"I'd Like to Make a Talkie"

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 40, 17 April 1930, Page 7

"I'd Like to Make a Talkie"

An Interesting. Chat with Miss Harrhy

RIMMING over with charming vivacity and whole-hearted enthusiasm for the work which she does so well, Miss Edith Harrhy, or Mrs. Con Beckx Daly, as she really is, is a delightful person to meet. and talk with. While in Wellington Mr. and Mrs. Daly are staying on The Terrace with Mr. A. B. Donne and Miss Lorna Donne, and in‘an interview with a yepresentative of the "Evening Post" Miss Harrhy told something of her experiences as a song-writer, singer and pianist. FROM her youngest years Hdith Harrhy always "made a bee-line" for the nearest piano, and she did it so consistently that her parents decided that music should be more than an "extra" in her education. At the age of seven the little Welsh girl passed her first examination in music, and later she won a scholarship.at the Guildhall School of Music’ under the principalship of Sir Landon Ronald. She remained there for eight years on scholarships, reciving a _ solid training in all branches of music and voice production, and even before she left had started on her career as a song-writer. She found it hard to get a start, but "it’s dogged as does it," and now Miss Harrhy has some 350 songs to her credit. Of many she has written both words and music; of some she has written the music only. but each, day sees an increase in their popularity "over the air," for piano, orchestra, and record. ‘ Her versatility is really amazing: The compositions range from rollicking. gusty songs of the sea to sentimental ballads, charming children’s songs. sweet music made perhaps for some passing incident. and lightsome, catchy jazz tunes which set the feet itching for the whine of the saxophone. over a glistening floor. It is only lately that Miss Harrhy has tried her hand at this "light stuff." as she calls it. but her first two efforts-"‘Maisie" and "Goblin Blues"-for which she wrote

both words and music, are now doing well in New York. She writes this lighter music under the pen-name of Monty Carlo, and is often amused to hear it played about her-at a cabaret, perhaps, or a theatre. Not only does Miss Harrhy write songs, but she sings them, too, in a clear, expressive voice, to her own accompaniments. She is a fine pianist, and has given many recitals in HEngland, Wales, and Australia. On her last tour through New Zealand she held a most successful recital in Auckland. Frequently heard "over the air" in _Australia, where she has lived for ten

years, it is broadcasting which has drawn Miss Harrhy to the Dominion, "Broadcasting? Well, I like it better now than at first," she said, "but I can never make up my mind whether thousands of people are listening or nobody at all. It’s a weird feeling. "When do I do my work? It depends a great deal on circumstances. I may not write anything for some weeks, and then perhaps I will write three or four songs in one week, I wrote several Maori songs while I was in Auckland. I can’t explain it even to myself, but the words and music of my songs seem to come to me simultaneously. "I suppose it’s ‘inspiration,’ although I don’t like that word very much." _ Although she has had London publishers for some years, it is only reo

cently that Miss Harrhy has forged a link with America, and she is very keen to go there. "I’d like to make a talkie," she confessed, adding that just before she left Melbourne, where she lives, she was asked to take part in an Australian-made sound film, but had not made any definite plans. QNE would imagine that Miss Harrhy’s interests would be limited more or less to her songwriting, but she has a talent for drawing, holding three certificates from the Royal Drawing Society; has also written articles, principally on musical subjects, and writes music for the violin as well as the voice. Then she has another "special particular" interest-one very near her heart-her two small daughters, Honour and Patsy. Both, from their miniatures, are chubby and fair, and their mother recounts that they each have musical gifts, and that the elder can already play her mother’s simpler airs. To leave them in Melbourne, even though they are in the understanding eare of Mrs. Daly senior, is. the one thing she does not like. The fact that she already has so ‘many successful songs to her credit

does not dim Miss Harrhy’s eager anticipation of the latest creation of-her clever, busy brain. "Tt’s ‘Colette,’" she announced, happily. "I wrote the words and musie in Auckland, and it should be out in America any time now." And sitting down at the piano she played and sang in witching fashion a lilting melody which proved (if proof again were needed) that versatility which is the keynote of Edith Harrhy’s personality.

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