies and gentlemen who broadcast. They have done ‘so much towards giving us such niensant times at our own homes

through the blessings of radio.-

George

Nicholls

(Collingwood ) _

Sunday’s "Vile Programme." ON can almost see the General Manager when he is reading the next letter. The writer is an Aucklander and certainly knows what he wantsor rather, what he does not want. No doubt, in his next letter to 1YA he will be able to say how greatly improved are the Sunday afternoon programmes. "J am perfectly confident that not 90 per cent. of the listeners can understand anything of what has been put over the air during the last hour, and now the poor announcer has his usual literary selection thrust upon him, as though he has not enough of it during the week. Granted the an--nouncer. does his best to enlighten listeners, but if you are still determined to inflict upon a long- . suffering public this class of programme on Sunday afternoon, in the-name of all that’s holy let us have it sung in English.

-"Your policy of educating the public to a crowd of foreigners yelling is doing more harm to radio than anything I know of. With all due thanks to the company, I for one do not wish to be educated to this. class of vile programme. A solid hour of operatic programme may appeal to a certain percentage of listeners, but the greater majority would much prefer the Auckland City organ, which was bad enough. "Barring the announcer, I .note it was an hour and twenty minutes before we had one of our own countrymen come over the air. Wellington, I am pleased to note, put over an entirely diyerent ‘programme during the afternoon, and being in the possession of two sets, I was able to note that theirs was more suitable in every way to the majority of listeners, and they generally appear to cater for all classes, not a chosen few. "Might I suggest that if 1YA cannot cater for all classes of listeners in the Auckland district, the Sunday afternoon sessions cease to be put on the air. I must, in fairness to your engineering staff, express my sincere appreciation of their transmission. Atmospheriec conditions were perfect and evidently your engineers were aware of this fact, as it is a considerable period since such perfect. transmission was put over by 1YA. Wellington, with their erystal control, could not touch it for being perfectly steady, and wonderfully modulated." Auckland Municipal Band. J NOTICE in Friday's issue of the "New Zealand Herald" that the 1YA Musical and Dramatic Committee have been trying to persuade the City Council to allow the. Municipal Band to be broadcast. If this means that the R.B.C. are going to pay more I for one veto it. I and a great many others I have talked to agree with me that we get far better music from the Artillery Band. I imagine this is because there is too much echo from the city hall. The only time the Municipal Band came through well was when it was relayed from Albert Park. Though not much of a musician, I know what is pleasant to listen to, or the reverse, and agree in every way with "36 Years

8 Bandsman_

Country Cousin.

Modern Musie v. High-Brow. WAIRARAPA listener writes :- "In to-day'’s ‘Dominion’ a correspondent writes re 2YA afternoon programmes. This gentleman is out for less good music, which he ealls ‘highbrow,’ and more rubbish-‘modern music,’ and says that nine out of ten people he has asked are of the same opinion. I-take this opportunity in the interest of lovers of good music to urge you not to introduce a larger share of the so-called ‘modern music.’ On the other hand, I believe the Company could and will do very much towards educating the people to be supporters of the better class music. I ask you to at least keep the Sunday afternoons clear of fox-trots."