Broadcast Music for Coming Week

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 43, 10 May 1929, Page 10

Broadcast Music for Coming Week

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

By

Bolton

Woods

Peer Gynt Suite. The "Peer Gynt" Suite by Grieg, is one of the most popular pieces of music to be found on orchestral programmes. There are five parts to the suite, and it was at the request of the author of the play-Ibsen-that Grieg wrote the music. Writing of this time when her husband was composing the suite, Mrs. Grieg says: "An old Danish friend of mine who passed the window very often, and always saw him bending over his work, once said to me. ‘You may be very glad, my child, that you have such a husband one who' sits at his work from morning to night, instead of going off to the club to play ecards!’ I may say that that point of view had never occurred to me. It always seemed so much a matter of eourse that. Grieg should: be sitting steadily at his work." ‘The first two scenes from the suite, "Morning" and "Death of Ase," will be broadcast from 2YA on Friday, May 17. An Old-time Minuet. BocHHERINI, whose talents were not appreciated in his own day, for he died in 1805 in great poverty, has "written music of great beauty, indeed "some of the most beautiful that has

survived of the eighteenth century Italian composers. He has 467 compositions to his credit, including an opera, two oratorios, and numbers of pieces for stringed instruments. His "Minuet" written in the antique style, is justly celebrated. Its grace and beauty create a picture of the old court minuet, with resplendent personages treading its stately measures, making the ballroom a picture of harmony, deecorum, and romance. The "Minuet" will be played as a violin solo with orchestral accompaniment at 2YA on Tuesday, May 14. A Regal March. "Pomp and Circumstance" March in D by Elgar was composed at the time of the Coronation of Edward VII, and with its companion piece, bearing the same title was first heard at a promenade concert in London on October 22, 1901. Magnificent as its title implies, it is a work of superb effectiveness, with a fine melody and with a broad sweep which never fails to make a deep impression. It appeals to hearers of every class, and its success has been phenomenal. The tune on which it is puilt has a breadth and swing which earries everything before it. 4YA are using a rendering of this by the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, on Wednesday, May 15. Humorous Haydn. HIAYDN’s "Surprise Symphony" is known in Germany as the sym-. phony "with the drum stroke." It was composed in 1791, and is the third of the set of twelve symphonies composed for Salomon, who produced it for the first time at one o* his concerts in London ia 1792. The "surprise" comes off in the Andante in which the sections of the theme are marked by crashing chords for full orchestra and timpani. There is a story that these crashes were introduced to frighten the ladies of the audience, or to arouse them from sleep; but Haydn contradicted this, and said the intention was only to surprise the public by something new. , The orchestra at 2YA will play the Surprise Symphony" on Monday, May Siebel’s Song. HE opera "Faust" is Gonnod’s masterpiece. It is the greatest favourite of all operas, having received. throughout the world, more performances than any other. The "Garden Scene" in the third act, is perhaps the most beautiful portion of the work. It is there that the lovely "Flower Song" ocelrs, Sung by Siebel, who, entering the garden, picks flowers to bear his message of love to Marguerite, only to find that they wither and fade in his hand, as prophesied by Mephistopheles. He, however, presently breaks the spell by dipping his hand in holy water. Mrs. Dorothy Kay will. sing. the "Flower Song" from Gounod’s "Faust" at 1XA on Friday, May 17,

Immortal Schubert. MANS people are not aware that "Ave Maria" is a setting of Sir Walter Scott’s words. It was written in 1825, and of it Schubert said: "My new songs from Walter Scott’s ‘Lady of the Lake’ have been very successful. People were very astonished at the devotion which I have thrown into the hymn to the Blessed Virgin, and it seems to have seized and impressed everybody. I think that the reason of this is that I never force myself into devotion or compose hymns or prayers unless I am really overpowered by the felling; that alone is real, true devotion." There is no doubt about the inspiration, in this case, of the beautifully éasy and gracefully-moving voice part and accompaniment. It is one of Schubert’s most beautiful songs; a deeply religious mood is created in its long sustained phrases, heard against celestial accompaniment. Mrs. A. E. Schade will sing "Ave Maria" at 1YA on Sunday, May 12. "The Maid of Orleans." OAN of Are was a peasant girl, the daughter of a small farmer of Domremy. She went to the King of France and told him that angels had appeared to her and told her that she should lead the French forces to: victory against the English, and that he should be crowned in the town. of Rheims. Success followed success, and at last she reached Rheims, where the king was crowned. She then wished to return home, but the French Court had found how useful she was, and refused to let her go. At the siege of Compiegne she fell off her horse, and was taken prisoner. After the custom of the time, she was sold by her captor to the Duke of Burgundy, and again by the Duke into the hands of the Pnglish. In the eyes of her enemies her triumphs were the results of sor. eery, for the belief in witcheraft wax then a real and living power among .all classes of people. She was tried by an KNieclesiastical Court, headed by the Bishop of Beauvais, and was condemned to be burnt to death. A great pile was raised in the market-place of Rouen, and there the heroic soul of the poor yourg country girl passed

