OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 8

OVER THE AIR

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT 'is»*, v - ' * * 1 ;

SUNDAY PROGRAMMES

to understand why a talk “Recent Advances in Anthropology” should suddenly appear between “Tone Poems” by Smetana, and violin solos by Kr_:sler; or a discussion on John Calvin between “Triumphal March” by Elgar and “Song of Paradise” by the Grand Hotel Orchestra. It may be suggested, of course, that Calvin, songs of paradise and triumphal marches are very closely related, but I feel that that would be pressing the association of ideas theory rather far. In any case the imagery called up by the “Song of Paradise” was a little too emancipated to justify a contention of that ‘ sort.

'• [By LISTENER.] - The question pi t r Sunday programmes .is a difficult one. Indeed at fifst sight the difficulties invqlved appear ■ almost insuperable. There are probably more people who listen in on. Sundays in the afternoon) : than • there, are at any other time jof. the w.Oek; and for , this reason alone I ' Was interested to see the way in which the British Broadcasting Corporation had set about solving its own problem. In New Zealand we may possibly •learn something from a discussion of the policy, pursued: in England. ‘‘ln announcing that it does not intend to broadcast vaudeville and dance music on Sunday, the British Broadcasting Corporation says* ‘Sunday is observed in this country, and for broadcasting noti tb, regard it as a special day would distress a very large section of listeners.’ Nevertheless, the Sunday programmes are being widened in scope and variety in an effort to increase their appeal.” • / 5 ? ’j Now this may appear to many ’people" who pride themselves on being “modern” to be a reincarnation of the spirit which . prompted the Victqfiaris to disguise the legs of their furniture with; discreet veils of frills. To others it wiirseem that in merely ddirig/away with jazz apd vaudeville Sir John Berth has not gone far enoughs The-new decision is certainly a little curious in some ways. It lays great stress on pleasing. that very large sectioii bf listeners who would be offended by thfese things on a Sunday, but it gives no definite reasons to say why /they should be offended. For my own part I am sure that the/British Broadcasting Corporation is ac ling in good faith towards these people, but I am' uncertain whether their distress would be caused by anything more disquieting than a certain unseemliness. Two Reasons Is it fight to satisfy the vague promptings of such people? I might as well make my position ~l;ar with regard to the matter by saying that I think that it is not right. Mere distress is not enough. But there are two reasons for removing jazz and vaudeville from Sunday programmes, either of which would be sufficient rtselfr'and it is a great pity that the corporation jiid not/ ; publicly base .its decision'bn one or both of them. -

The art of being appropriate should be- the first\Consideration of programme organisers, and not only in broadcasting, of course. With regard to talks, this involves one or two or three . considerations. A broadcast talk may be topical, satisfying some interest that is already in the air; it may be one of a series; it may be related to its context in the programme. If the talk belongs to a series, then the Series should be allotted , to some appropriate time. , • Such inconsequence as I have indicated gives me:the impression of a certain carelessness, as if something had been chosen at rahdprii. to fill up an odd 15 . minutes. Whether the talks I heard-were good or bad is beside the point. A programme should have some unity about it, each one being an entity in itself. ■ V

BROADCASTING

■ TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES 3VAi CHRISTCHURCH ' (720 Kilocycles) 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.0; Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 11.2: Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: Special week-end weather forecast. 2.0; Selected recordings.” 3.30; Sports results. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory- 4.30. Sports results. 5.0; Children’s hour, conducted by • Stalky and Company. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30; Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. Re* cordlngs: Grand Symphony Orchestra, 8.8: Webster Booth (tenor). 8.14: Gil Dech (pianoforte). ; 8.20: Araeiita GaliiCurci (soprano). 8.26: Ilja Llvlschakoff Orchestra. 8.32: Harry Dearth (bass). 8 A 0: 3YA Orchestra, conducted by Harold Beck. 8.48: Recording: The Variety Stars, ■‘Non-Stop Variety” (Weston and Lee). 9.0: • Weather report and station notices. 9.5: 3YA Orchestra. 9.14; Cara and Arnaldo (popular songs and duets). 9.26: 3YA Orchestra. 9.30: Recording; John Tilley (humorous monologue). 9.38: Cara and Arnaldo in popular songs and duets. 9.49: 3YA Orchestra. ‘ 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station, 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 5.0 ,p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: A symphonic, programme. 10.0: “Have a Laugh,” a comedy half-hour.

