W.E.A. Half-hours

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 10, 16 September 1932, Page 5

W.E.A. Half-hours

From 2YA A NEW series of talks on New Zeuland fishes and fishing will be broadcast by Mr. W. J. Phillipps. F.L.S. Thursday, Septembér 15: I. Sharks, Rays and Lampreys. Thursday, September 22: If, Freshwater Fishes, Thursday, September 29: II]. Marine Fishes. Thursday, October 6: IV. Uses of Fishes. NOTHER new series, "English Literature Since the War," will be broadcast by Mr. W. H. Leicester. Saturday, September 17: I. General Tendencies. Saturday, September 24: II. The Detective Novel. Saturday, October 1: III, The Sativical Novel. . Saturday, October 8: LY. Humour. The Golden Age of British Music No. 3-.Henry: Purcell (from 1YA, Wednesday, September 21, at 7.30 p.m., ‘by Mr. Owen Jensen, L.A.B.).-The glorious achievements of the Hlizabethan era were followed as might be expected by an age of comparative decadence. By the time Charles I had come to the throne the madrigal had lost its popularity and the charming freshness of the early keyboard music was beginning to lose its hold on a public already somewhat sophisticated. The restoration of the Stuart House to the throne led to the importation of foreign influences, and with Italy the centre of musical interest English composers were content to imitate their Continental masters. There was @ casting about for new forms, experiments in opera-a certain pioneering by the more serious-minded composers who looked for a prophet io lead them. He came in thé person of Henry Purcell, who was born in 1658-a true genius the like of whom has not been born in England. Upon his tombstone in Westminster Abbey there is writtez -this inscription, a sincere tribute to the finest flower of Hnglish music: "Here lyes Henry Purcell, esq., who left this life and is gone to that blessed place where alone his harmony can be exceeded."