PERSONALITIES ..ON THE AIR..

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 31, 13 January 1939, Page 10

PERSONALITIES ..ON THE AIR..

S. Barnard says he used to sit with an organist at the console of a venerable three-manual organ when he was five years old. He supposes that he could date his debut from then, because he once interrupted the sermon by sounding a prolonged note on a handful of stops drawn on the choir manual. At. a slightly later age (nine years old), H. Robinsen-Cleaver was already a parish church organist, and a choirmaster two years later. Now he’s a cinema organist, a broadeaster, and a maker of gramophone records. His signature tune is ‘‘EKarful of Musie.’’ N ONE of his articles Leslie At 4YA on Tuesday, January © 17, H. Rob'*nson Cleaver, organist, will be heard in association with the famous rhythm pianist, Patricia Rossborough. TALKS ON There is a NEWS story told of Maglia becchi, ABROAD librarian to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, who. could direct you to any book in any part of the world with the same precision that a London bobby directs you to St. Paul’s or Piccadilly. Asked about the whereabouts of a particular volume, Magliabecchi (who worked, ate and actually slept all night in a chair among his beloved books), once replied: "It is in the Grand Seigneur’s library at Constantinople, and is the seventh book in the second shelf on the right hand as you

go in." His faculties were ~ selfborn and self-trained. Much the same may be said of New Zealanid’s ParHamentary Librarian, Dr. Guy Hardy Scholefield, who: has’ qualified through’ a’ sound ° education, travel, war correspondence experience, journalism in London and New Zealand, and a capacity for

administration. Anyone interested may look up the doctor’s age in "Who’s Who," but his youthful and modern outlook would lead you to think it was a misprint. 2YA listeners will hear Dr. Guy H. Scholefield in his weekly talk on "World Affairs" on Wednesday, January 18. MAN WHO _ Oliver | Crom MADE well’s scout-mas-ter-general in DOWNING ST. scotland, George Downing, was a rather remarkable man whose name is stamped on history in a two-fold manner. This man was one of the few who maintained his influence under both Cromwell and Charles II, which is all the more remarkable because Downing headed the movement for offering the erown to Cromwell. Charles made Downing a baronet, and no-

thing seemed to stop his. progress. As a sidé line, he indulged in a nice little bit of house speculation and founded in. London the whole of Downing Street-‘a pretty open place where are four or five large houses fit for persons of honour and quality"’-the principal one of which is "No. 10," originally the residence of Cromwell’s aunt, Elizabeth Hampden. Downing may have made a botch of his diplomatic eareer, but he certainly .made history when he turned his attention to property speculation. 4¥A listeners will hear a talk on "No. 10 Downing Street" by Mr. A. @. Smith, on ‘Tuesday, danuary 17: 4 The life of SCHIPA Tito Schipa, alGIVEN most from inTO CHURCH fancy, is said to have been one long song. Music was in his soul, and, while still a boy, he composed a Mass which was performed in the: Cathedral at Lecce: © Country folk fiocked from far and wide to hear ‘the music of the boy prodigy. His pious mother dedicated Tito to the Church, but the plan appears to have been upset by the’ Bishop who, having heard the boy’s voice, offered to bear the cost of its training. Schipa was accordjngly put under Maestro Gerunda for five years--three of which were spent entirely in vocal exercises. On eompletion of the period of train-

ing he was again heard vy the Bishop, who declared: "The boy will do more good in the world outside." Tito Schipa, tenor, will be heard from iYA on Sunday, January 15. — . RUBINSTEIN During the NOW Nabivstesa eeu PLAYS THEM to San Sebastian in Spain to play the Brahms Piano Concerto, and while there he visited the widow of the composer Albeniz. "Why," asked his hostess, "do you never play the works of my husband?" "Tt do play them," Rubinstein replied, "but not being a Spaniard, I do not think that I express the real soul of the music." "Will you play some now?" asked the Senora. Of course Rubinstein played some -first one, and then a whole

group. Judgment was pronounced that he could play them, and ever since he has included Spanish works in his recital programmes, his first performance taking place at Madrid shortly after his visit to Senora Albeniz. Arthur Rubinstein, pianist, will be heard from 3YA on Wednesday, January 18. Visit of memMUSICIANS bers of the Auckland Choral AROUND _ Society to Wel- ; lington to take part in a mass festival performance of Handel’s "Messiah," and the coneert by the Wellington Schola Cantorum in Christchurch last year, recall similar courtesy interchanges of choirs between Dunedin and Christchurch. Among those who whole-heartedly promote such visits are Victor Peters and Alfred Walmsley. The‘latter was one of the originators, and for some years conductor, of the’ Adelaide Glee Club. For some years past he-has lived in Dunedin, where his work with the Choral Society and the Madrigal Society, and his association with the music of First Chureh, under Dr. Galway, is highly esteemed hy those who matter. My. Walmsley is equally wellknown as a tenor soloist. 2YA listeners will hear Alfred Walmsley, tenor, on Tuesday, January 17.