OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 11

OVER THE AIR

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT

IBy ARIEL.I ■ A very large body of opinion, |h New considers that the tinie has come for the Broadcasting Board or some other competent authority to make a statement regarding the publication Of radio programmes. At present the extraordinary situation holds that broadcasting programmes are copyright, and only individual .programmes may be published on the day of performance. ; To own a radio set it is n6ces,sary to pay 25s each year as a license fee, a sum by no means small, yet one that few people begrudge as an annual contribution to the Broadcasting Board. And yet it Is impossible for any single person to discover what is going to be on the programmes he pays for! He looks in his newspaper, but only the daily programme is published. The newspaper is not allowed to publish programmes in advance. He rings up the broadcasting studio. But the ! studio cannot help. And §0 we have the situation that it’ is impossible, save by the payment of the sum of 19s 6d a year, or 4d a week, to know anything about radio programmes in advance. This is a situation completely childish, yet one easily overcome. Owners of radio sets, paying an annual fee for their entertainment, have a right to know what that entertainment will be. The Broadcasting Board has a right to charge the public at cost price. Very well, then, let there be three classes of licenses. The first, costing 25s a year, is for the right of listening to programmes and owning a radio set. The second will cost an extra ss, and each week the license holder will' receive by post a complete list of the forthcoming week’s programmes. The third class will cost an extra 10s, and the service included in this fee will consist of not only the programmes, but programme notes. By this plan the radio listener who does not much care what he listens to will be able to receive his service as usual. But the discriminating owner of a broadcast set will be able to know in advance concerning interesting talks, unusual musical programmes/ and so forth. An alternate plan is of course to issue an official weekly magazine. The broadcasting service of this country well deserves the name of “The Silent Service.” It is well-nigh an impossibility for anybody to obtain any information from official sources about anything. Not only is the man-in-the-street kept almost completely in the dark as to programmes, he is also kept almost completely in the dark as regards the plans of broadcasting, the future of broadcasting, and anything else about broadcasting. Official statements concerning broadcasting are, conspicuous by their absence. I have seen no official statement about television. " I have seen no official /statement concemirig the formers are Imported from Aus- ; tralia. Some ate well known; some 'are unknown. Some are artists; some are sickly, with cracked voices, age-old jokes, performers that would get the order of the bird from a middle-west speakeasy. r • There is no differentiation by the broadcasting authorities concerning these widely differing classes of overseas performers. They receive no publicity. They are merely introduced by the station announcer concerned as Madame So-and-so, or Signor Such-and-such, the world famoiis what-not, “who is in New Zealand under contract to the Broadcasting Board.” ' The other week, Stella Power, an Australian soprano, was broadcasting.from Christchurch. As a coloratura she was magnificent. Hers is a beautifully pure, free voice, flute like in quality, She was accompanied by Ernest Jamieson (who waS flautist to Emma Calve during: i her world tour), and botweon tnfcftv they contributed a most pleasing recital, well chosen, well sung, well accompanied, , . v And yet it was only by chance that I—and possibly thousands of other listeners—heard this recital. It was unheralded, save by the bald announcement that Stella Power was “world famous,” And so many “world famous” artists