VISITING ARTIST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 45, 23 February 1939, Page 22

VISITING ARTIST

Light entertainment programmes from the YA stations will shortly feature Josef Kaartinen, Finnish saxophonist. Many listeners will recall this young musician's visit to New Zealand in 1937, when he was heard in care-fully-selected programmes from the main stations. Under engagement to the N. 8.5., Mr. Kaartinen begins his second Dominion tour on Tuesday, March 21, when he will perform from the 2YA studios. Born in Finland in 1914, Josef Kaartinen began his musical career at the age of three as a boy soprano in a choir. Three years later, in order to study harmony and arrangement, he joined the Finnish National Conservatorium, from which Professors Sibelius, Jernefelt, Scheevoigh, and many other world-famous musicians graduated. It was just at this time that the saxophone became enormously popular in Finland, and highly-qualified teachers were imported from America. Mr. Kaartinen decided to devote himself specially to the saxophone, and at the age of ten was invited by the Swedish National Broadcasting organisation to visit Stockholm, where he played for an audience which included King Gustav of Sweden. He subsequently played in various centres of Europe, mainly for broadcasting companies, and made several records in Paris and Berlin. At the early age of fourteen he held the positions of dance band leader and arranger at the j "Moulin Rouge," Paris. He was sub-' sequently offered a five years' film contract in America, but on account of his health decided, instead, to go to Australia, I In Australia he has won a great many championships for saxophone. He has been teacher and demonstrator of the saxophone in one of Australia's largest music stores and has played on several occasions for film productions.