PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

Radio Record, 3 June 1938, Page 16

PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

ERMAN FINCK has always claimed to be the inventor of that kind of inusical medley known as the "switch." His Dutch ancestors were musical, and his grandfather, who lived in Amsterdam, used to provide music and orchestras for concerts, weddings, christenings and sprees. On one wedding occasion, as the band began to tune up for Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding March," the mother of the bride rushed at Grandpa Finck and asked him what was that noise. He replied that his men were tuning up. "But this is ludicrous," he said, "! engaged you three months ago!" Herman Finck and His Orchestra will be heard at SYA on Friday, June 3. They will play a medley or "switch" of Finck’s own compositions, entitled "Finckiana."

RED TERROR OF REVOLUTION

In writing "A Tale of Two Cities," Charles Dickens, no doubt, owed

much of his inspiration to Carlyle’s tremendous epic, "The French Revolution." But the genius that depicted a moving and tragic story upon the red background of the "Terror" was Dickens’s own, and the "Tale of Two Cities"

is in many respects distinct from all his others. It stands by itself as final proof that its author could handle a great theme in a manner that was worthy of its greatness. The work was one of the novelist’s later writings-it was published in 1859-

among Dickens’s masterpieces, in sombre and splendid loveliness-a detached glory to its author, and to his country’s literature. In stage and cinema versions it is familiar to many. A radio dramatic version of "A Tale of Two Cities" will be broadcast from 1YA by Allan McSkimming and Players, on Monday, June

CHORALISM IS BRITAIN’S MUSICAL GLORY

Since gvod Queen Bess, as the great "Oriana," figured as heroine of u

multitude of madrigals, since Cromwell solaced himself with the motets of oue Richard Deering, and Charles I1 beat time to the anthems in the Royal Chapel, the Bnglish have been a nation of choralists. Old Strype, a 16th century writer, records, "You may sometimes see at Paul’s Cross, after the service, six thousand persons, youlg, und old, singing together." This love of part-singing the English share with the Germans-and this in part accounts for the implied compliment in calling Mr. Alfred Worsley’s choir the "Christchureh Liederkranzchen." This body of singers will be heard fron 3YA on Friday, June 8, in groups of modern English part-songs.

NEW ZEALAND BASS EARNING FAME

When Andersen Tyrer, the well-kuown Trivity College examiner, heard Os-

ear Natzke sing, he immediately decided that here was the voice of a generation, which must be brought under the guidance of a great master. On his recommendation, Trinity College offered the young student free tuition over a period of four years. At Trinity College he was placed under M. Garvia, the famous singing master, and his progress has been so rapid that already London crities are ranging bim amoung the world’s great bass singers, Re-

ceutly Nutzke appeared at a_ special Trinity College concert in a recital of compositions by Sir Granville Bautock Sir Granville said: "I consider him to be an exceptional singer of unusual promise and attainment, and T feel confident that he will reap a rich reward. He deserves every encouragement and I have great faith in his future,"

Tenor Looks After His Peasants |

GIGLI, the Italian tenor, is the owner of about 120,000 acres of land in his native country. These acres are divided into perhaps thirty estates. The land is in the hands of trusted "contadini," the peasants who till it and tend the stock. These "contadini" have a direct interest in the property, as they share in the profits of the enterprise. Half the profit is theirs, the other half goes to Gigli. On each property dwell about twenty families. During the summer Gigli visits each estate individually, spends time overseeing the work, and getting reports on the stock and the crops. This genial, kindly Ttalian gentleman lives to help others. Beniamino Gigli, tenor, will be heard at 4YA on Thursday, June 9.

Peter Dawson, after attending a recital at which Natzke sang, stated that he had everything in his fayour-qual-ity of voice, range, and stage presence, und that everything pointed to his becoming a great singer. Two recordings by this brilliant young artist will be broadcast by 1YA at 9.35 p.m. on Wednesday, dune 15. These are "Pilgrim’s Song" by Tschaikowsky and "IL’Ebreo."

JELLICOE AND JUTLAND

Many New Zealanderg will recall that there was something about Earl

Jellicoe that commanded attention. He Was a Small, alert man, with a clear, frank eye, and a tight-lipped mouth that fell away in lines, which seemed equally ready to harden with decision or soften with good humour. Jellicoe’s face, in Stevenson’s phrase, was a certificate. It suggested a spacious, mobile understanding, breadth of judgnent, and large reserves of patience, good humour and confidence. These qualities stood him in guod stead on May 381, 1916, when he fought the Battle of Jutland. "Tafirail,’ the famous author, has compiled an Anniversary Day programme in stirring narrative of this sea battle, and what should prove a thrilling presentation will be heard from 2YA next Tuesday, May 31.

HENRY AINLEY BEGAN AS A PROMPTER

In his early days Henry Ainley, the actor, was a very shy novice in F. R.

bensons company, and, to the utter amazement of everyone, F.R.B. took a long time discovering the boy's possibilities. To that youth, literally us beautiful as the morning. he "gave him the book to hold"-in other words, he made him prompter! It turned out that Warry was in the company some months before he got his chance eveu to go on as an understudy. The play in which he did at last make his appearance Was "As You Like It." In this he made a sensation, when in the last scene, a Greek god, with the voice of an archangel, he knelt at the Duke’s feet and announced that he was "the second son of old Sir Roland." After that Harry was given every possible part. , Henry Ainley will be heard at 4YA ou Sunday afternoon, May 29.