have given broadcast recitals in New Zealand, that listeners have been forced to the conclusion that the term is a kind of formula covering every performer who has appeared in front of a microphone outside this country, * But this lamentable lacK of publicity of differentiation between the wheat and the chaff, may be overcome by a little show of intelligence on the part of the broadcasting authorities. And an jncreasimuy, large and important body of public opinion is demanding that intelligence be shown, that in advance be obtainable, that 1 the public should know what it is getting—and going to get. Next Week Here and there in the programmes for the coming week are individual items that will be well worth listening to. At 9.5 on Sunday evening from Christchurch there is a presentation of a British Broadcasting Corporation recorded programme, “The King’s Tryall. This is a play based on the trial and execution of King Charles the Fiwt of England, written and produced by Peter Cresswell. It may be taken for granted that most of the British Broadcasting Corporation recorded plays are a dequafely performed, although one would like to know a little more about them. I have a suspicion that they are carefully selected ■ for Dominion consumption. . A On Monday Christchurch again presents the most interesting programme. At 9.5 there is to be a talk by Mr H. McD. Vincent on. “The British Theatre,” and this will be followed by the Quartet No. 1 in C minor by'Faure. _ , Tuesday is rather terrible. But there are bright spots here and there. From Auckland there is Eb and Zeb, the Japanese Houseboy, and a representative of the. Government Statistician; from Wellington may be heard the Wellington Symphony Orchestra playing popular bits and pieces; from Christchurch may be heard the Japanese Houseboy, from Dunedin isay be heard Eb and Zeb. But from 3YL, Christchurch, at 8 o’clock_there is the Beethoven Trio an HFlat (the Archduke), played by Thibaud, Cortot, and Casals. __ , t . . On Wednesday, from Wellington, at 9.5 p.m., there is a play, “The Gesture,’’ dramatised from a short stqijr. from E. M DeMeld. “E.M.D.’ is the famous “Punch” contributor. Re-

cently she has been giving us that pleasantly farcical little series, As Others Hear Us.” “The -Gesture is bound to be good, if the dramatisation is efficient. Unfortunately, I have no guide whatever as to this; it may be the work of some enthusiastic amateur, it may be from the pen of “E.M.D.” herself. And from 3YA there is a programme of selected classical recordings, interspersed with progress reports of the ' by-election for the mayoralty and three city councillors. But if listeners care neither for the. Wellington nor the Christchurch programmes, there is always the Japanese Houseboy from Dunedin, ' . On Thursday, from Wellington, enthusiasts may hear the Japanese Houseboy. But at 9,28 there is a recorded recital by Miliza Korjus. I strongly recommend, everybody to listen to this. Miliza Korjus is a soprano, until recently quite unknown, with a tonal quality uniquely her own, and a purity and range unsurpassed by Galli-Curci at her best, .She is extraordinarily pleasant to hear, and she sings “The Little Ring” (Chopin) and The Invitation to the: Dance” (Weber). Please don’t miss this. From Auckland on Friday, Professor Arnold Wall will at 9.5 p.m. disabuse listeners of the popolar fallacy that the moon influences the weather. (Personally, I firmly believe this ‘popular fallacy,’ and it will be interesting for me to see whether the professor succeeds m altering my opinion.) From Wellington, interested listeners will no doubt listen to Eb and Zeb, the accursed storekeepers in a further allegedly humorous episode; from Christchurch, at 8.13, that very efficient pianist, Noel Newson, may be heard; and from the local YL station at 8 o’clock there is a presentation from an incredibly poor recorded S6n6S> The programme for next Saturday is remarkable mainly because there is no mention of either the Japanese Houseboy or Eb and Zeb.

