STATIC

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 13, 7 October 1932, Page 7

STATIC

bw

SPARK

HE most informative and chatty talks by Mr. Dorrie Leslie on the Olympic Games have been much better than anything we have been able to read or hear on the subject in New Zealand, and so far as local listeners are concerned 2ZW has given us a real service. During the games KFI’s "ballyhoo" was a little hard to listen to. Mr. Leslie mentioned,’ that at one time, when war clouds were gathering "watch Japan" was dften said, and he gave it as his opinion that in future we shall need to take Japan into account when anything in the sporting field is toward. I have never seen any people, men or women, more muscular than the hardy Japanese, whos: ‘natural modesty does not always require clothes. No people discard sartorial raiment quicker than the Japanese, when such. artificial encumbrances hamper bodily movement. Ladies and gentlemen are a little embarrassing when. they approach one in their birthday suits, ,but it certainly allows a judgment "to be formed upon physical development of the race. Japan’s record at tLe Olympiad was truly wonderful, and | agree with Mr. Leslie, that at the next Games it will be still more SO. * % » E become a little enervated at times when we’ heay the -songs my mother taught me, but an entertaining variation of the theme was that given by Mr. H. F. von Haast from 2YA on "Songs My Father Sung." Of greater interest than the songs were the historical outlines of the discoveries made. by the lecturer’s progenitors in New Zealand, and with many others, I shall be pleased to meet Mr. von Haast again on Thursday, in the valley that perpetuates the family name. 9s MATEUR fishermen must have ‘heen interested in Mr. W. J, instructive lecturette: from 2YA on "Marine Fishes." . As the speaker is an authority on piscatorial matters, it is to‘be hoped that his fisherman hearers paid due regard to the reserved dimensions given..some of the inhabitants of our waters. After this series of broadcast talks is concluded amateurs may find difficulty in holding an incredulous audience even for a moment, but I suppose Antonio will still be able to alm off shark as hake, under an egg "and bread-crumb- epidermis, t t {? was good to hear again the clamour of the boxing enthusiasts and the occasional smack of the glove, when 2YA relayed the Amateur Boxjing Championships from New Ply-

mouth. Broadcasting didn’t seem to. affect the total of the gathering, and it. may be supposed that all present were of the real fraternity. It was as hot in temperature as were some of the contests, and the genial George Aldridge surely forgot himself when someone handed him an orange, and he said "Good Luck!" I even thought I heard him blow at something, which I would imagine couldn’t be anything but froth. * * * S a rule when Hawaiian music is announced, with my _ politest thank-you-I switch round for something less seductive, but on Tuesday night I endured and enjoyed a whole hour of it with Mr. Voco from 2ZW. There is a purity of tone about a steel string that is not evident in that extracted from a feline’s abdomen, but steel strings caterwauling ‘and whining and ukeleles twittering cannot, by the ‘longest stretch of imagination, be called music. Still, by happy presentation such items, diffused by: corrupt vocal lilts, can: be made entértaining, and this Mr. Voco did. ‘I’m glad Mr. Voco did not expand about Honolulu’s beautiful sandy beaches, for they are q myth, and exist only in the blatant Amst can travel poster. , * * THINK "imoat listeners would deplore the style employed by Miss Dora West, O.B.E., when speaking from 2YA on "England-the Homeland." The exquisite composition which graphically pictured the England of Alfred and the Saxon kings,

ae of Shakespeare, Plymouth Hoe, whence came the adventurers’ who won a colonial empire, the chalk downs of Sussex and the leafy counties that bred the yeomen who made an England whose creed is individual liberty-does not need such an, advocate of greatness. Englandthis royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle, this earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden, demi-paradise. R % * HERE is always a charm in hearing about famous people of whom everyone knows, when they are presented to our ears by one who has come in. personal contact with them. That alone would have made worthwhile Mr. George O’Halloran’s talk from 1YA on "Celebrities I Have Met," but when he brought forward ‘such interesting personalities, with whom he is so intimate; as Heath Robinson and his’ brother Charles, Israel Zangwill, John Lane of Bodley Head, Dame Madge Kendall and G. A. Henty, the idol of every boy, Mr. O’Halloran commanded all attention. Besides being a very whimsical individual Heath Robinson was always ‘one ‘of the "boys," with early aspirations as a cricketer and an interest in.'all the sports and the attendant jollifications usually sssociated with club memberships. : One uproarious incident was recalled at a beef and beer supper at the village inn, in which Heath Robinson appeared bhefore the hilarious assembly garbed in his underclothes only, as the spirit of spring. The song of this particu-

