GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS.

(By SOUNDBOX.) "My idea is that there is music in the air. music all around us; the world is full of it. and you simply take as much as vou require." SIR EDWARD ELGAR. Last w*eek an unfortunate error slipped into this column. My quotation was "Untwisting all the chains that tie the hidden soul of harmony." The word "chains" was unfortunately rendered as "charms."' I used the quotation as particularly suitable in connection with the generous price reductions just announced. The lessened cost of records will mean for many of us who have not been able to afford to buy as. many records as we would wish to, greater gramophonic pleasure for the same outlay. Verily, then, lower prices should untwist some, if not all, of the chains that have hitherto tied the hidden soul of harmony.

Penchielli's interesting and melodious "Dance of the Hours," from "La Gioconda," is admirably played by the Court Symphony Orchestra under Norman O'Neill. 12in.)

The inanjr who have enjoyed the humour of the three records of the "Two Black Crows" will welcome their fourth. It is remarkable how Moran and Mack maintain their high standard. The humour is as infectious as ever. (01122, lOin.)

Announced as "the air that is being heard everywhere" it is easy to understand the popularity of "Ay, Ay, Ay," as played by Albert Sandler and iiis orchestra. It is, I think, based on a Neapolitan folk-song. The record is completed with "Hush-a-Bye," as a waltz. (01011, lOin.)

Milton Charles as a light organist is I imagine an artist new to the gramophone. He makes a very satisfactory commencement with a generous offering of three records, containing half-a-dozen of the popular tunes of the day, '•At Sundown" and "Cheerie, Beerie, Be" (0914), "Just Once Again" and "When Day is Done" (0913) and "Forgive Me" and "Russian Lullaby." (0915.)

Dame Clara Butt has re-recorded "God Shall Wipe Aw r ay All Tears." I always liked this best of her records, though the supplement refers to the other 6ide, "Abide With Me," as the song most intimately associated with her. However, it may be, the records display the same remarkable voice, undiminished in quality, as made the great contralto's enviable reputation. (09503, 12in.)

A new 'cellist, Gasper Cassado, is announced and <riven the place of honour on the cover of the current month's list. One expects therefore evidence of virtuosity and on playing these first records is not disappointed. With a fine full tone and the technique of a master, Cassado plays Handel's "Largo" and Granados' "Danzas Espanolas, No. 5" (04075, 12in.) and "Apres au Reve" (Faure) and "Evening Song" (Schumann). (03553, lOin.)

The deft way Lay ton and Johnstone handle the popular music of the day accounts for the wide popularity their vocal duets have achieved. Whatever they sing receives treatment that is essentially musical. This month they offer a wealth of good things; "The Song is Ended" and "Diane" (01000), "My Blue Heaven" and "Just a Memory" (01001), "Russian Lullabv," and "I'll Think of You" (01004) a'nd "Tired Hands" and "When You Played the Organ and I Sang the Rosarv." (01012). J

Recently we welcomed William Murdoch's "reduction to the ranks" in the form of a reclassification at a lower price. I said then, and the records prove it, that the pianist is not losiftg prestige by reason of failing ability. It is part of a move that will be more and more in evidence shortly to make firstclass talent available to a wider buying public. It is a pleasure therefore to greet another fine recording by this accomplished pianist. His playin" of Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody, No." 12" (in two parts on a I2in 'disc) is quite lip to his usual high standard. (02582.)

ears ago, how long I don't remember but quite a while, I was fascinated by a song sung by a concert company that visited Auckland. I do remember that my keenness led me to purchase the sheet music. And so now it is rather pleasant to hear the old favourite revived in the guise of the newest Yale BTues dance. And in that form I imagine "Shine On, Harvest Moon" will be perhaps even a greater success than in to days when it caught my fancy first. Coupled with it is "Do That Heebie Jeebie Dance," also with marked melo Both, have vocal choruses. (01124 10-inch.) .

With still another recording of "La Donna e Mobile" now issued, it is interesting to recall Verdi's own opinion of this favourite song from his opera, "Rigoletto." He wished to gain the full benefit of the popularity be felt sure it would achieve, so refused to j«ut it into rehearsal until the very afternoon of the day of the first performance. He was right. It was immedif atelv successful and wjth the passing of the years loses nothing of Its chaxnli All tenors sing it sooner or later. Now Charles Hackett does it, completing the record with the "Siciliana" love °sorg from "Cavalleria Rusticana." (03541". lOin.)

This month sees listed, no doubt as the forerunner of much Schnbcrt this centenary year, his "Symphony in B minor," better known as the "Unfinished." It is played on three 12-inch discs by Sir Henry J. Wood and the' New Queen's Hall orchestra. The two movements here recorded were composed by Schubert six years before his death. The commencement of the third movement exists, but why it was not completed remains a mystery, Schubert was of the indefatigable type of genius, and when the spirit urged him he would jot down his musical ideas on anything that came to hand, restaurant menus and odd scraps of paper. It will ever be a matter for regret that for some reason °r other he delayed the completion of this great wor'- until death overtook him ftmlVaT 7 .' s ° * i