PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR
> i N_ his recent eightieth birthday, the famous piano teacher, Tobias Matthay, was presented with a grand piano. A Wellington listener received last week a letter in which the birthday of this remarkable old maestro was described. As many listeners know, Mr. Matthay was responsible for more famous British pianists than any man of his generation. His birthday gathering was attended by many of these celebrities. Among Mr. Matthay’s pupils are Myra Hess, Irene Scharrer, York Bowen, Harriet Cohen, Arnold Bax, the Rae Robertsons, and other distinguished musicians. His New Zealand pupil, Miss Valerie Corliss, founder and organiser of the British Music Society in this country, is Mr. Matthay’s representative in the Dominion. At the age of 76, Mr. Matthay underwent a serious operation, but soon found himself fit again for the fray. His eightieth birthday was the occas sion of a special broadcast by the BBO, in which recordings by Mr. Matthay and some of his more famous pupils were presented. : During ifs afternoon session last Sunday week, station 2YA broadcast some piano solos composed, played and recorded by Tobias Matthay.
ONCE FINALIST ! DANCE CONTEST.
The real name of Anna Neagle is Marjorie Roberteon-+ ache ia Styart
Robertson’s sister. In fact she and the popular baritone acted together on the films in "Bitter Sweet." Anna Neagle was born at Forest Gate, London, on October 20, 1904, and one who should know tells us that she is u ‘blue-eyed blonde. She was educated at St. Alban’s High School. Beginning
her career as a teacher of gymnastics and ballroom dancing, she progressed to such a degree in this profession that she became a finalist in the world’s ballroom dancing championship. Her stage debut was in 1926, and films first knew her four years later. Associated with Trefor Jones, she will be heard in 1YA’s music, mirth and melody session on Monday, May 16.
HOW WILLIAM TOOK POSSESSION.
On September 28, 1066, William the Conqueror landed on the Sussex
shore, and slipped fuce foremost as ‘1e sprang from the beaked prow of his ship. "Evil omen!" said his nobles, who had left with a bad grace and many forebodings their stout Norman
castles to come ou this fool’s errand in open boats to a savage, sea-girt isle. But William rose with hig favourite crashing oath, the Sussex sand oozing through his fingers. "‘By the splendour of God!" he roared, "I have taken seisin" (possession) "of this land with my hands, and it is mine.’ The first episode of a new recorded radio serial, "William the Conqueror," wall be heard at 3YA on Tuesday, May
SON OF STRANGE MAN IN PLAGUE DAYS.
All schoolboys have read of that curious character Solomon Eccles, or Eagle.
This was the man who ran about London during the Plague of 1666 in a state of nudity, with a brazier of burning brimstone on his head, exhorting people to repent. As a fact, Solomou was a musician of parts, although always an eccentric, The time came when Solomon developed a conscience and made a public bonfire of his books an instruments on Tower Hill. His two sons were musical, the secon'd one. Henry, a fine composer and violinist, and a member of the Band of the King of France. One of Henry Eecles’s sonatas will be played at 3YA on Monday, May 16, by Valmai Moffat (’cellist) and Ernest Jenner (pianist).
DARLING OF LADIES STILL SINGLE,
The best light comedian that ever Glasgow turned out. Jack Ru-
chanan, at the critical age of two-score years and seven, seveins destined to hold his own. He is six-foot two and the Qaurling of the ladies, and what’s mere important le is still single-a state of things that surprises Jack’s closest friends. He was nearly captured by Hollywood for its own, but now seenis
Conjuror Of The Piano
"FT NEVER knew what technique was until I heard Rosenthal," exclaimed Anton Rubinstein. The famous German eritic, Hanslick, called him a ‘pianoforte conjuror."* That Wag many years ago, Rosenthal no longer claims a foremost place among the young pianists, because he is past the three-quarters of a century mark. Liszt first heard Rosenthal at the age of fourteen, and said to the boy he took as a pupil: "There igs within you a great pianist who will surely work his way out." On Sunday afternoon. May 15, Moritz Rosenthal, pianist, will be heard at 4YA,
to stick to British films, which is some. thing to be thankful for. The hit of Jack’s career so far, is ‘Yes, Mr. Brown." In 4YA’s music, mirth and melody session on Thursday, May 19, Jack Buchanan’s cheery voice will be heard.
SHAW FOUGHT FOR PLACE IN SUN.
Bernard Shaw wrote five long novels (all refused by the publishers),
between ioid and 1855, and made precisely £5/15/6 by his pen, fifteen Shillings of which was for an article on Christian Names, and £5 for an article on Patent Médicines! Shaw the unsuccessful novelist, Shaw the street corner preacher of Socialism, Shaw the daringly violent critic of music and letters-these were the beginnings of the most successful British dramatist of this century. Something of a radio dramatic event is promised by 2YA on Wednesday, May 18, when Shaw’s play "The Man of Destiny" will be presented.
"THE PAGANINI OF THE MANDOLIN."
Despite the aphorism of St. Matthew that a prophet is not without honour
save In his own country, it was Naples. his native city, that honoured Mario di Pietro with the title "The Paganini of the Mandolin." A child prodigy on the violin at seven years of age, di Pietro became fascinated by the instruments forming the so-called "Plectrum Quartet"-the mandolin, mandola. guitar and lute-and learnt to play them with equal skill and dexterity, in addition to the tenor banjo and ukulele, Mario di Pietro is a member of Stanelli’s Stag Band which will be featured in the Music, Mirth and Melody session at 2YA on Tuesday, May 17.
ESTATE LEFT BY EMILIO COLOMBO.