BROADCASTING

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: i Devotional service. 10.15: Selected record- i ings. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 12 noon: Report ofplay in the test cricket match. New Zealand v. . M.C.C., and at 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 4.45 and 6.0 p.m. ( Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. ( 3.30: Sports results. 4.0: Time signals from i the Dominion Observatory. 4.30: Sports re- : suits. 5.0: Children’s hour, "Stalky and i Co.” 6.0; Dinner music. 7.0: News and . reports. 7.20: Review of day’s play in . the cricket test match, M.C.C. v. New . Zealand. 7.30: Time signal from the Do- . minion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. Re- i cordlngs: Berlin. State Opera House Or- . Chestra. "If I Were King" overture (Adam): 8.10: Peter Dawson, bass-barl- < (Moss); "The Lute Player”, (Allltsen). 8.18: Caspar Cas- ! feado, “Arlequiri” .(Popper); "Papll- < Ion!' (Faure). 8.24; Malcolm McEachem, with Harold Williams, vocal duet, “Gen- j dames’ Duet" (Offenbach and Farnie). 1 8.28: Alfredo Campoll and his Concert Orchestra. "With The Classics.” 8.36: Richard Crooks, tenor, "I Love You So” (Lehar). 8.40; Theo and Francis Gunther. , concertina duos; “Wedding of the Winds” t (Hall); “Serenata" (Toselli). 8.47: Jock ; Lockhart, comedian "Noah Had Two of Everything” (Slevler). 8,53: Agnes Shearsby In piano novelties, selections from “Broadway Melody of 1936" (Brown). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Recording: Regal Cinema Orchestra. "Drury Lane Memories." 9.13; Lottie Col- i ville, soprano, “About A Quarter to Nine” (Warren); “Dear Heart of Mine (Burrows). 9.19: Jock Lockhart, comedian. “Billy Buster" (Lewis); “The Bugle Call” (Connor). 9.26: Theo and Francis Gunther, concertina duos, “Easter Parade” (Berlin). 9.32: Recording; Zonophone Light Opera Company, vocal gems from “The Geisha” (Jones). 9.40: Agnes Shearsby in piano novelties. “Jack In The Box” (Shandh “Dancing Ivories” (Shearsby). 9.48: Lottie Colville, soprano, “When I Grow Tdo Old To Dream” (Romberg); “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart” (Hanley). .94141 Recording; New Mayfair orchestra. ■"Sally” selection (Kem), 30,0; Sports summary. 10.30; Dance music. Alternative station, 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 52 p.m! ; Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner'music. 8.0; Ancient and modem French orchestral programme, commemorating the birthday of Maurice Ravel, pioneer of modem French music. IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service, conducted by Major Hildreth. 10.15: Selected recordings. 12 noon; Lunch music. ? 2.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.15 and 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour* conducted by Cinderella. 6.0: Dinner music. 7,01 Nows and .reports. 7.30: Talk, the gardening ox-, pert, "Seasonal Work for March.” e.O: Concert programme. Len Barnes, baritone, with orchestral accompaniment. 8.15: Recordings:- Leon Goossens, Oboe, with strings of the B«ch Cantata Club, London. directed by Kennedy Scott, Slnfonla to Church Canteta 166 (Bach). 8.30: The State Opera Chorus, Berlin, conducted by Alexander Cdrth. 8.45: ’Cello solo by W. H. Squire (Pattman at the organ). 9.0; Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Old time dance programme by the Studio Orchestra, conducted by Harold Baxter. Master of Ceremonies, Mr Les. Beresford. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Old time dance programme continued. Alternative station, IYX, 880 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: The Midnight Revellers Mingle Melodies, assisted by Patricia Rossborough, pianist. 8.30: "Merry Moments,” a light, popular programme. 9.0: "Ireland: Music from the Emerald Isle," a light continuity programme. 2YA. WELLINGTON ■ (570 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m;: Breakfast session. 10.0: Chimes. Selected recordings. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion,; Observatory. 11.15: Talk, prepared by the A.C.E., Home Science Tutorial Section of Otago University, "Keep Up the Children’s Holiday Health.” 11.30 (approx.): Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 12.30 p.m.: Running commentary on the events of the Wellington Trotting Club’s summer meeting. Interspersed with selected recordings from the studio. (Relayed from Hutt Park). Announcer, Mr D. J. Gulney. 