MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 8 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

jazz music continues its wonderful hold upon the (lancing and gramophone public. There must bo a syncopated streak in our psychological make-up, or the vogue would have died down long ago. Among some recent, records that have attracted the writer by their infectious lilt and pleasing melody is the Savoy Orpheans " Waltz arid Hum a Little Tune," to which is bracketed an excellent recording of " All Alone." This is a good double disc. The Orpheans, who have been turning out many good records of late, have in association with the Savoy Havana Band and the Selma Four given us this month a

" Savoy English Medley," to which is bracketed on a 12-inch disc a delightful

" Fantasie " of syncopated favourites. Both of these are one steps.

Among the Savoy Orpheans' latest foxtrots are: "By the, Lake"—"Ogo Pogo" ;

"All Alone with You in a Little Ren-dezvous"—-"Dream-maker of Japan"; " Dreary Weather " —" Bagdad " ; " One of a Million " —" In Shadowland." There are also two lovely waltzes which you must, hear—" I Love the Moon " and the companion number "Serenade" ("Millions of Harlequins ").

If, as Battistini has so often stated, physical fitness is essential to good singing, Eric Marshall, the brilliant young baritone whose, first records will lie here, shortly, is a true follower of the great veteran's system. He is a fine horseman and a regular rider to hounds. His principal vocal training was with the late Jean do Reszke, also the late Professor Darowski, Madame, Fernandez Ren tharn, and Madame Gertrude Hubbard. His first stage appearance was in revue at the New Oxford Theatre, but on the outbreak of war he joined the London Scottish, and was invalided out of the army in 1916. He then had the distinction of playing " principal boy " in Drury Lane pantomime, after which he toured with the late George Edwardes' companies as principal baritone. 'I hen followed some more pantomime engagements, until the outstanding quality of his singing attracted the notice of Sir Thomas Beccham, who engaged him for his season at Convent Garden. Since that time Eric Marshall's rise has been rapid. He has toured with Tctrazzini, Melba, and other great artists, and is also a welcome, attraction at the Royal Albert Hall Sunday concerts.

" Your liddle hangs on its nail, of that lam pretty sure." So wrote. Mozart's father to the composer just .after the com position of his five great violin concertos, one. of which, the 1) major, has been recorded entire by Kreisler. with accompanying orchestra conducted by Sir Landon* Ronald. Mozart himself, it is in foresting to know, played this concerto in public, and as we listen to the music it is evident that. the composer knew and loved the instrument for which the music is written. One. feels sure, too. that Kreisler's playing would have delighted the old master by its purity of tone and that simplicity of stylo, which is one of the essentials of great art. These, are. wonderful records, and one must not forget the exquisite accompaniments.

During the week-end the writer entertained himself with Puccini's melodious opera "La Tosca." This opera is less familiar to the public than the composer's" favourite "La Boheme " or Madame Butterfly," but-is nevertheless a very conspicuous work, .treated with Puccini s characteristic wealth of melody and lovely orchestration. Grand opera enthusiasts should certainly hear this set. It is less expensive than most of the others, as there are fewer discs in the set.

Wagner's impulse to compose, from his dramatic rather than his musical instincts is well illustrated in " Parsifal," which was not to be heard in full outside of Bayreuth for thirty years. It was once described by that trenchant critic John F. Runciman, as " that disastrous and evil opera," hut- of the sublimity of its music there is no question. It is becoming widely known in England from perforances of the opera itself as well as much of the music, the latter through the medium of the New Queen's Hall Orchestra and Sir Henry Wood. Norman Allin, the dramatic English basso, has had recorded already much from Wagner, singing in English. His latest records have been taken from " Parsifal," and they arc (1) The story of the old hero, Titurel, as told by Gumemanz, tTio personage through whose aid Parsifal is ablo to accomplish his task, and (2) Guru,-man/ rebuke of the hero of tho opera for his killing of tho swan in English, beginning " Thou could 1 st do murder," The re--<-ds will appeal with force to lovers of Wagner.

" Zigeunerweisen," anil " Zapaleatlo, | the inevitable Sarasato numbers played j by solo violinists who feel that their technical difficulties can bo surmounted ! with comparative ease, are the records , iust made of fino performances by Leo j Strockoff, tho Russian violinist, whoso t tone is invariably pure and rich, and who records with eonspicious success.

"Death and Transfiguration" (Tod unil Verklaerung), tho symphonic poem of Richard Strauss, is one of the latest recordings, «' It is noteworthy, too, for the fact that its performance by the Royal Philharmonic, Orchestra, directed bv'Bruno Walter, is the first made for this purpose. Many musicians regard this work as the crowning achievement of Strauss' genius. It is music for the studio rather than the home, and may be described as an essentially programme piece. The story that the music tells i:founcled on fact, epitomising the thoughts and feelings of the composer during a serious illness in 1883. The poem was composed in 1889. It depicts in unforgettable music terms the sensation of a man dying in loneliness. He has just emerged from a paroxysm and fallen asleep. and in his sleep he dreams of his childhood. This dream is the subject of a singularly beautiful melody first heard on the oboe and later taken up as a violin solo. The harp and woodwind are used with uncanny musical knowledge of their capabilities in the orchestra. But delirium returns, death follows, and after that, transfiguration. The set of records, five of six sides, is one, that will make a strong appeal to the trained musician and advanced pupils, especially if the latter are studying orchestral music.