The first, is that those who genuinely feel arid know, that dan.e music mid the usual week-day kind of “variety” programmes have no place in . the traditional Christian Puritan Sunday, have every . 'right to be satisfied. The second is that many people genuinely do not like dance music or the usual kind of vaudeville ©n any day of the week; they are people who cannot seriously sit down and listen to an hour and a half’s music, mirth and melody without having their feelings outraged. "Both these Masses of perp’e may demand satisfaction, and in my opinion they are entitled to have it. 1 Anyone who tries to suggest that lovers of darice music should be able to allay their particular cravings by .means of the wireless, whenever they feel like it, is committing a thoroughly unmoral act. For six days of the week these listeners can tune in to what they want, at any hour of the-day. After all, well over 5(1 per cent, of the total weekly programme is given up /-o light music, vaudeville, and jazz. . There ought to be at least one day on which those who are riot infected by jazz rhythms should .be able to get what they want at any hour. Since Sunday is the traditional day for making mental readjustments to the world, and at a different level in the argument, since its observance is enforced by law, it seems to me fitting that Sunday should be set aside. The ideals of a national broadcasting ser ice should be no lower than those of the best tradition of Christian: teaching.

IYA, AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles)

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.; Breakfast session. 10.0 S Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music:; 1,0 p.m.; District week-end weather forecast. 2.0; Selected recordings. 3.0: Running commentary on Rugby football <fpatch, played at Eden Park. 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s session, conducted by Cinderella, 6.0; Dinner music. 7.0:. News and reports. 7.30: Talk, the gardening expert, “Gardening Work for October.” 8.0; Concert programme. An hour with Gilbert and Sullivan, featuring “The Mikado. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5; Modern dance programme. 10.0: Sports summary, 10.10; Dance programme continued. Alternative station, IYX. 880 kilocycles. 3.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 5.0; Light musical programme. 70. After-dinner music. 8.0: ‘On With the Show,” variety and vaudeville entertainment. 9.0: “A Day in the Army,’ a light continuity programme. 10.0: At the End of the Day.” popular recordings.

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. “.Carving.” 12 noon: Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: Special district week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Light musical programme. 3.0: Sports summary. 3.30: Special weather forecast for farmers. 4.0; o'me signals ■from the -Dominion Observatory. Sports summary. ‘ 5.0: Children’s hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30; Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 7.45: Talk Commissioner Fred H. Adams, "Hope for the Hopeless, or Human Salvability. 8.0; Chimes. A 8.8. C. recorded programme, “Kentucky Minstrels," devised and produced by Harry S. Pepper. 9.0; Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Dance music by Henry Rudolph and his Orchestra (relayed from the Assembly Hall, Brougham street). 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Recorded dance programme from the studio. 10.30: Further dance music by Henry Rudolph and his Orchestra Alternative station. 2YC, 840 kilor cycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0- After-dinner music. 8.0: Classical recital. featuring "•world-famous artists. 9.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 10.0: Light popular programme.

English-Maori

Not long ago I was interested to hear a discussion about the wireless proriunciation of Maori words. The group soon resolved itself into two camps—-the , purists who - were .in favour of the meticulous exactitude practis- by the YA announcers, and the others who looked with suspicion on what they considered to .be pedantry, v I have, no doubt that the announcers pronounce Maori place names with the most correct .standard..accent, yet. for some reason I find it irritating, because, 1 think, they are , so self-conscious about ft. The fact’ that they do s sound self-conscious shows that there is something .wrong., I am well aware of the Ising influence the radio has on language and in many cases I deplore it. I suppose the day of dialects is gone, taking subtle and muscular usage of language with it. Yet I doubt if all fhe efforts of the National Broadcasting Service can hope to overcome the inertia of the ordinary man’s unwillingness to exchange his “accent ‘Britannique” for pure Maori It has taken well over 50 years for New Zealanders to reduce (in their ignorance if you like) ' Maori wotds to a form, which they find easy and convenient to use. Unlovely and mangled;■ as our proir relations of Maori place names may be, they are merely a verbal illustration of Gresham’s Law. The study of any language shows that nr-~ ‘illy there are certain irresistible though unknown fcress for change at wprk, whicl* it is useless tp try to check. A simple illustration of this may be found in the British Broadcasting Co. attempt to change the general pronunciation of the word “idyll” rhyming with “idle,” to make it rhyme with “fiddle.” It failed. And so it is quite likely that the attempt. to change Anglicised Maori' proriunciation' may fail too, ; Since writing this I have been informed by an authority that some of the Maori pronunciations of ur local announcers are open to severe criticism. That makes it even more disquietenlng for a layman like myself. If our announcers nod, to whom , are we to turn? . , Tbe Ait of. Being Appropriate Radio programmes, being of the take-it-or-leave-it variety, it is important that , they , should be planned to evolve naturally. Yet I. have, very often noticed regret some: very unexpected, mutations in the species; For it is difficult