5.0; Chil-dren’s-hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper, 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. Popular programme. The . 2YA Concert Orchestra (conductor, Mr Leon de Mauny), “Jolly Robbers” overture (Suppe). 8.9; Recording; Jessie Matthews (light vocal). 8.12: Recording: The Three Virtuosos on‘three pianos, with the Robert Renard Orchestra (piano trio, with orchestra), “Frolics” (Cowlcr). 8.15: “Abroad with the Lockharts,” an American business man and his wife on tour. 829: The 2YA Concert Orchestra, "Orpheus In the Underworld" fantasia (Offenbach). 8.41: Recording: Jessie Matthews (light vocal). 8.44: Allan McElwain in ten minutes of humour. 8254: The 2YA Concert Orchestra. "The Jester” grotesque dance (Pattman, Bamford). 9.0: Weather report and station notices, 9J5: Programme of modem dance music. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Continuation of programme of modern dance music. Alternative station, 2YC, - 840 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Recital programme. 9.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 4YA, DUNEDIN (790 Kilocycles) , 7 JO to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10,15: Devotional service. 12 noon; Lunch music, 2.0 p.m.; Selected recordings, 320: Sports results, 4.0: Weather forecast for farmers. 4.45: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s session, conducted by Big Brother Bill and Aunt

Anita. 6.0: Dinner-music. 70.: News and reports. 8.0: Chimes. A light orchestral and ballad programme. The Concert Orchestra, conducted by James Dixon, “Silver Jubilee” march (Letts); "Aunt Sally” selection (Woodk, Connelly). ; 8.16: James Simpson, tenor. 828: The Orchestra, intermezzo “Bells of Evening” (Williams); "Until” (comet solo, R. Colvin) (Sanderson). 8.37; Hizel Walker, soprano. 8.49: The Orchestra, fantasia, "In Coon Land" (Bidgood). 9io;‘Weather report and station notices, 92: Dance 'music. 10,0: • Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. . Alternative* station, 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected* recordings. 7,0: After-din-ner music. 8.0; Variety and vaudeville programme* 9.0: H.M. Guards Bands. A programme by four famous regimental bands, with humorous and dramatic interludes, including. at 9.23, ‘.‘Superstition,” a dramatic presentation dealing with the superstition that "bad luck follows when a person turns .his cap backwards on his head.” • • • » -- - ? SUNDAY ‘ - | ■ - -vr~~y. ; ■■■-. ■ r ■ 'i. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9.0 a.m.: Selected, recordings, 11.0; Relay of morning service from St. Matthew’s Anglican Church. Preacher, Rev J. F. Feron; organist and choirmaster, Mr L. S. Pilgrim. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2,0: Selected recordings. 32: Recording: Yehudi Menuhin (violin), unaccompanied, Sonata for violin No. 5 in C Major (Bach). 324: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 5.30: Children’s song service. 6.15: Sfelected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service from the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. Preacher, Rev. L. A. North; organist, Mr George Martin: choirmaster, Mr Victor Peters. 8.15; Selected recordings.. 8.30: Recording: Bruno Walter, conducting the British Symphony Orchestra, : “The Marriage of Figaro" Overture (Mozart). 8.36: Shomas E. West (tenor re- • cltal), (a) "The Old Willow Tree” (Kahn); (b) "Hark, Hark, the Lark”; (c) “The Trout" (Schubert): (d) “I Love Thee” (Grieg), 8.48: Gordon Anderson (pianoforte recital), Choral prelude, "Blessed Jesus, Here We Stand”: Prelude and Fugue in F Major; Choral prelude, “To Thee I Cry” (Bach). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Presentation of 8.8. C, recorded programme, “The King’s Tryall.” A dramatic presentation of the Trial of King Charles I. of. England, written and produced by Peter Cresswell, Alternative station; 3YL. 6.0 p.m.: Musical programme. 8.30; Light recitals.' 9.0; Band programme, with popular interludes. IYA. AUCKLAND 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from the Ponsonby Road Church of Christ. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music (recorded). Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. “Samson and Delilah”—"Bacchanale" (Act 3) (Salnt-Saens). 2.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.30: Recordings: Artur Schnabel (piano). Sonata in F Major, Op. *lO, No. 2 Ist movement, allegro: 2nd movement, allegretto: 3rd movement, presto (Beethoven). 3.46: Selected recordings. 