GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

artists and their records (By SOUNDBOX.) This vreek's definition: Paraphrase, an elaborate arrangement, for eome ne w interpreting instrument, of music originally written in simpler form. Once again I have not been able, to play much, of the cheaper-priced, issues, and although this, the first Saturday of the month, shoukl find us considering the requirements of Mr. Working-man and his slimmer purse, the Zonophone list is the only one I have heard, so the others must be left until later in the month. Two quietly soothing tuneful compositions played by the Zonophone Salon Orchestra make a very pleasing record, Kevin's "Narcissus" and Thome's "Simple Aveu." (5370). Franklyn Baur, tenor, and Maurice Elwin, baritone, share a Zonophone record of sentimental love songs. The former sings "My Heart is Bluer Than Your Eyes, Cherie," while Ehvin's line voice and unusually clear diction are heard in "My Ideal." (EEI74). The National Military Band may be depended upon to .make the most of everything they play, and when they choose such stirring and tuneful marches as Sousa's "Semper Fidelia" and Jleacham's "American Patrol" a satisfactory offering is assured.. (Zonophone, EE180.)

Whenever Foster Richardson figures in the list his record wins pride of place ia the Zonophone issue. He has not only a splendid bass voice, but has the understanding temperament that assures a most satisfactory rendering of everything he sings. His titles this month are "'Through the Sunrise" (Nutting) and "Friend o' Mine" (Sanderson) (5393). Jintmie Rodgers, a yodeller who plays (his own guitar accompaniments, sings simple songs of sentiment with incidental yodelling. His style will not be appreciated by the music lover, but those, with simple tastes find him a warm welcome. His current contribution is "My Little Lady" and "You and My Old Guitar." (Zonophone, 5423). The great Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Leopold Stokowski, who has made it what it is, plays the Prelude to Act I, and the entr'acte Act IV. of Bizet's "Carmen." A record, tuneful and colourful, that is a notable addition to the "Philadelphians'" already long list. (His Master's Voice, E531, lOin). The "Prize Song" from Wagner's opera "The, Mastersmgcrs" has alwoye ibeen a favourite of mine, and I should fflink it has only to be heard by most people to become a cherished treasure. R. Arnold Greir plays it on the grand organ, its simple melodic line lending itself to such treatment. The companion piece is Wagner's "Rienzi" overture. (Zonophone, 5405). The names Solemn, and Gay have a sinister sound and one wonders just ■what artists with such names ' will perpetrate. It comes as a pleasant surprise, therefore, to find them quite a musical pair, who sing their songs "straight" with good harmony. .They may be commended to those who like Jjcrht male-voice duets well harmonised. The titles are "My Idea of Paradise" and "Tlio' My Oastle3 Tumble Down." (Zonophone, 5395). The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra has done something really worthy o>f its growing repute in recording Beethoven s Symphony, No. 7. The "seventh" is one Of the most popular of Beethoven's nine symphonies, much less difficult of comprehension than some of the others, and does not require deep musical knowledge for its appreciation. For this reason it Jiiis ibeen described as suitable for "the man in the street." (His Master's Voice, five 12in records in an album)." There is a type of music peculiar to ithe American pioneering stock.that may, I think, fee rightly classed as folk music of a kind. It does not appeal to everybody, but those Who do like it derive a great deal of pleasure from it. The Carter family give us two specimens this month on Zonophone, "River., of •nd "Keep on the Sunny Side of Life, the auto harp and guitar accompaniments adding an additional touch of quaintness. (EEI79. "A Hunting Scene," by Bucalossi,_ is outstanding example of descriptive music. In the commencement the twittering of 'birds creates quite a pastoral effect, then the winding of horns is heard, followed by the huntsman s chorus, after which there is the clatter of horses' hoofs in the Cliaee, and finally the excitement of "the death" and the buying of the hounds. The National Concert Bar,id give a spirited rendering of both this and "Patrol Comique. (Zonophone, EE181). De Groot was for a very long time associated with the Piccadilly Hotel in London, but finally terminated his contract for the simple reason that he was tired of the somewhat restricted musical fare acceptable to hotel audiences, an wished to be free to play what he I'kea. His latest record is a,n example of his widened scope, as on one side the -De Groot Trio play Xalin's "Ave Maria, while on the other his orchestra play '"When Summer is Gone," the style o %ht, bright tune they did so well at the Piccadilly. (His Master's- Voice, 83035, lOin). _ ■ ■'i An important Issue by His Master s Voice is the two "Wand of louth suites of Sir Edward Elgar, the greatest living English composer. As indicating their diversity, these are the various episodes. The No: 1 has Overture, Serenade, Minuet, Sun Dance, _ *auy Pipers, Slumber Dance and Fairies and Giants, and the No. 2,1 March, Little Bells, Moths and Butterflies,. Fountain Dance, Tame Bears", and Wild Bears. These suites wens sketched when le composer was only fourteen, ■though t ey Were revised and orchestrated in > while the Minuet from "Beau Brummel, that takes the odd side of the record that ends the first.suite, was written when Elgar was seventy. Elgar fount the work of revision and elaboration "really fascinating," and the same description will probably be applied the suites by those who hear thein. Issued in, an album, five 12in records.