Malcolm Sargent's Performances

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 3, 24 July 1936, Page 19

Malcolm Sargent's Performances

English Conductor’s Visit Expected to Create Intense Interest Among Musical People-Great Charity Concert in ChristchurchGuests Slip in "On the Nod" in Own Country.

eal HE eagerly-awaited first appearance of Dr. Malcolm Sargent in New Zealand is now definitely fixed for August 6. He will be giving a series of three concerts, two in Wellington Town Hall. The first is a: miscellaneous one from 2YA studios. On Tuesday, August: 11, he will be seen in a symphony concert, and this will be rebroadcast by 1¥YX and 3YA. The final of the series on Saturday, August 15, will be a presentation of the immortal "Hlijah," the complete presentation of which will be rebroadeast by 1YX, 8YA and 4YA. It is to be regretted that the other main centres will not have an opportunity of seeing and hearing this brilliant English conductor. This short stay is the result of his engagement for a number of concerts under contract to the Australian Broadeasting Commission. OVERS of the very best in musie in Christchurch will be able to do two useful things on August 5. They will be able to satisfy their aesthetic desires, and at the same time be comfortable in the knowledge that they are assisting a worthy charity. The Civic Theatre stage will accommodate artists who are great in the world ef music-Florence Austral (soprano), John Amadio (flautist), Browning Mummery (tenor) and Sydney de Vries (baritone)-who « will be assisted by the 3YA Orchestra augmented to 25 players, and conducted by Mr. Harold Beck. Miss Gladys Vincent (violinist) will also assist. These visiting artists are at present on a tour of the YA stations. ARLY French melodies, plucked from oblivion and played, by way. of accompaniment, on a quaint combination of instruments, gave listeners a treat from 8YA last week. Musical science showed its forward steps in the recordings, for the reproductions had been carried out under the latest conditions. In pleasing contrast to this form of entertainment was a recital by Joan and Betty Rayner, New Zealand troubadours. In delightfully chatty style they told of caravanning in many parts of the world where, they said, they were right royally treated. It took a return to their own country to "put them in their place" for, when arriving at a reception in their honour, they were asked for admission tickets. When the doorkeeper was told they had none he politely remarked, "Go for your life, then." Fortunately they took . itas a joke, but marvelled at the quaintness of inhabitants of their own land. se A ‘HUNDRED pipers and a’" is a line from a well-known song that might aptly be applied to the scene that will greet the eyes of Dunedin residents next month when they visit the

Caiedonian Ground. The city is to be invaded by pipers from all parts of tie country at the beginning of the month, when something in the nature of a pipe band festival wiil stir the souls of ali true Seots. There will be 28 bands comprised of something like 350 to 400 performers taking part in the proceedings, which will include a massed display on the afternoon of Sunday, August 2. This will be reiayed by 4Y¥A, which will describe the display of marching and .counter-marching by the kilted figures, and as a finale to the afternoon's event the massed bands will be heard playing stirring Scottish airs. This wiil probably be the first time such a relay has been carried out. Sporty f et truly sporting side of broadcasting comes into its own at 38YA on August 1 with a commentary on the Rugby match, Canterbury v. Auckland at Lancaster Park. Then will come a description of the stepping-stone to the Grand National-a description of the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting Really big racing starts on August 8 with the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting, continuing on the 12th and 14th. ‘The Grand National Steeples on the 11th, Grand National Hurdles on the 1%+h and the final day on the 15th will keep the announcers calling for the whatsit to dampen the parched throat. Also on August 15, North Island v. South Island Rugby will be. broadcast from Lancaster . Park. Special sporting talks will leaven the recital of performances on track and field, for Mr. Farquhar Young, of Christchurch, wil! speak on racing reminiscences, and Gene Sarazen and Miss Helen Hicks will go into the chasing of the little white ball. When Mr. Sarazen was last in Christchurch he gave a 15-min-ute interview to the announcer-to thé delight of ~o!f.ng listeners. New Transmitter , PERMISSION has_ been granted granted by the Post and Telegraph Department to the Seddon Memorial ‘Technical College, Auckland, to establish a wireless transmitting station at the college for the training of the radio engineering students. Full details of the apparatus are not yet available, but it is believed that the college has in mind something of a very comprehensive nature. Home Countrv [NTERESTING news of a New Zealander, Mr. M. A. Kelly, formerly of Dunedin and now night editor and "news broadcaster" on’ the "Vancouver Daily Province’ newspaper, has been received by Mr. A. J. Golding, of Christchurch. Myr, Kelly has written to Mr. Golding as follows: In reply to your letter of April 21, you were listening to the "Dailv Province" radio sta-

