RECORDED MUSIC

Evening Star, Issue 19724, 26 November 1927, Page 18

RECORDED MUSIC

[By Euato.]

DUNEDIN GRAMOPHONE SOCIETY. Formed'with the laudable object of guiding musical appreciation among gramophone enthusiasts, the Dunedin Gramophone Society must commend itself to all keen “ gramophilea ” in the city. The membership is far from satisfactory from the numerical point of view, and the society, which is a comparatively young body, deserves more support than it has been accorded in tho past. The committee has been active in promoting the interests of tho society, and it is now on a fairly sound basis. The success of an organisation such as this, however, really depends upon the measure of practical sympathy of the owners of gramophones and all interested in records and recordings. The society offers a great deal to those who have ; or wish to have, a thorough appreciation of music in all its phases, and gramophiles should rally round and support a movement which will undoubtedly further their own enjoyment to an appreciable extent. The monthly recitals of the society have covered a wide variety of subjects, and many pleasant evenings have been spent by the members.. Despite the unfavorable weather conditions prevailing on Tuesday night there was a good attendance of numbers at the monthly gathering. The president (Mr H. J. Finlay) occupied tho chair. No set programme had been arranged, and it was- decided to devote tho evening to the music of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Vocal and instrumental numbers from ‘ lluddigorc,’ ‘ Pinafore,’ ‘ The Gondoliers,’ ‘The Mikado,’ and tho other operas were heard and commented upon. This recital was especially interesting in view of the recent season of Gilbert and Sullivan in Dunedin. A pleasing selection of Records from the various companies was taken and demonstrated on a H.M.V. bungalow model. HIGHBROW BURGLARS. Scotland Yard officials are investigating a mysterious burglary epidemic which has broken out on the English south coast. The thieves are experts at their work, and have provided the police with only one clue —that they are burglars with a highbrow taste in music. Tho premises robbed have invariably been the shops of better-class music dealers, and it is evident that tho stocks of gramophone records have always been carefully picked over in a search for the very best music. Only “His Master’s Voice” records are taken, and on each occasion every copy of tho famous ‘ Hear My Prayer ’ record by tho Temple Church Choir has disappeared. Other favorites of the 1 robbers are Beethoven’s ‘Violin ConI oerto,’ with Kreislcr as soloist, Tschai- ■ kowsky’s ‘ Symphony Patbetique,’ and i any songs by Chaliapin. i At first glance this would appear to !be a publicity “stunt” emanating : from tho agile brain of a Press agent, i However, these thefts have actually ‘ taken place, and are puzzling tho police ■ and delighting tho gramophone people. GRAMOPHONE TIPS.' A contributor to the ‘ Gramophone ’ supplies some interesting and practical hints for the information of gramopliiles. His “Do’s” are: (a) Have youi gramophone attended to by an experienced mechanic twice a year, (b) Find out the playing capacity of your gramophone and see that it plays the full number of records at each winding. (c) Play records at the correct speed; to test the speed wind up the machine, place a record on the turntable, and insert a piece of white paper under the edge of the record, and then ' play it in the usual _ manner, counting tho number _of times the paper passes a given point—namely, 78 or 80 times per minute, or adjust as necessary. The “ Don'is ” follow: (a) Don’t iorget that all machines require lubrication periodically, (b) Don’t leave tho spring wound np when not in use. (c) Don’t wind np after each record (except only spring machines), (d) Don’t run the machine too fast and then complain about blast and screech, (e) Don’t use steel needles more than once -—needles arc less expensive than records. (f) Don’t interfere with tho sound reproducer; as t his is the soul of the gramophone, ami has been as- | semhied and tested by a specialist. A CELEBRATED RECORD. One of tho most famous of His Master’s Voice records was made by Caruso and Frances Alda, who recently toured her native New Zealand, after many years us prima donna of tlio Metropolitan Opera House in New' York, of which her husband,Giulio Gatti-Casazza, is tho Napoleonic director. To mark the occasion of her return to England, the ‘ Miserere ’ from ‘ll Trovatorc ’ has been reissued by tho Gramophone Company. In passing, tho fine balance and firm attack and release of the choral portions may be referred to with admiration. Aida's voice is hero heard to he fully responsive to the mingled dramatic and florid demands made upon poor Leonora, besides possessing tho brightness so characteristic of those from this side of the world, it makes fittingly with tho unapproachable Caruso’s, The other side of this disc is occupied by Caruso and Schumann-lieink in the duet, ‘ Ai nostri monti,’ from tho same opera. CORTOT PRESENTS FAMOUS WALTZ. Alfred Cortot, in ‘ Invitation to tho Waltz’ (Weber). H.M.V., DABSS. in tho days when Weber w'rote his altogether charming ‘ invitation to the Waltz' (1817), the waltz was something quite now and (like the Charleston nowadays) was denounced by sedate matrons as “immodest.” But it was in their time a gay and sprightly dance, and went with- a swing which makes our modern waltz seem a melancholy affair. So in this piece wo may easily imagine the young gentleman carrying on a decorous conversation with the young lady with an “Empire” waist, and later leading her from the conservatory (surely full of aspidistra?) to the gaily crowded ballroom—there to enter into the dance with tremendous gusto, quite undismayed by the rows of chaperons lining the walls. PHILADELPHIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. 1 Rienzi,’ Overture (three parts)— ‘Twilight of tho Gods’ (Wagner). Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, under Stokowski. H.M.V., EDJ—4. Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra of over 100 players have made a fine electrical recording of the overture to Wagner’s first successful opera, ‘ Rienzi.’ The opening theme of Rienzi’s prayer, played by the lower strings, reveals a quality and richness that, trerely, brings something new to recorded music. In the in-spring concluding scene of the ‘ Twilight of the Gods,’ Brunuhilde has leaped into the funeral pyre of the slain Siegfried. The castle of Walhalla, paid for with stolen Rliluegold treasure, js burning, with its gods and heroes. Tho Rhine has overflowed its banks, and the three Rhino maidens come to reclaim the King of tho Nibelungs. Tho tottering majesty of tho Walhalla motive, the floating song of the maidens, the curse of Alberich, die out beneath the pure and exalted strains of Wagner’s greatest motive, the ‘ Redemption of the World by Love.’ ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. “ Organ ” writes: Can you inform me what organ ‘ The Lost Chord ’ (played

by Gatty Sellars) is recorded on?—Tins number, with Handel’s * Largo,’ played by C, Whitaker-Wilson, on the reverse, was recorded on the grand organ of the Kingsway Hall, London. (C1,2J7.) “Erato” will be pleased to,answer any queries relating to records and recordings in/this, column. Any contributions will be welcomed.