MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME

Radio Record, 1 July 1938, Page 9

MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME

But Gil Dech Made Another In | More Ways Than One * Record" Interview’ _

by

ERIC

BAKER

fey IS mother was. Irish and his father French, and he was born in the Eng-. lish city of Birmingham on February 3, 1897, His real nome, is Gilbert Deschelette, Who is he? . Probably you will know him simply as Gil Dech, conductor of 3YA Orchestra, and one of the finest pianists in New Zealand, — . ; .

in a kitchen, where he had been gathered f |" HE career of Gilbert Deschelette started with the rest of his familv for dailv wor-

ship. The boy Gilbert sat very attentive, very devout.’ But one of his parents observed how, behind the cover of his prayer-book, he was much less concerned with religion than he seemed. He was strumming with his long fingers on the: kitchen table! The parents, wiser than most, realised their son's strumming might be the indication of real talent. They decided to give him his chance of developing, and at the age of ten he began a general musical training. At 13, he became uw pupil of Irene Scharrer, taking private lessons with her on her weekly visits to Birmingham. "THEN came the eall of London, too insistent to be denied. Gilbert went to study at the Royal Academy. of Music. learning the technique = of Lou

pianoforte with York Bowen, aud harmony under Paul Corder. . As the nimble fingers grew in length and suppleness, it became clear that young Deschelette had a fair chance of realising that dream kuown. us "a future.’ tle met the. famous "obias) Matthay, and, after tuition at Mattbay’s pianoforte school, there cume: his debut-at- Queen’s Wall, Loudon, at the age of 21! | The young man was ambitious, absorbed in music. To enlarge the scope of his abili-

lies, le took harp lessons with Guaries Comer, ob the Valle Orchestra, aud organ-lessons from "the city organist at Birmingham, Suecess piled ou success, "nd. very: soou he was playing in sonata and trio work. with Johan. Hock and Felix Salmond, vellists, and with Arthur Catterad and William Menley, violinists, I’wo-piano .w ork Witb- bis . former . teacher, Irene Scharrer, ‘came later. . . Someone said: "Why not take a. look at the world?" Gilbert needed ‘no urging, und soul -was touring success: fully in Englaud, Holland, Africa and Australia. Later he joined the Columblu Gramophone ° Company as impressario and musical director In the sueceeding ten years he made over 80 pianoforte recordings, besides conducting the Columbia: Orchestra’ and playing for Gladys Monerieff, Alfred O'Shea, Ernest McKinley ‘and the fam. ous basso, Fernando Autori. It. is interesting to notice, that some of. the narlier Columbia recordings still bear’ the unusual name, "Gilbert Deschelette." But it was during Deschelette’s: period with the Col umbia Company that he lost the last. half of his title. As the demand grew for "popular" music, he was forced,

like many another fine classical musician, temporarily to take up gramophone: recording work from .a. com: mercial aspect. . And so, when he dealt with popular musie he became Gil Dech. It was'a name to catch the eye of the public, easy to print, easy to remember. Very soon Gil -Dech had killed Gilbert Deschelette. (IL DECH’S association

With NeW -40aianbG Vesa in 1930, during a world tour. se was commissioned: to ar-. range recordings of the Ohinemutu Maori Choir,:and was-.so. impressed with the . choir’s work and with Maori music generally, that: he also made an orebestral selection which won considerable popularity"Maori Melodies." . Not long afterwards he re signed: his’ position as musical director for the .Golumbia’ Company in order to tour as orchestral eonductor. and accompanist for ‘Gladys

sLoucrieit, » "When radio called, he joined lhe musical staff of the old-New Zealand Broadcasting Board and spent 17 happy "months at Dunedin with Station 4YA.. Now he is in charge of matters orchestral, at-83YA Christchureh.. In. the remarkably. short space of three months, he has played Ww with the, orchestra in three anajer concertos, i ra ay is the story of Gil Dech's music, Which is also his: Jife. But he has, AWAY from the keys, other. hobbies und interests, ‘He. confesses" he i is, ever. happier than when he 1 fastened: at the. dry end of 4 tishing rod. Also; hé.is,a keen’ amateur cameraman,:2nud possesses one of the’ latest’ ‘models of movie cameras, Te -has the: artist’s eye fora good "shot," and is at«the mossent ahsorhed in the fascinations ‘of colour cinematography. , There was p day uot long ago w iver he took bis inovie cuimnera to the SYA offices ana ‘cshot" the staff offguard, Wihat:the "eandid camera" ‘told at a later meeting of the NBS Guild is remembered with very mixed feelings by some who attended,