GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS

(By SOUNDBOX.)

This week's definition : Toccata, in its sixteenth century form, a prelude made up of runs and arpeggios. The modern toccata develops with great thematic hilarity and contrapuntal informality, a brilliant, swift and showy improvisation.

The clear, cultured diction of Gillie Potter is a pleasure to listen to. He is a humorist of a quiet type that is all too rare, and in "Mr. Potter Has A Brother" he gives us nonsense that is very -welcome. (Columbia, DO 122, 10in.)

To their many previous fine issues the Squire Celeste Octet now add a record of quiet beauty, "Trauine" (Dreams) and "Albumblatt" (Album Leaf), two fragments by Wagner, arranged by Willoughby. (Columbia, DOX 10, 12in.)

The vocal quintet who bill themselves as The Maestros sing Tosti's "Venetian Song," and make the most of its tunefully rhythmic lilt, and an arrangement by Evaiis of' Purcell's old Elizabethan song, ''Passing By," which completes a fine record of male voice singing. (Columbia, DO 117, lOin.)

To their recent fine list of Maori records Columbia now add two more, "Titi Torea," with "E Hara Te Waea" (D 057), and five shorter songs, "Huri Hurl," "Haere Atu Ka," "Hoki Hold," "E Hine, E Hokimai," and "Toia Mai Te Wkka" (D 058), which are as pleasing as the earlier issues.

A new organist makes Ms dcl/ut for Columbia this.month. Anton van del* Horst, at the organ of the Central Hall, Westminster, plays Baclvs "Toccata in F," in two part's, the difficult nature of the composition and the facility of its execution combining to prove the great Dutch'organist a welcome addition to the company of competent artists brought to the gramophone since electric recording .finally captured the elusive tones of the grand organ. (DOX 30, 12in.) •

Here's a truly remarkable record. Sir George Henschel (knighted as a compliment to his high place in the English music world) is famous both as a baritone and a conductor. Born in 1850. he is now 80 years of age, yet last year sang for Columbia the record now issued. The setting of the psalm, "By The Waters of Babylon" (Dvorak), and J. W. Franck's "Wait Thou ■ Still" arc the material chosen for this surprising display of a great voice that the passing of the years seems only to have mellowed. • The veteran baritone accompanies himself at the piano, and, I repeat it with emplinsis, the record is remarkable. The seventy-nine-ycar-old voice might well shame many of the younger generation. (Columbia, LO 2, lOin.)

For the successful singing of ballads, surely the most essential equipment of a singer is sincerity. In his present offering Derek Oklham (tenor) . illustrates what I mean, particularly .in "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes/ , which is bracketed with "I Know a Lovely Garden," the other side containing "Macushla." (His Master's Voice, 83068, lOin.)

The Baraldi Trio some time ago sang Elgar's "My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land," and the trio from "Lilac Time." Those who have of the two sopranos and contralto who comprise this charming female-voice trio will welcome their second offering, which consists of two songa Iby Edward German, "Orpheus with His Lute" and "Beauteous Morn." (His Master's Voice, 83067, lOin.)

Mozart has been well described as a composer of infinite charm, and "lliere must be many music lovers who because of.- the endless variety of his melodic invention,' acknowledge him their favourite composer. The Squire Celeste Octet play his "Minuet in D," a form in which Mozart was unquestionably competent. It is a graceful trifle that will please all. ears—delightfully arranged arid played. The companion piece, "Minuet Sicilienne," composed by J. H. Squire, provides a happy coupling. (Columbia, DO 114, lOin.) ■ .■..:

Cesar Franck's "Sonata in A Major". is played by Alfred Cortot, piano, and Jacques Thibaud, .violin. It is admirably played, and for those who cannot afford the whole work I would recommend the last of the four records, that containing the last movement, allegretto poco mosso. It so many years ago when "snippets" of chamber music were all that we were offered, and the record I mention will, I hope, bring great satisfaction to those whose pockets have not kept pace with, the growing policy of the recording, companies, so that they are compelled of necessity to remain 'buyers of "snippets." A His Master's Voice Album work. (D 813471350).

One wonders just what direction the development of the talkies will take when the new art gets over the illnesses of its teething period, such as the terrible back-stage series we are passing through at present. There is already evidence of a desire- to ■ make better use of the audibility- of the screen in the several pictures that have starred faiii? ous vocalists. In a story of Irish life', "Song o . My Heart," John McGdrmack not only plays lead, hut sings a number of standard songs which have for some time been listed in Ink recorded repertoire. In addition there arc 'three new records this month of songs the tenor introduces in "Song o' My Heart," With the exception of the last title, all are from' the picture, "I Feel You Near Me," "A Pair of Blue Eyes" (DA1113), "The Rose of Tralce," "Ireland, Mother Ireland" (DA 1110), "A Fairy Story by the Fire"—delightful—and Roger Qu.ilter'e 'Wow Sleeps the Crimson • Petal" (DA 1111), all 10in His' Master's Voice.

The name Charles Ancliffe may not mean much to the present generation, but those a little older may remember him as the composer of that , fine waltz '•Nights of' Gladness." With his own orchestra he has played a selection of his waltzes, comprising-about a dozen examples of enchanting tunefulness. (Columbia, DOX 29, 12m.)

Rosa Ponselie." is unquestionably a great operatic soprano,' and many will welcome the opportunity of hearing her sin* in English such comparatively simple'songs a* Dvorak's "Songs My Mother Taueht Me" and Rubinsteins "Since S I Met Thee." Unfortunately her diction is not a* clear as mitfht be wished, but the voice that has won her &o many admirem is as pleasing as ever. (His Master's Voice DA1023, 10in.), ; ;

'It is a pleasant surprise that _His Master's Voice continue to list that areat German bass,,lvor Andresen, at Slum-label price. His offering this month consists of two Wagnerian extracts, both recitative, "The King's, Address from "Lohengrin," and "The Landgrave's Address" from "Tannhauser. For convenience. I have used the English translation of the titles, but the record is, of course, hi. the native German of the singer and composer. (C 1853, 12in.)/ : .. y'.:'

The Royal- Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes owes its title to a chorus from a comic opera called "The Pirates, popular in 1822, the year of the foundation of the Order. The words of the chorus ran:— "Come all you youn& fellows, who've a mind to range, Unto sonic foreign country, your station for to change. Your station for to change, away from liere Through the wide woods we'll wander to chase the buffalo." The chief object of the Order in its early days was to help members travelling the country in search of work.