6.0: Children’s song service. 7.0; Evening service, relayed from the Mount Eden Presbyterian Church. Preacher, The Rev. J. W. McKenzie, organist, Mr E. Edgar. 8.30: Recording: London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Hamilton Harty, “The Bartered Bride" Overture (Smetana). 8.40; Talk: Mr H. G. Bell. “World Affairs.” 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: A recital by Leo Chemlavsky, worldfamous violinist. At the piano. Maynard Wilkinson. 9.23: Recordings; Sigrid Onegin, contralto. Berlin State Opera Orchestra and Berlin' Doctors’ Choir conducted by Dr. Kurt Singer. 928: Chicago Symphony Orchesta, conducted by Fredr erlck Stock, Suite, Op. 19 (Dohnanyi). Alternative station, IYX. 6.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8.30: Selected choral programme. 9.0: A recital programme. 2YA. WELLINGTON 9.0 a.m.: Chimes. Selected recordings. 11.0; Relay of the morning service from St. Mary of the Angels’ Roman Catholic Church. Boulcott street. Organist: Mrs G. Aldridge. Choirmaster. Mr Sydney Francis Hoben. 1.0, p.m.: ,Dinner music. 2.0: Recordings. Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. New York. 2.40: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 6.0: Children’s song service, conducted by Uncle William, assisted by the children’s choir from the Miramar Presbyterian Sunday school. 7.0: Relay of the evening’ service from St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willis street. Preacher: Rev. J. R. Blanchard. Organist and choirmaster: Mr Lawrence Haggitt, F.T.C.L., L.A.B. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30: '.'La Travlata,” a recorded opera In three acts .by Guiseppe Verdi. Alternative station, 2YC. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: "A Haydn Wood Cameo." 9.0: "Matform Favourites of London.” introducing some of London's most popular artists and orchestras in a light recital programme. 4YA, DUNEDIN 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of church service from Moray Place Congregational Church. Preacher Rev. A. Mead, M.A. Organist: Mrs H. C. Campbell. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 2.30; Bouillton (violin), Cortet (flute), Morseau (flute) and the Ecole Normale Chamber Orchestra, “Brandenburg" Concerto No. 4 in G Major (Bach). 2.46: Selected recordings. 5.30: Children's song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.30: Relay of evensong from St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. Preacher: The Very Rev. G. C. Crulckshank. M.A. Organist: Mr E. H. Hey wood. F.R.C.O. 7.45: Selected recordings. 8.15: Dr. V. E. Galway. Dunedin City Organist, presents an organ recital (relayed from the Town Hall). 927 (approx.): Swedish Male Chorus. 9.33: Wingate’s Temperance Band. "Honour and Glory” Tone Poem (Bath). 9.39: Peter Dawson (baritone). 9.49: Tony Lowry (piano). 9.65: Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards, “Songs of England” March Selection. Alternative station. 4YO. fl.o p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Band programme, with popular vocal and violin interludes. 920: Grieg orchestral programme, with vocal interludes by Richard Tauber (tenor). OVERSEA RECEPTION NOTES (Supplied by the New Zealand DX* Radio Association, Inc.) Reception on the broadcast band in Christchurch is steadily improving,, the Australian and American stations becoming stronger.. Conditions for the special broadcast from KNX, Hollywood, last Sunday were fair. Among the speakers was the association’s representative from California, who spoke to oversea members. Shortwave reception is good, some of the European stations being received at splendid volume. Those heard during the week included: VPD. Suva, Fiji, 22.94 metres, 13,075 kilocycles, 2000 watts, good at 6 p.m.; 2RO, Rome, Italy. 1.5.40 metres, 11,810 kilocycles. 20,000 watts, 5 a.m.; OER2, Vienna. Austria, 49.41 metres, 6072 kilocycles. 250 watts, 6 a.m.; DJC, Zeesen. Germany, 49.83 metres. 6020 kilocycles. 5000 watts, 5.30 a.m.; DJA, Zeesen. Germany. 31.38 metres, 9560 kilocycles, 5000 watts. 7 p.m. The Daventry broadcasts are now being heard on GSB. 31.55 metres, 9510 kilocycles. and GSN, 25.38 metres, 11.820 kilocycles, 20,000 watts, from 7.15 to 9,15 p.m. VKSDI, Adelaide, broadcasts every Sunday on the 20 metre band constructional tips, closing at approximately 4.30 p.m. The Christchurch branch of the association will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday in the recital room of Charles Begg and Company, at 8 p.m. '