lar club was "The Frothfinders,"’ written and composed many years before the famous Frothblowers’ cheery anthem. Mr. O’Halloran’s very intimate pictures of his celebrated acquaintances, given in a chatty manner were very entertaining, and I’m sure all listeners will be hopeful of hearing him again. % "® * CORRESPONDENT writes questioning the suggestion fathered by Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell that the murderer Hare came to New Zealand, and that a bay near the city of Wellington was named after him or the name under which he went. The correspondents points out that Burke and Hare perpetrated their murders in 1827, and states that George A. Birmingham, the well known author, in his book "Murder Most Foul," recorded that Hare died a blind beggar in the streets of London. The first ship arrived’ in Wellington in 1842. Hare at the time of the murders in 1827 was apparently about _ thirty years of age. The dates mentioned really prove nothing, but in writing of Hare it might be expected that Birmingham had recdurse to official documents. ¢ [_ECTURETTES on the culture of various nations. have been a fea~ ture of recent broadcasts from the YA stations, and from 8YA_ last Thursday came. the. question-"Is There an American Culture?" This subject was very ably dealt with by Professor. Shelley, whose analytical -observations were certainly reflective of a close study of the conglomerate mass known as the American nation. It was said by the Professor that the dogmatist asserted the U.S.A. was fully occupied in worship of the dollar and skyscrapers, and that everything, material and otherwise, was measured by the dollar’s worth. As yet, cultural value in America were not stabilised, and this collection of diverse nationalities has been unable to sort itself out and make a skart on the development of a culture. With the advent of the industrial age and the constant stream of necessary emigrants, America was too busy to cultivate artistic expression. As an: adolescent her measure was by quantity, which was epitomised by dollar aggregation and architectural conceptions born of industrial and financial magnates’ ideas of utility. It has been said that America was in the melting pot, but Professor Shelley prefers to think of her as having been in the fermenting vat, and notes that her people have now attained a stage of equilibrium when they are able to face up to realities. A stage of uni-

The Week’s Best Par. \ LAST ‘week I was, scouring Hamilton for a .00005 mfd. fixed condenser, and after drawing a blank at-all the leading radio shops was attracted by a small display of "parts" in. a little music shop. It was the lunch hour and, going inside, I disturbed a young girl and her "beau" in the midst of a "confidential." After a confused giggle or two the girl came forward to see what I wanted. I asked her if she kept radio parts and, on being told yes, asked if she had any fixed condensers. . ‘Oh, yes," she replied. "We can fix them." I tottered out and left them to it-‘"Mae," Morrinsyville. Se ‘ [This recalls to "Spark" an incident when looking in a South African book shop for a particular text-book on the Calculus. The lady assistant, after.a casual search of the shelves sweetly inquired, "Is it a game?" ] A weekly prise of 5/- is awarded for the best par. on a radio topic sent in to "Spark," Box 1032, Wellington. —

Lf bd Pestion has been reached when artistie expression has 9 real meaning to the whole people, from north to south, from east to west. The vast mad priceless collections of extraneeus art, gathered from world wide sources, have indicated a growing up im cultural sense, and although virtnally- distortions in a land without its own culture, are material signs of & renaissance-for America had a culture when the New England States and the South were in the full flush of being. Byzantium made art collections in her adolescence before she developed her own expressions, and America is passing through a similar evolutionary stage. The day is approgching when America will value more @ flower in a crannied wall than the most gigantic ferro-conerete building. Ly ¥ = IN speaking from 2YA, a mem- """*.. ber of Toe H made an appeal to the man who could not find time for. sacial service, to place in the eause of humanity his gifts and talents. We have been on the brink of an economic abyss, and to-day we stand on the edge of a social one, and all should be in readiness to help the younger generation, who are the regalt and not the cause of this age. he busiest man can do something, and all were exhorted to practise the simple duty of neighbourliness, and te see that every boy and girl was given a chance to become good citizens. Toc H interferes with no social wrganisations, but is wide in its own social instincts and deep in its spirit~ ual, Those who feel the call of duty to their fellows are asked to write to Toe H, care of 2YA, when it will be shown how the man with no time at ail available may do something for ‘his fellow beings. His Royal High‘ness, Prince Edward of Wales, who never makes a mistake, says: "We ‘must @ll do something for Toe H," b i) % nN ES continuation of his series from "™ $YA, "Great Personalities and Their Influence," Mr. L. F. de Berry took for his subject one who had possibly had a greater influence upon mankind than any other, "Henri Pestalozzi," the Swiss schoolmaster. Although only known by name to few people, this great far-seeing altruist laid the foundation of modern education. Schoolmasters do not usually write their names on the scroll of fame, said Mr. de Berry, but Pesta~ lozzi has a claim that cannot be denied him-his "Leonard and Gertrude"’ is the children’s charter. As a child, Pestalozzi was anything but an apt pupil, and his later excursions in the realms of varied avocations were in keeping with his early lack of promise. He studied for the clergy, but his first sermon indicated that he had; no future in religion. He studied law, but departed from that uncongenial practice for farming pursuits, which also ended disastrously. His spirit, however, remained unbroken, and he founded a school for waifs unaccustomed to discipline, and in pursuance of his reasoned principles, employed the children in the field and in spinning, between primary intellectual lessons. These demoralised and unnatural children, bereft. of gratitude, ultimately brought this venture to an .ignoble