away. A statue of Joan of Are now marks the spot where she suffered death, Miss Leila Armitage will recite "The Speech of Joan of Arc Before Her Pxecution," at 1%¥A, on Thursday, May 16, on the Radio Society’s programme. Iago’s Creed.HE "Credo" in Verdi’s "Othello," occurs in the second act. The scene is laid in a room on the ground floor of the castle with a garden at the hack, and porches at the sides. The curtain rises and Iago is advising Cassio to beg Desdemona to intercede for him with Othello. Cassio goes out, Jago follows him with a look of contempt, and delivers himself of his famous "Credo." He believes only in a cruel God, who has made him in his own image. "From some vile germ I am born; I am wicked because I am a man, and feel the elemental mud in my being. I believe that the good man is only a bantering comedian, and everything about him-tears kisses, sacrifices, and honour-nothing but falsehood. After all this absurdity comes Death. And then? And then? Death itself is nothing, and Heaven only is an ancient idle tale." Mr. Hartiey Warburton will sing the "Oredo" at 1YA on Friday, May 17. A Victim of Ambition. (CARDINAL WOLSEY (1471-1530), churchman and statesman, was sent by Henry VIII as Ambassador to Germany. He was appointed Bishop of Lincoln, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Bishop of Durham, Bishop of Winchester, and finally Archbishop of York. He was in high favour with the King, who made him his Chancellor. He tived with the magnificence of a royal prince. At Hampton Court, a beautiful village on the Thames, Wolsey built himself a wonderful palace, which he afterwards presented to his master, Henry. His ambition and arrogance made’ him many foes at court, and his conduct in the matter of Henry's divorce lost him the favour of the King. He was deprived of all his offices, and summoned to London to answer a charge ;

of high treason, but died on the journey at Leicester Abbey. Miss Madge Horn will give a dramatie recital, "Cardinal Wolsey meditates at Hampton Court," at 1YA on Thursday, May 16, on the Radio Soeiety’s programme. The Gypsy Opera. "The Bohemian Girl" remains one of the most successful operas in Bnglish ever produced. It was composed by an Irishman, Michael Balfe, in 1848. The plot is from Cervantes’ "Preciosa." Thaddeus, a Polish nobleman, is exiled and joins a band of gypsies. The leader of the band is Devilshoof, who steals the five-year-old daughter, Arline, of Count Arnheim. Twelve years elapse, and Arline falls in love with Thaddeus, who, however, is looked upon with favour by the Gypsy Queen. She falsely accuses Arline of theft, and she is brought before the Count to be tried. He recognises his daughter, and she returns to him. She pines for her gypsy friends and her lover, and Devilshoof arranges a meeting -between the lovers. The queen discloses his hiding-place to the Count, who is furious, and only considers Thaddeus as a prospective son-in-law when he learns of the young man’s true rank and station. On Friday, May 17, at 2YA, the orchestra will play the overture, and a record of vocal gems from "The Bohemian Girl’ will be used. Hugo Via Verdi. HE text of Verdi’s "Hrnani"’ is taken from Victor Hugo’s "Hernani." Hugo did his best to prevent the performance of this unauthorised operatic version of his work, and a . compromise had to be made by calling the opera "Il Proseritto," and changing the nationality of the characters and their locals to Italian and Italy. The well known. "O Sommo Carlo" (Oh, Noble Carlos) occurs in the finale of the third act. Don Carlos, King of Spain, overhears Ernani and Silva plotting to kill him. He reveals himself, and orders their instant execution.. Elvira, betrothed to Silva, but in love with Ernani, makes an impassioned appeal for their lives. The king pardons the plotters and unites Blvira and Ernani, while the assembled courtiers acclaim the nobility of his action. A record of this solo sung by Riceardo Stracciari and chorus, will be used at 4YA on Monday, May 13. The Linden Tree. ‘*J)ER LINDENBAUM," the Linden ( ' Tree, is from Schubert’s last _ eycle of songs, "The Winter Journey," written just before he died. The poem is by Muller, and is the musing of a

lover who stands by a lime tree on which he has carved the words of love in days long past. There are many beautiful effects in this beautiful melody, with its artistically conceived piano part, but perhaps the most appealing is where the poet describes the eold wind rising. Miss Mollie Andrews will sing "The Linden Tree’ from 4YA on Monday, May 18.