PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 23, 18 November 1938, Page 8

PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

USI CAL inspiration M was evoked in various ways by great composers: Mozart could compose as he rested his cue at billiards. Rossini swilled champagne before he sat down to compose. Beethoven used to run about bareheaded to inspire his music, and not infrequently he doused himself with cold water. Cimarosa liked gabbling, chatteriiig friends about him when composing, whilst Zingarelli went down on his knees, missal in hand. More than onee, Gounod imitated him. Modern composers are very different, of course.

USES BOTH SPADE AND PEN

4YA listeners will hear an illustrated talk, "How the Composer Works," by the wellknown composer-pianist, Felix Swinstead on Monday, November 21.

More than half @ century ago an Australian boy cherished an am-

bition to become a oat driver. He ultimately entered the minstry of the Baptist Church, acted as editor of "The Southern Baptist" in South Australia for seven years, and all through life he has made history, and latterly international affairs, subjects of study. Today the Rey. William Swift Rollings finds time to wield

both the spade and the pen. The first gives him exercise and fresh air, while writing keeps his mind active. Mr. Rollings published in 1915 a volume of war stories called "The Great Assize," which had a good "press" in England, and won high praise in the "British Weekly" from the one-time grand old man of the Baptist Church, the Rev. John Clifford. Mr. Rollings has held pastorates in various’ parts of Australia and New Zealand and is an ex-president: of the. Baptist Union of South Australia and New Zealand.

NOBODY EVER LOVED HIM

| On Monday, November 21, the Rev. W. S. Rollings will give a 3 talk at 2YA on "The New Czechoslovakia."

Stephen Gwynn declares that Oliver Goldsmith was never in

. -love.- .He says: "Nowhere, in Goldsmith's writings is there any trace that he knew modest women, except as fussy housewives or marriageable young persons whose sole thought was to get married. . ‘There is ‘not even the trace of a tradition that he was ever in love with one. Steele was not a discreet or decorous liver, but he had learnt enough to write of a woman "To love her was a Mberal tedyegtion" That is the Ys % 2} a .

_-_-_ education Goldsmith lacked, yet no man was by nature ever more fitted to receive it. .... No woman ever helped him to find himself; no woman ever lizhtened his hardships by sharing them, even for a while."

Vatr eenotrcd TEACHING ThE YOUNG IDEA

Professor T. D, Adams will present readings from the works of Oliver Goldsmith at 4YA on Friday, November 25.

With unflagging enthusiasm, T. J. Young, BA, L.T.C.L., has

given his hie to moulding the musical taste of New Zealand youth-. Born in Winton, Southland, Mr. Young is an old Waitaki High School boy, and from this famous school he went on to the University of Otago and Knox College, Dunedin. A practical musician from his earliest years, he played his first piano concerto when only 14 years at the Oamaru Opera House. He acted as pianist for his old school orchestra and was later chapel organist at Knox College. He graduated B.A. in 1924 and from 1930 was music specialist at Waikiwi School, Invervargill. He was appointed lecturer in music at the Wellington Training College in 1936, and at 2YA he has dealt with the musical side of the weekly educational sessions. He has a pronounced flair for choral work and his College Choral Society recently produced Bach’s "Peasant Cantata."

MUSIC FOR NOTED PLAY

T. J. Young is heard in 2YA’s Educational Session on Thursday, November 17.

One of England’s youngest conductors, Herbert Menges, first got

his hand in as a director of an orchestra by conducting a body of amateur string players which he had brought together in Brighton. A number of distinguished concerts have now been given there under Menges, who has, since those early days,’ conducted his first Royal Philharmonic Society concert, almost always a gateway to high musical adventure. He composed the incidental music for Gordon Daviot’s successful play, "Richard of Bordeaux," seen in Wellington’s Repertory Theatre season two years ago.

BAGPIPES BY THE CZECHS

1YA listeners will hear Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies and In- ;, Strumental, Septet in , a. , Suite Pa

from "Incidental Music to Richard of Bordeaux," under the composer on Sunday afternoon, November 20.

Many people regard the bagpipes as purely a Scottish custom,

but really, of course, Scotland has no monopoly of the pipes. The.Greeks had a name for them, Nero played them (he would!), Chaucer and Shake- | Speare mention them as English, and, in fact, almost every part of Hurope has had them, though the _ Seots, who took them up compara-. tively late, have kept them up longer than most. One place where they survive is Czechoslovakia! As Mark Twain once said, that might account for almost anything-will the really great, the near-great, and the never-can-be-great authorities on world affairs please note for future broadcast talks?

VIENNESE IS ANTI-SWING

3YA listeners will hear a concert by the Timaru Highland Pipe Band on November 26.

Swing music is played out. That is the view of Marek Weber, the Viennese

waltz maestro. As evidence of the "swing away from swing," Weber points out that even dress designers and fashion "couturiers" have recognised that the reign of swing is beginning to totter under its

"jiving" sceptre. "They are mak ing Viennese waltz gowns now," he says proudly. "Did you ever hear of a ‘Big Apple’ dress?" All that is very well in its way, of course, but call it what you like, ragtime, jazz, or swing, this particular brand of syncopated music | doesn’t die-it just bobs up smiling under a new name.

SOUVENIRS OF BROWNING

1YA listeners will hear Marek Weber and His Orchestra on Thursday, November 24.

At the Baylor University in the Texas city of Waco (limerick

composers, nere’s } am opportunity!) they have a collection of Browning souvenirs. A single letter in the museum is from Florence Nightingale to the poet. She was nursing Professor Jowett, and she tells Browning that, despite the fact that the invalid is anxious to have him call, she believes it will be better for her patient if B-owning postpones his visit several days. Jowett’s true fame does noc appear to have . reached . Baylor, because in the Bulletin of this unique museum is a sentence referring to the great Oxford professor as "being connected with Balliol College." On Wednesday, November 23, Professor F. Sinclaire will present a talk on Robert Browning at 3YA in the "Whirligig of Time?’ Series, ; Bffene + ayy £936 Be"? q | i