RECORDED MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 15

RECORDED MUSIC

The “His Master’s Voice” concern, which recently celebrated its silver jubilee, has been a benefactor to one of the world's smallest mdustnes—the making of cartoons. JHe dog; design has been adopted by cartoonists in every European and most other countries: the dog itself has masqueraded as Mr Joseph Chamberlain. Mr Asquith. Air A. J. Balfour Mr Lloyd George, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and many others. Its latest incarnation occurred during the Australian shipping trouble when the strikers marched through Fremantle with a banner showing Mr Shin well ns the dog listening to a, gramophone labelled “ Inchcapo and Havelock Wilson.’’ _ , . Florence Austral is regarded ns ore of the best recording artists in Hantic 1ian airs. Her latest record is ot Ret Me Wander Not Unseen, and on the rever’se, Sullivan’s ’ Orpheus With bus Lute.’ These are delightfully rendered, and the singing ot the long phrase with its climax near the end is a wonderful piece of work. ft is not generally known, say san official of the H.M.Y. Company, which 'ins just celebrated its silver jubilee, “ that Caruso’s whole career was very largely influenced by ten gramophone records which he made for the column- at the fee (then the largest ever paid) of £IOO for the loti These wove heard by n director of the Metropolitan Opera. New York, who played tnera to his co-directors, whereupon a, nv rahled for Caruso to appear at tho Metropolitan, which he continued to do until tho time of his death. If nowadays a- request is mode alter dinner for “a little music” from the gramophone, on sociable occasions, there is virtually no limit to what may bo provided. The whole world of music, from jazz to Beethoven s quartets *is represented in the record-pub-lishers’ lists. There is something m these lists for everyone—from the lowes* or negroid browed to the most impressive of elevations!—save only for the deaf The most remarkanle thing about recent developments of recordnSg is undoubtedly the attention given bv the big firms to the masterpieces of music. It is curious that tins is peculiarly a British development, not paralleled in America. The symphonies and quartets, the concertos, and the excerpts from W’agnenaii operas, winch now pour from the factories, are a credit both to the enterprise of tho firms and to the taste of tneir cuschild wouldn’t love the little records which the Gramophone Co. produce for the little folks.-' Tine o Charlie’s Album” is a typical example that will keep children amused tor hours. These records include the Pixie Fiddler,’ * Stars and Moonbeams * Tho Cuckoo Clock, Miss Priscilla Pris ’ ‘Are the Blue Moon Fair.' ‘ Bubble Land,’ and ‘The Brown Family ’ There is also a duet recorded by Uncle Charlie and Aunt Agnes, called ' General Jack.' What is it about the pipes that causes the pulse to quicken at the sound of them? Liam Walsh is regarded at Home as i}ie finest exponent of the Irish pipes Giving to-day, and four traditional airs, including two r»e!s. will stir the blood of more than the Irisli theniselves. The charm ol the country dance will never die, and

(he Scotch Country Danco Orchestra (conducted by J. Michael Diak) contributes ‘Triumph’ and ‘The Haymakers,' two Gaelic reels that will bo accorded a warm welcome, and ‘ Highland Fling’ and ‘Grand Old Duke,’ two other fine traditional tunes. Tlie demand for tango records lias brought out a large supply from various sources. The Varaldi band gives us a further lot—‘Sunny Havana, ‘ La Mantilla.’ and others—with marked accents; and even more interesting are tho performances of tho Rio Grande Tango Band, which apparently uses the big-toned concertina to give the music its characteristic timbre. Referring to the gramophone debut of Madame Melius, a London reviewer says: “There is a new coloratura, but I am quite confident of her completely cordial reception. Rarely indeed does a soprano give such an extraordinary display of virtuosity on a record. Madame Melius has chosen for her first record the second of tho two arias sung by the ‘ Queen of tho Night.’ This song is probably the hardest ever written for a. soprano voice, for it contains no less than twenty-eight high C’s, and the singer has to reach the incredible note of F in alt no less than four times. It is enough to make any ordinary singer weep with mortification, but Madame Melius sings with such charming assurance and sure capability that one fails completely to notice that feats of simply marvellous brilliancy are being performed. An astonishing record!”