GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 305, 26 December 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS.

(By SOUNDBOX.)

In London we have the best church music in the world. If anybody doubts that, let him start on Christmas Eve and see how much good music he can hear in 24 hours. Carols, canticles and anthems, all in the highest spirits, are let loose at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve all over London. —Stephen Paget I ' To all my fellow gramophonists who may read these jottings, and particularly to those readers who have written to me from time to time, I wish "A merry Christmas and. a happy New Year." Opportunely for the Christmas season His Master's Voice have recorded the Overture and the Pastoral Symphony from "Messiah," played by the London Symphony Orchestra, under Dr.. Malcolm, Sargeant. (C 2071, 12-inch.) Charles Penrose, Kaye Connor and a company produce two screamingly funny items in "The Laughing Policeman's Baby" and "The Laughing Policeman's Partv." The fun is fast and furious, and "the laughter, particularly of Miss Connor most infectious. (Columbia, D 0487, 10-inch.) Here's a good cheerful record to suit the Christmas mood. Jack Hylton and Ms orchestra, with vocalists, play and sing "Tommies' War-Time Memories" and "Songs of the Officers' Mess/' Both provide a tuneful selection. (His Master's Voice, CISBB, 12-inch.) Monckton's "The Arcadians" abounds with attractive melodies, the most effective of the soprano songs being the delightful "Arcady is : Ever Young" and "The Pipes of Pan Are Calling," which Gladys Moncrieff sings for Columbia. (DO 468, 10-inch.)

Berkeley Mason plays a "Hymn Medley" on the organ that includes, to mention only the best known, "Rock of Ages," "Jesu, Lover of My Soul," "light the Good Fight," "Abide With Me" and Dyke's "Lead; Kindly Light." A record many will cherish. (Columbia, DOX 232, 12-inch.)

That splendid aggregation of capable instrumentalists the 8.8.C. Wireless Military Band, play Binding's wellknown and deservedly popular "Bustle of Spring" and the tuneful and strongly rhythmic "Funeral March of a Marionette" of Gounod that is so different when heard from the sombre picture its title conjures up. (Columbia, DOX 28, 12inch.) ■ . :

Albert Sandler, whose effective fiddle lead in his light orchestra has often been the subject of complimentary reference in these notes, does the thing properly this month, and plays us solos. He has made a wise and effective selection in choosing to record Schubert's "Serenade" and Drigo's "Millions d'Arlequin" serenade, delightful both. —(Columbia, DO 491, 10-inch.)

Items from a number of popular operas are recorded by the London Palladium "Orchestra under the title "Selection of Operatic Gems." The bestknown tunes have been taken from "Zampa." "Bohemian Girl," "Rigoletto," "Maritana," "Carmen," "Tannhauser," "Traviata" and '/Faust." ' A judiciously chosen potpourri, well ' played. (His Master's Voice, C 2069, 12-inch.)

Raie Da Costa, the clever . light pianiste, plays "Blue Again" and "Parade of the Minutes" with her usual flair for clever arrangement of. light music, but once again I protest at the inclusion of zylophone and effects, Miss Da Costa's ■work being sufficient in its. own novelty to stand without extraneous supports of this sort. (His Master's Voice, 83877, 10-inch.)

John Henry and "Blossom" have become "John Henry and Company," there ibeing several grown-ups and a baby in the personnel of "John Henry's Christmas Eve." Those who have ("The Story of the Pied Piper" will remember John Henry's scathing . references to his brother-in-law, Stanley, and the latter appears in this record, and helps the business along its merry way. (His Master's Voice, 83665, 10-inch.)

The Light Opera Company eing a Selection of "vocal gems" from Verdi's ''Rigoletto," surely one of the most tuneful favourites in the whole realm of grand opera. The record can be confidently commended, with ■ the reservation that those who know the opera well may wonder why certain items have been omitted that one would think inevitable in such a selection. (His Master's Voice, C 2152, 12-inch.)

An item in the current His Master's Voice listing that will probably figure quite prominently as a Christmas present to gramophone owners is the abridged version of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, "The Pirates of Penzance." There are now several of these inexpensive "album sets" to choose from, His Master's Voice ihaving previously issued "The Yeomen of the Guard," -while Columbia have done it also and "The Gondoliers," "The Mikado" and "lolanthe."

The Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra have developed for the gramophone a etyle of record peculiar to themselves in which the orchestra provides a background for clever work by expert soloists. This time the items chosen are "Slippery Sticks" for xylophone in which frequent snappy glissando passages amply justify the title, and "A Sierra Melody" in which solo honours are shared between 'cello and trumpet. (Columbia, DO4S9, 10-inch.)

The Squire Celeste Octet provide us ■with an unusually attractive couple of tunes for Christmas, and incidentally also an answer to the question what is celeste? In Lincke's "Amina" and Renard's "Song of the Celeste" the instrument, something after the fashion of a small piano and played with a keyboard, has prominence, and probably many will welcome these tunes the moro warmly for the soft, quaint tones of the instrument from which this happy little band takes part of its name. (Columbia, DO 488, 10-inch.)

The Debroy Somers Band record another of the selections that have lately been occurring so frequently. This time it is "Auld.Lang Syne" medley, with a (couple of bagpipe Interludes and occasional ehiging by a male quartet. The selection, as the title would lead one to expect, comprises favourite Scottish items, concluding with the song of conviviality from which the title is borrowed. An the individual titles are too numerous to print on the label, those interested should secure a copy of the supplement for reference, as it lists them in detail. ' (Columbia, D0X233, 12-inch.)