tion, CKCD in the time allotted to. the ‘evening news broadcast, 8.30° p.m. to 8.45 p.m., which, by the way, has since been made an hour éatlier.: The announcer was myself, native of Dunedin, and from 1920 to 1925 associated with "The Dominion" on the Parliamentary staff. I have been in Canade since 1925, so it is very pleasing to. hear that you picked up our news broadcast. : Hobby Is Music AVING already composed more than 50 songs, an. orchestral suite and numerous compositions for brass and military bands, ‘Mr,°T.-J, Kirk Burnand, the programme organiser at 1YA, is about to put the . finishing touches on a massive choral work, "On Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage," a poem by Lord.Byron. This work has taken him four years and a half of

his spare time, Composing is a hobby with Mr, Kirk Burnand. The big piece is for'a choir, orchestra and narrator, but no solosists. He considers that the piece will take three hours and a half to perform, and he hopes that at least a few sections will be performed early next year. This composition is extremely modernistic, inasmuch as he has experimented with the microtonic scale. Several. prominent visiting musicians have already remarked on the originality of the

work and have considered it has excellent prospects of being a success. A member of a well-known musical family, Mr. Kirk Burnand plays the piano, organ, violin and every brass instrument. From 1928 to 1938, while stationed at Dunedin, he was the conductor of Dunedin’s crack brass band, the Kaikorai Band, conductor of the Dunedin Operatic Society, guest conductor to the Dunedin Grand Opera Club and the Dunedin Philharmonic Society, pianist and accompanist to the

Royal Dunedin Male Choir and ‘the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Choir and the Dunedin Orphans’ Club, Trees ARBOR DAY ‘is Once more coming into its own after a per.od almost of neglect. On August 3, leading up to the celebration of this day set aside during the year to bring home to the people the significance of trees and _tree-planting, 8YA will rebroadcast from Wellington a talk by his Excellenecy the Governor-General, Lord Galway, on "Tree-planting and the. Preservation of Native Trees.": This. will take place at 8.45 pm. On August 4, at 7.20 p.m., Mr. ©. B. Foweraker, M.A., Canterbury’s forestry expert, Will give a chat on the forest’s value to a country. These talks will probably recall to many the schooldays when teachers insisted on a little spade work in the school grounds, both for nature study and the benefit of pupils coming after them, Will Prices Advance? T is generally agreed among the radio trade,-at least in Auck- © land, that the 40-hour week and. .the new scale of wages must have the result of increasing the cost of receivers to the public. Wages of junior servicemen who .perform avhat 43 known as the "hack" work have for some tiie ranged from £2 to £3 a week. Under the new scale of wages, such employees will nou: have to be paid £4 a week. This qwill also, of course, involve higher avwages again to the advanced technicians, Temporary "HAT march was played bs tbe St. Kilda Municipal Baud, under the conductorship of Mr. James Dixon." That announcement from the lips of the 4YA announcer the other night caused listeners to pay attention, as it is now a year since Mr. Dixon resigned from his position as director of a band which played its way to several championship honours in New Zealand in previous years, and many jumped to the conclusion that he had rejoined his old band... However, they were only right to a certain extent, as Mr. Dixou has only taken up the baton again to help the band out with its engagements until the committee appoints a new eonductor to take the place of the one whose year’s engagement has just concluded, thus causing the vacancy, As Mr. Dixon has too many other engagements to claim his attention, he does

