IN THE WAKE OF THE WEEK'S BROADCASTS

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 21, 4 December 1936, Page 14

IN THE WAKE OF THE

WEEK'S BROADCASTS

"Romance." F only people would listen to such expositions of musical particulars ag those which Adolph Mann ‘broadcast from 2YA on Monday night: last week, there would not be such a narrowminded prejudice against serious music among those who casuistically consider themselves broadminded. In his illustrated talk-a much more attractive title than "lecture-recital"-the examiner for the Trinity College of Music gave listeners a splendid insight into the inspirations of Beethoven, and thereby created among those who listened intelligently an unconscious understanding of this composer which no amount of mere music would have provided. Beethoven has taken on a new aspect for them, and it is certain that, with this knowledge, many a listener will look forward to future Beethoven broadcasts as much as they looked for-

ward to the light music which was considered the only thing to satisfy. Cheer Up, Romeo. WHETHER the programme organiser ~for 3YA has a vasty sense of humour or a fair idea of the fitness of things may not be known, but. on Tuesday last week during the dinner session we heard in succession "Love’s Sorrow," "Love’s Last Word is Spoken Cherie," "Drink, Brothers, Drink" and "Love’s Last Word." All very lovely, and suggestive, perhaps, of a

tiff with the wife or a bit: of vexation from the girl friend. "Love’s Joy" and "Lilliputians’ Wedding," by the way, just preceded the group mentioned first. Seeins that the staff of 3YA.. were on the point of being expected [ to contribute to_a presentation when something gummed up. the works and the money was diverted to a drowning of sorrows. -A fanciful little story, perhaps, but the one who drew up the programme has only himself to blame. Windy Nonsense. "THEATRE managers in Wellington on Wednesday. night last week must have felt that love for 2YA that carburetters have for water. During the news session it was announced that the gale was still blowing and that people should be warned about its severity and all that. Actually, by 7 o’clock that evening the wind had dropped to a good breeze and women’s hair and frocks were as safe as a boxer in armour-plating. As one member of the theatre fraternity remarked, the 2YA announcer should have sucked his finger and held it out the window before broadcasting a remark which could prove quite unnecessarily harmful to private business. Anyway, Wellington has a bad enough reputation now without rubbing it {n without just cause. ‘ \ None Are So Blind... AUCKLAND'S Jubilee Institute for. the Blind on Thursday night last week turned on some fine band music from 1YA. They were under a capable and sympathetic conductor, who bad obviously spent many a patient Lour with his blind pupils. ’Tis true that the loss of one of the senses may be compensated for in more acute development of one or more of the others, but there was a. quality in these performers’ music which overrode their handicap to a remarkable degree. It might be to the goodwishing nobody any bodily harm-if some of the established broadcast orchestras and theatre orchestras could "be temporarily blinded, along ‘with their conductors. None > are so. blind. as those ‘who ‘Will: not see music cor- ~ yectly,. and it’ is shameful tliat those who CANNOT see music should perform so well in comparison.