GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 9 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS.

(By SOUNDBOX.)

Like mast sensible people, I. recognise that the gramophone has its legitimate function of entertainer, instructor and world's musical library. —JAMES BRAITHWAITE. Extremely well Tom Clare's speaking record, "Cohen on the Telejhone," and "Cohen Rings up his Tailor" s first class humorous fare. (C 1471, I2in.) Sir Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. I"—the one with "Land of Hope and Glory," and Ganne's bright and tuneful "March Lorraine," have been re-recorded by the Grenadier Guards' Band (02681, 12in.). ■ t, De Groot and the Piccadilly Orchestra (whose gramophone days are numbered, as I understand De Groot has severed his 25 years' connection with the famous London hotel), this month play Dvorak's "Songs My Mother Taught Me," and, as a complete contrast, "Together," with a vocal chorus that is unusual with De Groot. (82662; lOin.) John McCormack sings "I Hear You I Calling Me" and that song of sentiment beloved of so many, "Mother Machree." It never was and never will be a favourite of mine, but that those who like it, like it very thoroughly there is no doubt, and it is as certain that they will be pleased with McCormack's singing of it He does it very feelingly. 0A958, lOin.) It is certain that John Goss has a wide public these days, won by the charm of the sea chanteys he sings so delightfully, supported by the Cathedral male quartet. This month he offers four more (his record* are always good value, with plenty in them), "Blow the Man Down," "Tom's Gone to Hilo," "Lowlands Away" and "Highland Laddie." (82698, lOin.) Peter Dawson's latest an. "The Admiral's Yarn" (Reubens) and "At Santa Barbara" (Kennedy Russell), two very cheerful songs that give the singer a chance to show he has not lost his sense of humour (2661, lOin), and "Six Australian bush songs, by James, of which five are recorded, "Bush Silence," "Bush Night Song," "Land of Who Knows Where," "Comrades of Mine," and "The Stockrider's Song." (C 1428, 12in.) Following what is apparently a definite policy now, His Master's Voice devote the cover of this month's supplement to an illustration of a scene from the opera "Thais," with the first page devoted to the story and the usual list of recorded excerpts. Among the month's issues is a new record of "Thais" music. Fanny Heldy sings "O Messenger of God," and, with Marcel Journet, the duet, "Bathe My Hands and Lips," both from the third act. (DA94O, lOin.) Under Dr. Leo Blech, one of the bestknown conductors of the day, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra plays Berlioz's "Carnaval Romain" overture. Under this distinguished baton the orchestra displays the perfection one has come to associate with the State opera orchestra under Blech. The music, as one would expect from its title, has a varied interest, while the composer's flair for orchestral colour is evident. (D 1365, 12in.)

This month's big work is the playing by Wilhelm Backhaus of the twelve Chopin studies, Opus 10. Issued in an album on three records with a fourth containing the same composer's "Waltz in E Flat" and "Berceuse," Op. 57, this issue will appeal most strongly to the serious lover of Chopin. Cortot some time ago recorded the 24 preludes, which created quite a stir among the elect, and it is probable that this offering by Backhaus will be considered a worthy companion set.

A wonderful electric recording of the two most famous concerted vocal items in the whole repertoire of opera is issued this month. The "Sextpt" from "Lucia di Lammermoor" and the "Quartet" from "Rigoletto"; how many people I wonder, know their titles! To all of us they are just the sextet and quartet —in itself a tribute to their high place in general esteem. The quartet is sung by Galli-Curci, Homer, Gigli and De Luca, with Pinza and Bada in the sextet. The standing of all these artists is of the highest, but the ringing tones of Caruso in the former record are lacking. The new record is great, as it should be for the price, but it prompts the thought again that it is a thousand pities Caruso passed away before the era of electric recording. I can imagine this record receiving a very warm welcome from the hundreds in New Zealand who during the last few months have had the opportunity of seeing "Rigoletto" and "Lucia." (DQ102.)

The question I am asked most often by those who know of my enthusiasm for the gramophone is: "What difference has radio made to the gramophone?" As far as New Zealand is concerned, the gramophone was perhaps fortunate in the kind of competition it had to face. Elsewhere the full force of the new idea was felt. After making a recovery in America, the industry made confession through a trade journal of the serious state of affairs that had been overcome. A graph showed the sales of a leading company to have fallen, in one year, from 40 millions to 20 millions —no doubt about radio having made a difference. But radio made a. difference of another kind. It made possible the new process records, which are so great an improvement on those »f the old days—before the discovery of the radio valve, which, having first caused radio to seriously affect the gramophone, by its use for electric rejording, gave new life to an industry that had certainly languished. Improved •ecords necessitated improved gramophones to play them, and twelve months later the sales were up above the point from which they had fallen, and they lave continued to --increase ever since. From. the trade journal that published ;he graph referred to, I quote the folowing, from the September issue this rear: "With . . . stock reaching a new ligh level, . . . stock bringing the highsst price in its history, . . . declaring i 60 per cent cash dividend and 100 per «nt stock dividend within a period of 15 months, and other companies in the monograph field showing genuine activty, there can be no question as to the •omeback of the industry. If money alks, then it is doing some very satis'actory shouting in this trade at least." kni in England there has been an orgy »f company formation that may yet lave a serious phase for the investing mblic, but is evidence of a buoyant outook. I always felt there should be ■oom for both. Each ha* its function » perform in ito own waj^