PERSONALITIES ..ON THE AIR..

Radio Record, 9 December 1938, Page 26

PERSONALITIES ..ON THE AIR..

ROM time immemorial F poets have furnished’ texts for Christmas earols and hymns, and sung the praises of the glad season. One of the tribe left us a somewhat sombre legacy in the shape of ‘Christmas Day in the Workhouse,’’ the recital of which was onee the star item at many a Christmas party. But times have changed, as Mr. S. P. B. Mais found cut a few years ag» when spending the Christmas holidays at the Yorkshire viilage of Haworth, of Bronte fame. On New Year’s Eve, while awaiting the midnight chimes, and romantically speculating on bygone. events-at the vicarage, in the ‘‘Black Bull,’’ and on the nearby moor --his meditations. were interrupted. Standing in front of him were three small urehins, one of whom demanded, ‘*Do you want any mummers, mister?’’ After intimating that mummers would be acceptable, Mr. Mais awaited the usual time-honoured earol, but to his amazement three quavery voices did they best with the ‘‘hit’’ of the moment-‘‘It ain’t gonna rain no mo’.’’ Mr. Mais thought this a poor sixpenn’orth.

HE TOOK ADVICE OF MOTHER

At 1YA on Friday, December 16, Mr. Liewellyn Etherington will present a feature "Christmas and the Poets"-half-hour reflections on the festive season.

One day in 1914, Ivor Novello’s mother (Madame Clara NoveliloPNavies. singer

and song-composer) said to him: "Tvor, why don’t you write a patriotic song?" He had been writing a lot of little melodies just then, and he answered: "Oh! there are too many of them." "Well, if you don’t, I will," said Ivor’s mother, and she did. The result

was so awful that in desperation Ivor set about the job of writing ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning." The music for the chorus was done immediately, and then he called in an author friend. Inside twenty minutes they produced the lyric. Immediately America entered the war the song enjoyed a second tremendous vogue and it became a big gramophone siccess.

SHE PLAYS FOR THE CHILDREN

1YA listeners will hear Ivor Novello in ‘My Earlier Songs" on Saturday, December 17.

Many a Christmas_ stocking will yield a toytrumpet within

the next month, and many parents’ eardrums will be assaulted with the resultant noise. But of the real trumpet in the hands of a musical artist there can be no two opinions. That is why the decision of the NBS to ask Grace Adams Bast to broadcast a trumpet recital to the children of New Zealand kas an imaginative and praiseworthy touch about

it. The classic origins, tradition and beauty of tone of the trumpet will not fail to impress and inspire the children, and anything the young listeners are told of the history of this noble instrument will be all to the good.

TWO-PIANO WORK FROM 2YA

in the children’s hour at all main National stations on Monday, December 12, Grace Adams . East, famous American. lady trumpeter, will broadcast to the children of New Zealand.

Born and educated in the South Island, Mrs. Ina _ Stephens, one of

our Dominion musicians, taught music at Wanganui College before leaving New Zealand for a lengthy absence of sixteen years. Mrs. Stephens returned home about five years ago and settled in Wellington, where she has found a niche in the musical life of the city. While abroad, Mrs. Stephens visited the Continent each year, making two special visits to Holland to stay with friends and to study Dutch life. She has also visited Canada and the United States, and heard Caruso in "Samson" a fortnight before his death.

BIFFO AND HIS BRASS BAND

Mrs. Ina Stephens who has been heard in talks, will be associated with Decima Hughson in a two-piano recital at 2YA on Tuesday, December 13.

Successful novelty instrumental combination that has made its appear-

ance on the records is Frank

Biffo’s Brass Quintet, which consists of two trumpets, two trombones, and piano. Frank Biffo, who conducts the quintet, is himself a well-known trumpet soloist, once a member of the original Savoy Orpheans. The remaining four members are Guy Fletcher, pianist and arranger, George Chappell, first trumpet, Erid Todd, second trumpet,. Tony Morgan, first trombone, and Stanley Wilson, second *trombone. All these artists are the best that "brass" can command and they have played in England’s. best bands and orchestras.

ROBIN HOOD WAS NOT REAL

2YA listeners will hear Frank Biffo’s Brass Quintet. on Sunday, December 11.

If you were asked where Robin Hood really lived, you

would probably say "In Sherwood Forest." And you would be wrong, for we are assured by C. BE. Clark in his "More Mistakes We Make," that "No antiquary who respects his cloth will admit that Robin Hood ever lived outside his ballad." The fact appears to be that Robin Hood (or Robin Hode) began to be a celebrated mythical person somewhere about the twelfth century. Every fresh adventure which was heard of was ultimately associated with him until this non-existent person became credited with a remarkably full existence. The longer he went on, the surer people became that he was real, until today most of us vould have been willing to swear to it.

ONE ARTIST TO ANOTHER

In 3YA’s children’s hour on Saturday, December 17, another adventure in the radio serial, "The Story of Robin Hood" will be heard.

Although she has her serious moods, Hrica Morini, famous violinist, is very

fond of a Hhittle adventure. In Hamburg she was once walking with her mother along a street in

an old part of the town, when they saw an old man playing a violin and collecting coppers. Feeling sorry for him she went up to the street musician and said: "Let me see if I can play your violin." He handed the instrument over, and Erica began a little classical piece. A crowd soon gathered, money began to shower on to the pavement, and after a few minutes the street fiddler’s "stand in," picked up all the money and presented it to the cumbfounded old man. The incident provided the German Press with a lot of "copy."

4YA listeners will hear Erica Morini, violinist, on Sunday afternoon, December 11,

| nA ge Of People You Know WELL-KNOWN radio personality in New Zealand for his community sing work some years ago, Reg Morgan left us for Australia, has now returned, and is already firmly established as a favourite at the NCBS. This week he gives his confessions to "Record" readers: My eyes are: Brown. My hair is: Brown. Favourite colour for clothes: Grey. My lucky day is: Sunday. My favourite play is: All Shakesperean plays. In my friends | look for the qualities of: Sincerity and kindliness. My favourite motto is: Courage, constancy, courtesy. My pet aversion is: Gossip. { could happily spend the rest of my life in: Travelling. My favourite screen star is: Charles Laughton. What has pleased me most about New Zealand: The friendliness of the people, and its wonderful scenery. What has disappointed me most: Trying to get a nice house to live in at a moderate rental.