UNUSUAL SONGS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21623, 6 November 1935, Page 6

UNUSUAL SONGS

ENGAGEMENT OF MR B. HARRIS BY BROADCASTING BOARD A man whose interest in life has led to an ambition is Mr Barend Harris. His chief interest is Hebrew music and tradition; his ambition is to sing Hebrew songs. Mr Harris, a bassbaritone, is to sing from New Zealand broadcasting stations a programme of Hindu,' Mohammedan, Buddhist, and Hebraic melodies which have not before been heard here. He has sung already from the Wellington station, 2YA, and his first programme from 3YA will be given on Friday night. In compiling his programme, Mr Harris has had in mind that it is interest in all teachings and beliefs which influences the lives of men, and which will make them more tolerant and understanding toward one another. Above all he feels that it is right to present Jewish art and art culture. It is, he says, distinctive and unusually beautiful, and compares to great favour with the music of other peoples. There are three types of it: folk melodies, traditional melodies, and synagogual melodies. The last are very dear to the Jewish people, since the Hebrew language is classical, the language of prayer. The folk songs are in Yiddish, which is an esperanto language used by the Jews of Eastern Europe. Mr Harris is also to sing a selection of modern Palestinian folk-songs, which have been set to music by Sir Arthur Somerville. These are the product of modern settlement of Palestine; they, have a distinctly bopemm

ful and even optimistic philosophy. They are contrasted in this way to the older folk-songs which were conserved by the Jews of Eastern Europe and which were very plaintiff. Mr Harris has recently finished a tour in Australia, where he was engaged by the Broadcasting Commission. Although the Hebrew songs and those of th-3 other religions mentioned are more important to him, he will sing a number of Russian and a few American Negro songs.