PLAYING MARCHES 1S EXHAUSTING

Some time ago 6. Walton O’Donnell, conductor of the BBC Militarg

Band, suid his piece about military music. "By real military musie I suppose you mean marches? Well. they are martial music, if you like, and the regimental march programmes we give from time to time are always appreciated by the old soldiers. But remenber a programme of a dozen regimen tal marches in a studio is rather eshausting for the players. Marches are writlen to be played mu the open air, arching aloug--everybody playing ail the time, or supposed to be-~but they are played one at a time. with yuite Jong breaks in between. for breath Listeners to 2YA will hear the BEC Military Band on Friday. June 10.

WEE VILLAGE NEAR SOMEWHERE

In (ic' Wh: "f Marr; (vrdlon "[1} rerserk i~ #2 M((' rilla go MI( M1 ~

where atd about twa miles past some where else. The lruins only stup there

if they miss the points at the junction. If you’re lucky you can go there from Aberdeen by tram-that’ll take you ten ninutes--or by bus-thatll take sou half aun hour--or you @an wait in Aberdeen until someone with a car offers yotwa lift. and thattlh, maybe fake rou three months." All of whieh omy be taken os Tlarry'’s description at | the Benel Pavilion. Aberdeen. where he entertaius an exclusive nudience which, considering it is composed of Abertoninns. almost fights to pay for admission The vest of the world listen in to [fares for vex, fo nothing throneh his beenTeasts mph werpentraia mare paps, Tjvtewers to TW Yo wttl bear Harry Gorton. the "Mian Pree Tevers. neeky’ ip the Maste, Mirth and Melody Session on Wednesday. June

MUSIC OF THE HIGHER SPHERES

Since the dawn of history the harp has been in evidence. In compara-

tively modern times it served as a pretty piece of drawing-room furniture, and marriageable daughters were wont to take harp lessons in order to display the dimples in their elbows, Sir Frederick Cowen made sport of the harp by defining it as being: "An instrument that is always breaking its upper strings with a noise like a pistol shot. The harp and the trumpet are the only instruments that have the monopoly for providing all the instrumental music of the Higher Sphereswhere the others play is a matter of conjecture." Among present-day harpists is John Cockerill, who belongs to a well-known musical family in Mauchester. He has been principal harpist at one time or another of practically all the chief London orchestras. John Cockerill, harpist, will be heard from 4YA on Sunday afternoon, June 5.

BOYS WHO LIVE FOR MUSIC

Since Emperor Maxmilian of Austria created a children’s choir at the Hof-

burg Chapel in 1498, young Austrians have left the world to enter a beautiful castle where the familiar phantoms of a young Mozart and a young Schubert may still be found. Chosen for the beauty of their voices, the boys are taken away from their families, their games, and their cares, so that they can live in music, breathe in music, and, like the glorious juvenile choirs in England, be nourished by it. As the rich patrons of art and music are few in Austria now, the boys are obliged to provide for themselves by means of concerts in every part of the world. The wandering knights of music are divided into three groups. Two go out to give concerts, while the third stays at Wilhelminenberg to celebrate mass. The Boys of the Hofburg Chapel Choir will be heard at 1YA on Sunrod day afternoon, June 5.

CONDUCTOR AT THE AGE OF NINE

The father of Alfredo Campoli was leader of the Rome Philharmonie Or-

chestra, aud played under Mancilelli, Toscanini, Mugone, and Nikish. He enjoyed the friendship of many musicians and received a glowing tribute from Puccini as leader in the first performan in Rome of "La Boheme" and "Tosea." Afterwards he came to Iingland. Ife was the sole teacher of his son, Alfredo Campoli, who learned not only how to play the violin remarkably well but to look after the band parts of his father’s orchestra. This enabled him at nine fo econduet and direct the ore chestra for three weeks while his father was laid up through an accideut. It is certainly a record. He won six first prizes, including two gold medals at the London competitive fesfivals, the adjudicator in addition awarded him the gold medal at the open eompetition against all England and all ages. Aredo Campoli and His Salon Jrehestra will be heard in 2YA’s ISiuner Music session on Saturday, June 11,

| Throwing A Bible Party dy

[N the present year falls the "Fourth Centenary of the Open Bible in England," an event of the utinost significance. In 1538, Henry the Eighth ordered a copy of Miles Coverdale’s version of the Holy Bible to be chained to a pillar or desk in every church and cathedral; and the joy of the common people was widespread and intense. Parties were made up to go to church and hear it read; the ability to read was looked upon as the most enviable of human acquirements: and small crowds of people stood with open heart and eager minds to hear the new and wonderful words read to them in their mother-tongue, This sixteenth century sovial custom of throwing a Bible-reading party was in strange contrast to the procedure of a fow years previously when, to have an English Bible in one’s possession, was punishable by a hideous death. "The Bible in England" is the. subject of a talk by Viseount Sankey. the eminent English statesman and Lord Chancellor in the British Wahbour Government of 1929. The talk will be read by the Bishop of Weljington at 2YA on Sunday afternoon, June 5.