Broadcast Music for Coming Week

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 4, 9 August 1929, Page 5

Broadcast Music for Coming Week

By

Bolton

Woods

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

The Waltz Song Maker. UIGI ARDITI was ‘for many years a distinguished and popular figure ‘in Wngland, and it would not be too much to say that the whole world of music held him in very high esteem. He began life as a violinist, and before he was twenty made his debut asa comBsoser with an overture and an opera. He was only twenty-nine when he became an operatic conductor, and was soon making a name for himself in that line in the United States and Hurope. After a short stay in Constantinople he visited London, wheré he was conductor at Her Majesty’s* Theatre. In spite of many visits to other countries, it was in Bngland that he spent most of his busy life, conducting many of the British operatic ventures at Covent Garden and other London theatres. Miss Louise.de Rega will sing "Se Saran Rose" by Arditi, at 4YA, on Monday, August 12 © Admired by Millions. OF the millions of people who have heard the immensely popular "Serenade" and "Souvenir" of Franz Drdla, few know even how to pronounce his name. He pronounces it Durdla (Durd pronounced with the "r" rolled). He was born in Moravia in 1868, and received his first musical instruction from his father. _He studied for two years at the Prague Conservatory, and made such good , progress that his father was persuaded to send his son to Vienna, where he entered the Imperia. Conservatory, under the famous Joseph. Helmsberger.. On his graduation Drdla won the first prize for violin playing and for composition. He made many successful tours of Europe, ‘and played in the Imperial Orchestra, and also in the orchestra of the Festspielhaus at Bayreuth.

A.record of Drdla’s ‘Vienna Waltz," played by the Edith Lorand Orchestra, will be used at 2YA on ‘Thursday, August 15. = Barrister and Song Writer. ME. FRED. B.-WHATHERLY, K.C., barrister and song writer, was born at Portishead, on the shores of the Bristol Channel, and used to spend many hours looking across the grey waters to the mysterious hills of ‘Wales. He says that when he began to write songs he found an inexhaustible inspiration in thé mountains and valleys of the land to which he feels very much akin. His most interesting book of reminiscences, "Piano and Gown," contain many interesting stories. He says: Let the old man be forgiven for this little piece of vanity in saying with pride that some of his recent songs, "Roses of Picardy," "Up from Somerset," "Danny Boy," and "On With the Motley," are as well known as his old songs, "Nancy Lee," "Darby and Joan," . and "The Holy City." At 8YA on Monday, August 12, Miss Marion Drysdale will recite "A Lesson with the Fan," by Weatherley. "Oh! Promise Me." T is interesting. to know that "Oh! "Promise Me,’ was composed while Reginald de Koven was a very young man, and was sold outright to a publisher for a very small sum. It was interpolated into "Robin Hood," and it is not, as is generally supposed, a part of the original score of that work. The beauty of the music of this light opera, and its appropriateness as a musical setting for the libretto, distinguish it, and contribute -to its great celebrity and explain the favour with which it has been everywhere received. Mr. W. Sneddon will play "Oh! Promise Me" as a cornet solo, accompanied by the Wellington Artillery Band, at 2YA on Thursday, August 15. The Moon Lady. (THERE is probably no great work for the piano so universally known as Beethoven’s so-called "Moonlight Sonata." There has been much controversy as to the origin of the title. It was certainly not given to the sonata

by Beethoven. ihe story most lavoured is that of the composer’s love for one of his pupils, Giulietta Guicciardi. She seems to have returned his affection, but marriage with the poor musicmaster was out of the question. It is related that on one occasion he stopped outside a house on hearing his own music. Suddenly the door opened, and ouc into the moonlight came Giulietta and her friends. They surrounded the composer, and compelled him to enter .and play for them. He did so, and it is supposed that the moonlight and the presence of his beloved Giulietta inspired him to play what has come to ‘be known as the "Moonlight Sonata." Whether the story is true or not will

niver be known, but music always seems more interesting if one can lift aside the curtain a little, and see behind, to the human side. Mrs, Ernest Drake will play the "Moonlight Sonata" at 4YA on Monday, August 12. Heroic Music. LTHOUGH Beethoven’s overture, "Coriolanus," was not composed as a prelude to the Shakespeare play, having been composed for one on the same subject by the German dramatist, Von Collin, it may quite well be taken as illustrating the story which Shakespeare sets forth.’ The first theme might very well stand for Coriolanus himself, stern and unrelenting, while the second may be his wife and mother, to whose entreaties he yielded. A third theme, no less expressive, is dealt with at some length, and the overture rises more than once ‘to: climaxes. At the end, fragments of the Goriolanus theme are heard on the violins, as though the hero’s courage were failing, as though he were bidding his mother, Volumnia, farewell, as in Shakespeare’s play. The orchestra will play: the "Coriolan" Overture at 3YA on Wednesday, August 14. The Bird Woman. "THE legend of "Sadko," from which : "A Song of India" is taken, tells of a fantastic creature, half bird and half woman, who sat on a cliff of jewels, and sang her siren song. He who listened sank into oblivion. It is another version of the familiar story ‘of "The Lorelei." The opening phrases are the setting of the lines :- "Unnumbered diamonds lie within the caverns, Unnumbered pearls within tropic waters, Of distant India, wondrous fair!" Then comes the story of the siren and her exquisite song, followed by a repetition of the opening phrase: ‘Mrs. W. Fraser Morrish will sing the "Song of India" at 2YA on Friday, August 16. , ; Old Irish Reels. "WY OLLy ON THE SHORD" is the name of an old Irish reel, and the. composer has made his piece out

of that und another reel, "Temple Hill." Percy Grainger was born in Melbourne in 1888, and during the war took on American nationality. One of his friendships is commemorated ‘in the British Folk Music Settings, of which his piece is one; they are "lovingly and reverently dedicated to the memory of Hdward Grieg." This particular piece is also inscribed, "Birthday Gift to Mother, 1907." Last year the composer was married in the presence of ar enormous audience in the famous Hollywood Bowl, immediately after he had conducted special music composed for the oceasion. A record of "Molly on the Shore," played by the composer: himself, will be used at 1YA on Sunday, August 18. _The Gorgeous Orient. * A IDA" was written by Verdi at the request of the Khedive of Egypt, for the copenirg of his new opera house in Cairo. But unfortunately, the Franco-Prussian War prevented the opera: being ready in time, as all the scenery was in the beleagured city of Paris. However, it was produced there on Christmas Eve, 1871. The brilliant scene of the second act of "Aida," in which Radames, the victorious hero, returns- and is. received With the greatest pomp and magnificence, is one of those scenes which, the great stage crowded with. splendour, produces a thrilling effect. Verdi has in this triumphal march, written pompous and stirring music befitting the scene. A PARLOPHONE record of this **scene performed by the chorus and orchesira of the Berlin State Opera House; will be used at 1YA on. Friday, August 16, and the Broadcasting Trio at 4YA will play selections from "Aida" on Monday, August 12.