4YA, DUNEDIN (790 Kilocycles)

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.15: Devotional service. 12 noon; Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: District week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30; Sports results. 4.0: Weather forecast for farmers'. "4.45: Sports results. 5.0; Children's session, conducted by Aunt Anita and Cousin Molly. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 8.0: A light orchestral and ballad programme. 4YA Concert Orchestra, conducted by Gfil Dech. 8.10; F. E. Woods (baritone) 8.16: The Orchestra. ‘The Little Guards’ Arrival” (Golwyn); “Autumn Leaves” (Bruno). 8.24: Miss Jess MacMillan (contralto). 8.33: The Orchestra, “Chooiniana,” grand fantasia of the works of Chooin; 8.48: F. E. Woods (baritone). 8.54: The Orchestra. “Turned Up selection (O’Hagan). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Ringside description of professional wrestling match. 10.0 (approx.):• Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station, 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. ,8.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 9.0: Band programme, with spoken and dramatic Interludes, featuring at 9.26, “Superstition,” a dramatic presentation dealing with the fallacious superstition that if you forget something it Is had luck to turn back for it. 10.0: Comedy and light' music, ■ : I DAVENTEY. ENGLAND GSD, 25.53 metres: GSB, 31.55 metres/ (New Zealand Summer Time.) 6.1$ p.m.—Big Ben. “Cobwebs.” A sentimental interlude, with Jack Clarke and his Quintet, Billie Baker, and Patrick Waddington. (Musical arrangements by Jack Clarke). 6.46 p.m.—A short recital by Ellis Keeler (baritone)., “Hope, the Hornblower” (John . Ireland).; "Callao” (Guy Graham). “At. the Mid-hour of Night” (Cowen). "The Little Irish Girl” (Lohr). “A-Boviri”’ (Traditional Sea Chanty), 7.0 pin.—Historical talk. 7.15 p.m.—A short recital by Mario Lorenzi (harp). 7.29 p.m.—Variety. 7.55 p.m.— The news and announcements. 8.15 pjn. —Close down.

SUNDAY

. 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH 9.0 a.m.: Selected' recordings. 11.0: Belay of morning service from Trinity Congregational Church. Organist, Mr Len Boot, choirmaster, Mr W. J. Salkeld. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner, music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 5.30; ’ Children’s song service, conducted by Rev. H. S. Kings, assisted, by the chotldren from gdgewaro;Boad «unday f «chooL- 0.13: Se-

