GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 28

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS.

(By SOUNDBOX.)

Good male quartet 6iging is provided by the Gresham singers in "Sweet Kitty Clover" and '"Wake, Miss Lindy," in which lightness and humour are much in evidence. (82410, 10-inch.)

Walter Widdop's latest pairing is *'l Know of Two Bright Eyes" and Amy Woodforde-Finilen's "A Kequesc," both well sung, one a paean of thanksgiving for love triumphant, and the other the anguish of a broken love. (E449, 10inch.)

Heifetz has been and gone, and as a pleasing reminder the September issue offers us a re-recording of Schubert's "Ave Maria" and the lovely "Rondo." It is a well-filled 12-inch disc (D.B. 1047), and the accomplished piano work of Achron -should not pass unnoted.

Another new soprano is introduced this month in Rosina Torri, who sings two airs from Puccini's "Turandot," "Tu che di gel sei cinta" and "Signore Ascolta." The singer displays operatic ability of a high order. (82409, 10inch.)

Quiet. Tcfined playing, that shows the touch of artistry, is given us by the Salon Orchestra in '"Un pen d'amour" (Jnst a litle love, a little kiss) and "Little Star." It is a lisrht orchestra whose recordings are usually well received and rightly. (D 2415, 10-inch.)

Walter Olvnne's sympathetic tenor voice is excellently suited \n May Brahe*s "I Passed by Your Window" and "There is a Flower that Bloometh." A pleasant contrast is afforded in the choice of May Bralie's popular song and the air from Wallace's "Maritana." (82429, 10-inch.)

Benno Moisiewitcli, pianist, in enclosing Chopin's "Impromptu in A Flat" and two Chinese pieces by Chasins, "Flirtations in a Chinese Garden" and "Bush Hour in Hongkong"' has coupled entirely dissimilar items, which make an interesting and well played disc. (D 1217, 12-inch.)

For an artist who can be depended upon never to fail to please, Peter Dawson must surely charm the laurels. His re-recording of "The Floral and "The Lnto Player" is a notable example of splendid singing by a voice that seems as fresh as ever, allied with most remarkably clear diction. (C 1313, 12inch.)

Perhaps the best record we have had of Melba's wonderful voice is that issued this month of duets sung with John Brownlee, the Australian baritone, who supported her in her farewell tour of Great Britain. The items chosen are "Say to Thy Daughter," from "La Traviata," and "Un ange est Venn," by Bemberg. Not the least notable' feature of the record is the restraint of Brownlee, who has so controlled the volume of his fine voice as to provide an admirable balance. (D.B. 987, 12-inch.)

Labitsky's "Herd Girl's Dream" and "Wedding Serenade," by Oscar Klose, are admirably played by the Dajos Bela string orchestra. There is a plaintive fascination about the former that probably accounts for its large measure of popularity, while in the serenade a good supporting piece has been chosen, well contrasted. The playing of this string orchestra is splendid and the pronunciation of Dajos by the way is as if the "j" was "v." This is mentioned as we are likely to hear more of these players, and it is well to get over these foreign complications at once. (E10348, 12-inch).

What inventive genius lias been expended on the gramophone and its various "gadgets," the term being used to signify those extra attachments and refinements that are not really essential, but have a fascination for a certain type of gramopbonist. A few months ago in America, there was announced a device for playing a number of records, and now a Tasmanian has produced something to compete with it. In this case the device repeats any or all of a pile of nine records any number of times, requiring an electri motor and semi-permanent needles to save re-wind-ing and needle-changing. Neither of these inventions will turn a record over, however, so the American company is producing records that provide a continuous series or Items without being turned over and then apparently the other sides contain a {fanilar sequence. Until the day of the film-record arrives, most of us will be content to give the records individual attention.

The need for ensuring that the sound conduit of the gramophone is stressed by Mr. P. Wilson, one of England's foremost gramophone technicians, in the July "Gramophone Magazine." A leak, he tells us, usually causes suppression and distortion in the bass. The place where leaks many occur are between the soundbox and the tone-arm, at tone-arm joints and at the base of the tone-arm where it is fixed to the base-hoard. Here are the suggested remedies. For the former put a rubber umbrella ring on the tone-arm and press it up to the back of the sound-box. For tone-arm lealu fill up the joints with vaseline and this Should be done also at the base of the ball-bearing tone-arms where the tonearm swings. Base-board leaks can be overcome by putting a than rubber washer between the tone-arm and the base-board go that the tightening of the screws draws the two together. It stands to reason that any leakage between the diaphragm o' the sound-box ( wherg the . reproduction commences) and the mouth of the amplifier must affect the result, as all the vibrations are valuable and cannot be allowed to escape without impairing the quality of the reproduction.