The famous rio- linist and orches- tral leader; Fnilio
Coiombo, who died in London last November, left estaie in England of the gross value of £9462. (This looks comparatively small alongside the £191,000 left by ‘Graham Peel, song composer, who died. at Bournemouth in October last. A possible explanation may be that Graham Peel's father was a wealthy Lancashire cotton spinner). Colombo. a native of Magenta, Italy, was so talented that Tschaikovsky placed bim under the famous Caesar Thompson to study vivlin. after which he ultimately becaine Court violinist to the Czar. He es caped from Russia by the skin of his teeth during the revolution, and finally in 1920 settled in London. His output of records was not heavy, but his Tzigane Orchestra, heard on the air from national stations, presents such novel entertainments that it is poy popular with New Zealand radio ans
KEEPING UP THE OLD TRADITIONS.
TWlarry Engleman carried on the musical traditiou
of his family. His father, Joseph Mngleman, is a com. poser, and hig grandfather was a trombonist in the old Birmingham Grand Theatre Orchestra. Fle has broadcast. frequently for the BBC sinee 19281. when he played some of bis own comunpositions in the «hildren's hour, with Bert Lamb on the xylopbone. + His quintet, with himself in the role of pianist, was formed later. It is noted for its polished pnerformance of lieht
music, much of which has been arranged by Engleman himself. Harry Englemian’s Quintet will be heard in the Music, Mirth and Melody session at 3YA on Monday, May 16.
Ty. & LAWRENCE, THE ENGLISH ENIGMA.
In his book, "Portrait of T. E. Law:° rence," Vyvyan
Richards sums ‘up that enigmatic genius: "Take the heart of St. Francis or Lincoln, join it to the mind of Leonardo da Vinci and the driving will of Stonewall Jackson; set them in the body of an anchorite or a
Stefanson; add the artful resource of all men of wiles from Odysseus to Syen Hfedin and the tongue of a Shakespearean Conrad; stir all this into a wild old desert people on the warpath, and then you might get "Revolt in the Desert." A dramatic study in personality entitled, "Lawrence of Arabia," will be presented by the Civie Players at 8YA on Thursday, May 19.
"THE DOCTOR OF THE BRASS BAND WORLD."
The man who trained Foden's Band to victory in 1909 was
William Riminer (1861-1986), the one-time Grand Old Man of the brass band world. His influence M England was at least as great as Sousa’s in America. Besides being a composer and arranger, Rimmer was a famous coach--he earved the title of "The Doctor of the Brass Band World." This Laneasbire-born musician was closely associated in this capacity with the Wingates, Irwell Springs, Black Dyke and Hebden Bridge bands. In listening to the efficiently performed music by these bands on the records one should not forget the coach. Listeners to 3YA will hear Foden’s Motor Works Band on Friday, May 20,
WASHINGTON AND HIS OLD FLUTE.
No oue claims to have seen George Washington's hat-
chet. but anyone who visits Mount Vernon in the United States may see bis flute. After Washington's strenuous public life, he retired to his beautiful farm home and there enjored a well-earned rest. One of bis pastimes during his country retirement was playing old Bnglish, Irish
and Scottish airs. Incidentally, the flute, still kept at the Washington .Shrine is one of the best.instruments of his day, a Meyer model, with an ivory head. The old flute, however, needs repairing. From 4YA the London Flute Quartet will be heard on Sunday afternoon, May 15.
PARISH ORGANIST AT AGE OF NINE.
The beginnings of the career of that sound cinema or-
ganist, "Bobby" (Robinson) Cleaver, is the familiar tale of infant precocity, for he was a parish church organist at nine years of age, and a choirmaster two years later. Known as "the boy organist," he toured the North of England when eleven years old, giving recitals in Manchester, Sheffield, Pontefract and several Cumberland churches. He studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music, gaining his A.R.C.O. when 21 years old. Married to an organist, "Bobby" says his wife is his best critic. Robinson Cleaver will be heard in aYA's programme on Tuesday, May 4s
PLAYED 145 TUNES IN AN HOUR.
When the BBC variety director heard some medley
records made 0vy Geraldo and his Orchestra, such as "Geraldo Land" and "Geraldo Nights." he suggested that Geraldo play an hour’s non-stop potpourri of popular tunes. It was to be an hour’s complete entertainment without announcement. The music was, for once, to be allowed to speak for itself, calling on al] the reserves of reminiscence and association that people have for popular tunes. Taking three months to compile and re-orchestrate, the result was eight hundred sheets of manuscript of 145 tunes from 1918 onwards. Listeners to 1YA will hear Geraldo and his Orchestra in the music, mirth and melody session on Monday, May 16:
FOUNDER OF AN ENGLISH CHOIR,
Charles Kennedy Seott (not content with his shining
success with the Oriana Madrigal Society) established the Philharmonie Choir in 1919, a remarkable chorus of 250 voices which has since given many "memor-~-able performances of modern choral masterpieces. In his work Kennedy Scott has achieved real fame, and certainly removed the reproach that in England the finest choirs are only to be found in the northern counties. Like the late Sir Richard Terry, this ‘great great conductor cultivated the best music of the English schools, Qn Tuesday, May 17, the Philharmonie Choir, under Charles Kennedy Scott, will be heard from 2YA.
CHAMPAGNE WAS. AN INSPIRATION. }
featured at 2YA on 2 recent Monday was a continuity programme, "Some
Musical Curiosities." Nothing ig more curious in musical history than the devices resorted to by famous composers to induce the muse to "stand by." Haydn, solitary aud sober as Newton, could ueither "compose nor extemporise unless he wore the diamond ring which Frederick the Great ‘presented to him, Rossini swilled champagne ere he sat down to compose, Paisiello could only write music between the warm sheets,
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Radio Record, 13 May 1938, Page 16
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2,018PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR Radio Record, 13 May 1938, Page 16
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