- lected- recordings. 7.0; -Relay, of evening service from Rugby Street ■ Methodist Church. Preacher, Kev. W. A. Burley, M.A., organist, Mr N. Williams, choir- , master, Mr John JCidson. 8.15: Selected 'tirecfardings. • 8.30 1 : Presentation of conv 5 plete recorded opera, “Le Nozze dl Figaro,” opera ’ln four acts . by Mozart. Alternative station. 3YL. 6.0 p.m,: Musical .programme. 8.30: Recital- programme. -• - IYA, 1 AUCKLAND 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Morning ‘ service from St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church. Preacher, Rev. J, A. Thomson.. orgapist, Mr. S. Yallop. l.u p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: L. Goossens (obre), J. Lener (violin), S. Roth (viola) and I. Hartman ' (’cello) present Oboe Quartet in F Major (Mozart). 3.50: Selected recordings. 6.0: > Children's song service, 7.0: ■ Evening service from St. Mary’s Anglican Cathed- ' ral. Preacher, • His Grace Arch Bishop Averill, organist, Mr Edgar Randall. 8.30: Concert by the Auckland Municipal Band, relayed from Albert Park, conductor T. J O’Connor. -Alternative station, IYX. 6.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8.30; “Maori Melodies." a popular cameo. 9.0: Recital programme. 2YA, WELLINGTON ' 9.0 a.m.; Chimes. Selected recordings. 110; Relay of morning service from Wesley Methodist Church, Taranaki street. Preacher, The Rev. Percy Paris, organist and choirmaster, Mr H. Temple-White. 10 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: “Waft of: Heather,” half an hour of recordings of Scottish music .and song. 2.30; Selected recordings, 3.0: Relay of recital from the National War Memorial Carillon. 3.15: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 6.0: Children’s song service, conducted by Uncle Brian, assisted by the children’s choir from St.' John’s Presbyterian Sun - day school. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church. Choirmaster; Mr Frank J. Oakes, organist, Mr Henry Mount. 8.15: Selected recordings. 8.30: Popular Sunday night concert, under the auspices of the Wellington City Council (relayed from the Town Hall). Alternative station, 2YC. 6.0 p.m,: Selected recordings. 8.30: A recital of Spanish music. 4YA, DUNEDIN 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. ■ 11.0; Relay of Matins from St. Paul’s Cathedral. Preacher, Very Rev; G. G. Cruickshank, M.A., organist, Mr E. H. Heywood, F.R.C.O. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 5.30: Children’s song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.30: Relay of service from .First Presbyterian Church, Preacher, Rev. W. Allen Stevely, M.A., organist. Dr. V. E. Galway. 7.45: Selected Recordings. 8.30: A classical programme. Sir Hamilton Harty and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. 8.54; Andre d’Arkor (tenor). 9.0; Weather report and station notices. 9.5; Sir Hamilton Harty and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.. 9,13: Mischa Elman (violin). 9.25: Sir Hamilton Harty and the London Symphony Orchestra, j. 9.37: Muriel Brunskill (contralto). 9.48; sir Hamilton Harty and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Alternative station, 4YO. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30; Band programme, with dramatic; concerted vocal and instrumental interludes.

DAVENTRY, ENGLAND GSD, 25.53 metres: GSB, 31.55 metres, (New Zealand summer time.)

7.15 p.m.; Big Ben. A religious service (Church of England), from Southwell Minster. Order of Service; Hymn. "Around the Throne of God" (A. and M.. 335, S.P., 239). Versicles. Psalm CXLVIII. Lesson. Revelation VII, 9 to end. Nunc Dimlttis. Creed Lord’s Prayer. Anthem, Hymn to the Trinity (Tchaikovsky). Address by the Rt. Rev. the Lord Bishop of Southwell. Hymn, “Saviour Again to Thy Dear Name we Raise” (A. and M„ 31; S.P., 53). Blessing. Organist and Choirmaster, G. T. Francis. 8.6: The 8.8. C Empire Orchestra: leader, Daniel Melsa; conductor. Eric Fogg. Polonaise, Arietta, and Passacaglia (Handel, arr. Harty). Prelude and Dance for Small Orchestra (Miriam Hyde). “A la Cubana"; “Marche Militairc” (Granados). “Scherzo” (Moussorgsky, arr Salaberl). "Gavotte and Musette" (Raff). Selection, “L’Enfant Prodigue” (Wormser). 8.55; Weekly newsletter,, sports summary, and announcements. 9.20: Close down.

If your radio set brings in shortwave stations, buy the N.Z. Radio Record regularly. It gives full shortwave programmes, as well as broadcast a week in advance. 4d. All booksellers. —3

OVERSEA RECEPTOR , -NOTES^' >T J* * ' '■■ ..' ■'••■■ ■■■■, ■ .£j, ■;■ S' ■■'' (Supplied by the New Zealand ■DX Radio Association*)

Distant reception has been noisy in the early evening, but improving after 8 p.nri. North American stations are now heard best from 6.30 to 8 p.m., and many can be heard opening their early morning transmissions from 11 p.m. Stations heard during the week included:—KEßN, Bakersfield, California, 1370 kilocycles, 100 watts, closing at 8 p.m.; KWK, St. Louis, Missouri, 1350 kilocycles, 1000 watts, 6.30 p.m.;

'KTFI, Twin Falls, Idaho, 1240 kilocycles, 1000 watts, 7.15 p.xn.; 4GR, Toowoomba, 1000 kilocycles, 500 watts, 9 jfcm.; 2AD, Armidale, 1080 kilocycles, 100 watts, 10 p.m.; 3TR, Sale, 1240 kilocycles, 500 watts, 8 p.m.; ZJV, Suva, Fiji, 910 kilocycles, 400 watts, can now be heard from 6 p.m. KPDN, Pampa, Texas, 1310 kilocycles. 100 watts, will transmit a special DX programme from 7.30 to 9 p.m. to-day.