With GRAMOPHONE and RADIO

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 51, 4 July 1930, Page 24

With GRAMOPHONE and RADIO

BY

B NATURAL

THE MUSIC OF THE WEEK

66 29 Rienzi

Famous Overture From 4YA AMONG the selections to be played by the Kaikorai Band (under the eonductorship of Mr. T. J. Kirk Burnnand) at 4YA on Tuesday evening, will be the Overture to "Rienzi," composed by Wagner. Presentation of this will occupy fifteen minutes. The Overture opens with a few bars of introduction; then we hear, very softly, a well shaped, rather slow tune in the violins (‘‘Rienzi’s Prayer.’’) This proceeds, and is soon taken up, loudly, by the full orchestra. After a time, the music comes to a period, and makes a fresh start (quick and energetic) ; the wind instruments have loud repeated chords, the ’cellos and doublebasses do rapid downhill scales. Soon after comes a very striking passage, in which the brass alone thunder out the ‘Call to Arms" from the opera. Then comes "Rienzi’s Prayer" tune again (but quicker this time than before), and after that the "Call . to Arms" again, and then a stirring march-like tune, at first in strings and woodwind softly, but soon afterwards by all the instruments of the orchestra. as loudly as they can. Out of these tunes the Overture is eonstructed. THE overture is widely recorded. On H.M.V. ED3-4, the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, under the conductorship of Leopold Strokowski makes an excellent recording. It is a characteristic work of this conductor. The atmosphere is unmistakable-it is there with full and colourful effects Every instrument can be felt following minutely the direction of the master hand, and the result is perfect orchestration. The balance from the rumbling bass to the twittering strings is perfect throughout. It is a record that can

be thoroughly recommended as a true interpretation of the famous overture. A different interpretation is given it by the Regimental Band of the Grena dier Guards’ Band on Columbia 9086. The guardsmen are undoubtedly one of the world’s best bands, and can always be relied upon to give an excellent ren dering of their subject, and this is the case with this overture. Being adapted for the band, it is different in tenure from the rendering of the orchestra. There is more pronounced bass and the mood is more despondent. Columbia’s orchestral recording is found on 1L1820-1, where the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is heard under the conductorship of Bruno Walter. The bass is again very strong, with the result that the mood is, as before, truly one of despondency. It is well recorded, and comes out well with an , electrical reproducer.

Further Recordings nets

Tom Jones

Opera night at 4YA this week will include excerpts from German’s light opera, "Tom Jones," on Columbia 02626, the Grenadier Guards, record band selections. Their choice has been bright and the selections are admirably executed. The music of this comedy is light and airy, with plenty of snap, and the guardsmen, who can always be relied on for a first-class performance, have made a fine record.

S excerpts from the well-known Gilbert and Sullivan opera, "Pirates of. Penzance," are to be presented at 4YA during the week, listeners will be interested in the recordings. On Columbia 02831 vocal selections are rendered by the Columbia Light Opera Company This is a particularly good _ record. Opening with the rousing "Pirate King," several well-chosen excerpts are sung. They are unusually clearly enun ciated and delightfully rendered. The

accompanying orchestra is full and fills in the body in fine style. The male voices are particularly good. BAND selections from this same opera are recorded by the band of the Grenadier Guards on Columbia 3287. This is a suecession of bright, swinging tunes admirably playéd, and well recorded. There are many solos on different instruments to give a pleasing variety. . Moiseivitch Recordings. ON 8 .M.V. Di280, Benno Moiseivitch records two pianoforte solos in his, best style. "Polonaise in B Flat Major," by Chopin, has all the melody that haunted the soul of the line exile, Chopin, and it has been preserved in the interpretation given it by Moiseiviteh. It is a dainty piece-with delicate turns and airs, and is one of the finest of the many polonaises , written by Chopin. Schumann’s "Grillon" on the reverse is a vigorous piece, with plenty of contrast and colour, with swinging air, which dies away only to resume in a different strain as the air assumes different moods. "J/Apprenti Sorcier." PHE New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Arturo Toscanini, have achieved another success in 2 new record-‘L’ \pprenti Sorcier" (the Sorcerer’s Apprentice). The story of the record is found 2lsewhere on this page. With a weird note from a woodwind, followed up by. other uncanny effects, the listener is introduced into the abode of the sorcerer. It is punctuated with unusual effects as the apprentice of the sorcerer trys his hand at his master’s art. The grotesque humour and freakishness imparted by the author is translated in every detail by the orchestra. The terror of the apprentice when he sees’ everything filling with water is unmistakable, The chopping of the broon, the confusion following the return of the master and _ the iifting of the spell is likewise vivid. The recording is quite different from the usual. H.M.V. D.1689.

----- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 4

An Intriguing Scherzo AUL Dukas is one of the most important figures in modern French music, and was born in Paris in 1865. His reputation rests in a great measure on this witty Symphonie Scherzo, "T’Apprenti Sorcier," composed in 1897, but his ballet, "Le Peri," ond opera, "Ariane et Barbe-Bleue" (after the poem of Maurice Maeterlinck), enjoy considerable popularity in rance, This cheerful and intriguing Schérzo is founded on Goethe’s ballad, " Zauberlehring," of whjch the story runs on these lines. A sorcerer’s apprentice determines to try his hand at working spells in the absence of his master. He bewitches a broom and sets it fetching water from the river. The spell works well-and soon every receptacle in the house is filled. The time has come for the broom to resume its normal habits, but the now terrified apprentice finds that he has forgotten the formula. Chopping the broom in two only makes matters worse, for both halves carry on the work of water carrying. When the collapse of the house seems imminent, the magician returns and breaks the spell, much to the relief of the panie stricken assistant. _-~--- --- ---- -- 5 = ° 2 ag gp -- =. f&

Old-Time’ Songs TN response to a request from the inmates of an o.d people’s ‘home, 2YA_ will broadeast an hour’s concert of old-time songs on Tuesday afternoon, July §8, commencing at 3 o’clock.