aneenentn end, and Pestalozzi was reduced to beggary. His wife, like Garibaldi’s, shared his tribulations and inspired Pestalozzi to further efforts, which became recognised by the wide world as he approached old age. Napoleon’s aid was sought, but this great man had few thoughts for others,’ and Pestalozzi was required to plough his furrow alone. His life’s work was one of the greatest forces in the

development of the world to-day, and schools for the blind, the deaf and dumb, technical training and ‘Sunday schools owe @ debt to Pestalozzi as their original founder. e R bs) (THE gem of the Haydn Bi-Centen-ary Festival, broadcast by 2YA, was the string quartet. It is in chamber music that local performers excel, and we should have more of it than we do. gS & @ HEN the Wellington Community Singing Committee commenced their present season their object was to obtain £500 this year for the Mayor’s relief fund, This they have already accomplished. Since July of 1931 over £1000 has been collected and added to the fund, and although song leading is exhausting work, the results are gratifying. The well deserved tribute paid last Wednesday by Mr. Albert Russell to the untiring efforts of Mrs. Russell, Messrs. Owen Pritchard, Willi Mason, Frank Crowther, Joe Duncan and others, who had kept the flag flying while Mr. Russell was abroad, was fitting and very pleasant hearing. 2 2 i SOME time ago I referred to the _ many operas which to-day are but a memory and are never performed, their fame being now

slemniee = dependent solely upon the vitality of the music in their respective overtures. As the stories of some of these are worth re-telling, I think it will be of interest to recount some of them when the musie is scheduled for performance at one of the stations. OperaS and musical plays based upon the lives of composers are no new thing. The wide vogue of "Lilac Time" lent the Schubert music an entirely new interest, but the difference between such works as "Lilac Time," and a similar musical play built upon Chopin’s life and music, and also operas like "Stradella" and "Mozart and Saleri,"? is that, in the case of the first mentioned plays, the music is unblushingly "cribbed,’’ whilst Flotow and others wrote original musical settings to interesting plots. Flotow wrote a number of operas, of which "Martha" and "Stradella" are the best known. "Martha" became famous all over the world, particularly in England, where the impression that it was an English opera, has stuck. This is natural enough, because the plot has an English setting and there is introduced into it Tom Moore’s lovely melody "The Last Rose of Summer." © % & "QTRADELLA," on the other hand, though it had great success in Germany, was 2 dead failure in London, and was never heard in Paris, where it was written. The overture, however, is very often played. Flotow was much in Paris, the early part of his life being spent there, and later he returned and was elected a member of the Institute. The overture, which will be played by. the 2YA Orchestra this Saturday, shows Flotow’s best quality-the capacity to write flowing melody. There is a gentle moving introduction, and then the main body of the overture begins with a declamatory phrase, going on to a jovial, dancing theme. From this material the overture is brightly built up, and a sonorous coda brings it to a conclusion. Originally "Stradella" was a lyric drama, but was adapted as a grand opera, and as such produced at Hamburg and Drury ane. o i br] "THE libretto of "Stradella" is interesting and touching. Stradella, the celebrated Venetian singer, has fallen in love with Leonore, ward of a rich Venetian citizen named Bassi. She returns his love, but is strictly guarded by her uncle, who wants to marry her himself (quite a common tendency among guardians in the good old days). Stradella succeeds in deceiving Bassi and, aided by his friend, carries her off during the carnival. In the second act we find the lovers in a little village near Rome, where a priest unites them forever and gives them his benediction. But, Malvolio, a bandit, has sought them by Bassi’s orders, and discovers their refuge. Entering the villa, where he finds open doors but no people, he meets with another bandit, in whom he recognises his friend Barbarino, also sent, as it turns out, .on the same errand. They decide to operate together-kill Stradella and carry his wife back to Bassi. Under the mask of pilgrims going to a sacred festival they find a kindly shelter in Stradella’s house,

— and are won by the latter’s fine voice, | as well as by the charm of his noble behaviour, so that they wholly abandon their evil purpose. In the third act Bassi appears and, not finding his order executed, offers such a large sum of gold to the banditti that they at length promise to stab Stradella during his next singing performance. While they lie in wait for him, Stradella sings: the hymn of the Holy Virgin’s clemency towards sinners so touchingly that his pursuers cast their swords away and sink on their knees, joining in the refrain. Full of astonishment, Stradella learns of the danger in which he had been, but in the ‘end he willingly pardons, not only the banditti, but also his wife’s uncle, ‘who, won over like the ruffians by the power of Stradella’s song, humbly asks for the singer’s friendship, which is granted him.

The Final Community Sing of the season will be relayed by 2YA from the Wellington Town Halli on Monday, October 10, Song Leaders: , Mr. and Mrs. Albert Russell, Owen Pritchard, Weil Mason. Assisting Artists: Christina Ormiston, Soprano. Trevor Thomas, Bassbaritone, At the Piano: Joe Duncan and . Frank Orchestral Music by The 2YA. Concert Orchestra, under Leon de Mauny. * *