not intend to become the band’s permanent conductor. Young Farmers OUNG farmers from Otago districts have just concluded their annual visit to Dunedin, where ‘they participated in the special educational programme arranged for them. The lads were liberally entertained during their stay in the city, and were loud in their thanks to all those who helped to make the week pleasant and instructive. Part of one afternoon was spent in inspecting the town premises of 4YA, the visitors being particularly interested in the control room equipment, which they were permitted to see actually in operation, and the efficient method by which the members of the staff ad--hered to their routine. Some of the young farmers also went to Highcliff by arrangement to inspect the transmitting equipment of a modern broadcasting station, The magnitude of the apparatus there fairly astounded them. "Hullo, Everybody" HE dance programme from Station 4YA on July 27 is provided by Maurice Winnick and his. Orchestra, with interludes by Brian Lawrence. This orchestra is very popular in England, and specialises in sweet melodious playing. The saxophone team ‘is a particularly | good one, and works very smoothly and efficiently. Brian Lawrence, who also broadeasts frequently from the B.B.C., was born in Australia. At the age of eight he made his first appearance on. the professional stage, in a pantomime in Adelaide. He then went to Sydney with his mother, and was engaged to sing in concerts. During this period he had lessons on‘ the violin. Later he appeared in "Hello, Everybody" and "Maytime" ‘for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and then joined Pat Hanna’s ‘Diggers." Subsequently, he went to England, and after various "ups and downs," has risen to stardom on the air as vocalist to Fred Hartley and his quintet. New Type Sets A NEW type of radio receiver cabinet has already made its appearance in many of the Auckland dealers’ shops. This is called the "Chest" type, and it has the chassis and speaker situated alongside each other, instead of one above the other as has been the case practically sinee the first set was made. The majority of the new sets are of the size between the once popular midget set and the present mantel model. The full range of sets is covered from the four-valve broadcast receiver to the six-valve allwave job. A further innovation is the use of metal cabinets treated: with duco in various colours, ove Still Here LTHOUGH it ig some weeks since . ‘ she completed her radio contratt . at Dunedin, Miss Bina. Addy, the In: dian singer, who toured ‘the main ‘stations, is still to be found-at the Dunedin Y.W.C.A; Once since her engage- © ment finished. she has- broadcast, this time as a speaker, and she again became prominent last week, when she appeared twice daily as a vocalist at one of the city restaurants, However,

Miss Addy’s stay in the southern city is nearing its end, as she shortly leaves for the north, but listeners may hear from her again when she broadcasts a further talk from the Christchurch station next month. Popular Speaker HE name of Farquhar Young, when it comes to matters of speech and voice production, is well-known in

Christchurch, for he is a man and an artist ever ready to take up the cudgels on behalf of the King’s English. Few people who know him miss the opportunity of a chat on this or-that when the tall figure, complete with soft felt hat and cravat, heaves in sight in the precincts of Cathedral Square. Lately Mr, Young has been giving chats from 8YA jn his theatrical memories. Already he has received hosts of congratulatory Jetters from admirers,

some of whom have seen him in his full glory on the stage. A wealth of romance and chatty anecdote makes his spell at the microphone exceedingly enjoyable. For Aeroplanes WITHIN a few months it is expected that radio equipment for the guidance of aeroplanes, will be in operation in New Zealand, according to a

statement made last week in Auckland by a responsible man. Messages to be broadcast to planes will be available to owners of all-wave receivers, Artists Meet ‘Tl HAVE never been through such a publicity campaign, facing cameras and reporters by the score," says Dorothy Helmrich, soprano, who recently toured the YA stations in New EE

Zealand, writing to an official of SYA, Christchurch, Her Australian season, she says, is going very well and the Australian Broadcasting Commission gave her an excellent reception, Recently the Australian newspapers photographed her with Bileen Joyce, the pianist, and she is seen congratulating the younger artist. Miss Helmrich proposes to sail for England early: in November and Miss Joyce comes, to New Zealand in August.