WIRELESS NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 20 November 1937, Page 15

WIRELESS NOTES

NEWS AND NOTES Comedy Harmonists The Comedy Harmonists commenced their tour of the national stations last Tuesday when they gave a half hour’s recital from IVA. The arrival ol the famous sextet has been awaited with great interest and they did not disappoint. The reception in Nelson was marred by static, but it was nevertheless a highly enjoyable programme. The Comedy Harmonists included both light and classical numbers, and their treatment of these was delightful. The blend and tonal balance were perfect. It was dillieult to believe that the orchestral version of "In a Persian Market” was done only by human voices and a piano, The Harmonists were also heard in a public concert on Wednesday and will be featured again to-night. Maori Songs from Germany A unique broadcast from Germany was heard in Wanganui on tltli November, says a Wanganui paper. The programme was intended for Australian and New Zealand listeners and included a number of Maori songs sung by a German choir with orchestral accompaniment. Those who are familiar with Maori music were intrigued by the treatment of such well known songs as “Waiata Poi” and “Waiata Maori,” sung in English by German artists. “Waiata Poi,” which is supposed to be sung in a spirited manner, representing the rhythm of the poi dance, was given a dirge-like tempo and any Maoris who happened to be listening to the broadcast must have been amused by this interpretation of one of their favourite songs. It was finite apparent that the German artists had never seen a poi dance, otherwise they would have known that this descriptive song should be taken much faster. Industrial use for Valves Another industrial application for valves has been found in a watch regulating amplifier, a device by means of which a watch may be accurately regulated in a few minutes. The watch is placed upon a microphone and its “tick” is compared electrically with that of a standard clock, a visual fast or slow indication being given instantaneously. The watch may be, therefore, quickly adjusted. The same device is also useful for indicating the nature of internal defects, faults such as bent balance wheels, worn pinions, or cracked jewels having distinctive sounds in headphones. GUEST CONDUCTORS AT WLW

By presenting well-known authorities on music as guest conductors, WLW is providing for listeners a greater understanding of the music of the musters. Familiar personalities in the music world are being brought to the microphone in a serif.; of operettas from the pens of noted composers, and on the first broadcast which featured guest commentators Frederick Yciser, music critic of the "Cincinnati Enquirer,” was heard. Eugene Goossens, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and internationally known composer, was the guest commentator of the concert on 2b'th October. Recently returned from his native England, Goossens is busying himself in preparation for one of the greatest seasons in the history of the 42-year-old Cincinnati Symphony. This year the conductor plans to introduce two new symphonies. Immediately upon his arrival in England early in the summer he went to work rehearsing his own opera, “Don Juan dc Manara,” which was given its premiere at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, on 24th June. During his summer vacation the Cincinnati conductor also orchestrated some works he plans to play this year.

Decision to alternate the WLW concerts with operettas every two weeks j was reached by programme officials of I the nation’s station following hundreds of requests from listeners. Two years , ago the station presented condensed versions of several operas, which were received with wide acclaim. Artists to be heard in the new series will include the outstanding stars of the station and members of the faculties of both the Cincinnati College of Music and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. RABAUL SERVICE OPENED Mr ,J. S. Duncan, Deputy-Director, Posts and Telegraphs, Sydney, on behalf of the Postmaster-General, officially opened the radio telephone service between Australia and Rabaul. During the course of his conversation with General McNicol, the Administrator at Rabaul. Mr Duncan said he hoped the new means of communication would prove of great value to the people of the Mandated Territory, and he wished to convey, on behalf of the Postmaster-General and on his own behalf, the hope that the service will fulfil ail expectations. ; Mr Duncan stated that his departi incut and the manufacturers are working in happy and close co-operation in the provision of other overseas telephone services, and he felt sure that so far as that co-operation can make it so, the new telephone service will prove a valuable link in the general telephone system. Alter the official opening ceremony had been carried out four calls were dealt with, covering in all 17 paid minutes. The general comment was to the effect that the radio telephone service with Rabaul had proved un excellent circuit and given full satisfaction to its users on the opening day. The Rabaul telephone service will be open daily, except Sundays, between 11 a.m. and noon. It is linked up with tiie telephone service throughout Australia, and therefore calls may be made between any part of the Commonwealth where telephone service is available and Rabaul.

FOOTBALL TELEVISED ARSENAL PLAYERS IN BBC PROGRAMME FROM HIGHBURY Football was successfully televised from a club ground for the first time on Kith and 17th September, when the BBC Mobile Television Unit visited the ground of the Arsenal Football Club at Highbury, London. Tactics on the field, shooting at goal, heading, dribbling, and goal-keeping were demonstrated

’ i to viewers by first-eleven and reserve | players of the club, who were seen I in close-ups as well as in long-shots. A ■ ; match between the first and reserve ■ elevens was the subject of tNe pre* 1 ' liininary tests, during which clear pici lures of the whole of the ground and the progress of play were obtained, it being possible to loilow with ease the , Right of the bull. : George F. Allison, the well-known ' loot ball commentator, who is manager | of the Arsenal Club, made his teJc- ’ vision debut in this broadcast by intro- ! ducing the players before the camera, j Since bis first broadcast commentary jin 11)27, Allison has described in BBC programmes more than a hundred j matches, outstanding among which, ol ; course, were the finals of the Association Cup at Wembley. Three cameras were used for the : broadcast; one on the stands, to give a j comprehensive view of the ground, and two others near the goal-mouth, to give close-ups ot the play and visual interviews. Radio communication with Alexandra Palace, three and a half i 111 ilcs away, was used. The signals were I i a dialed from the Arsenal ground by' | a mobile transmitter and picked up at i the television station for rebroadcastI ing from the station’s transmitters.