MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

CJiff Edwards, more popularly known as " Ukelelo Ike," is a master player, who knows to perfection how to blend his voico with the ukulele. On a recent Columbia record ho trolls out two popular hits, " Mo and the Man in the Moon and " I Can't Make Her Happy," in his inimitatjle style, lie is one of the most popular artists of his class.

John McCormack knows his public well, ,".nd in his recordings gives them the songs they want. His latest disc for Ills Master's Voice embraces two old favourites, ' Silver Threads Among tho Gold and " When Vou And 1 Were Young, Maggie." lln invests both with that lyric charm which he employs so success fully in other more difficult selections and the record is oortain of popularity.

The Wurlitzer organ seems peculiarly fitted for recording, and Leslie James, organist at the New Gallery Cinema, London, has made for Ilis Master's Voice a fino record bracketing thai, old favourite, " Lily of Laguna," with " Just Imagine," from (lie musical comedy " Good News." The first is an nir with a subtle appeal which has lasted through a number of years, and James gives it a brilliantly coloured rendering.

John Coates has long boon famous for his great artistry and for the fine qualities of his song recordings of Elizabethan songs are remarkable for their delightful vocalism. On a new Columbia record he pairs " It Was a Lover and His Lass"—ono of the very greatest, of songs with Whitaker's " Dinphenia " and Crisp's "0 Mistress Mine," and all three aro fascinatingly sung with very clear and characteristic diction.

A Columbia record of particularly wide appeal, 13 a pair of ducts by two popular singers, Hubert Eiedell, tenor, and .Dora Labbette, one of the principals of the British National Opera Company. Their voices blend excellently, for both are characterised by subtlety rather than force, and purity rather than volume. '1 hey sing two remarkably clever arrangements of tho oM favourites, " Liebestraum" and tho " Londonderry Air," to an effective accompaniment by the J. H. Squire Celeste Octet.

The many fine symphony orchestras in the United States are being fully exploited by Ilis Master's Voice, and (lie latest combination to enter tho recording lists is the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, whivh has contributed Chabrier's " Spanish Rhapsody." Hi is is a colourful piece of music with plenty of tire and sparkle in tho orchestration. The Detroit players, under Ossip Gabrilowitsch, give a finished performance and show complete mastery of tho technical difficulties which abound in tho selection.

It has remained for Mile. Cccile Chaminado to prove that women are not altogether unrepresented in musical compositon. 'this Parisientio has to her credit several major works, which have attracted attention, but her best effort has undoubtedly been in what is generallv known as salon music. " Tho Scarf Dance," and " The Flatterer," aro essentially feminine in mood: graceful tunes which set tho heart a-lilting. The competent Columbia Symphony Orchestra has given a competent reading of both on a new record.

Peter Dawson now seems to bo at the height of his powers. His " Song of the Flea " is one of tho finest recordings of tho year to date and he has followed this by another His Master's Voice disc combining Maseiield's poem. " Cargoes," with a setting by Martin Shaw, and ono of Granville liantock's rollicking songs of ilio sea, " Captain Harry Morgan." Both show in a most favourable light Dawson's undoubted powers as an interpretive artist. His phrasing arid enunciation arc perfect. To say that the record is typical of Peter Dawson is to say that it is one of the best in the July "list and should meet with an appreciative public.

Among tho latest Columbia issues is a most fascinating group of Spanish tonepaintings, full of sunlight and colour and romance. " Ilberia" was composed for piano by Albeniz, and brilliantly scored for a large modern orchestra by Arbos„ the distinguished conductor. Tho movements are founded to a large extent on Spanish dance-rhythms, and only a national orchestra can give the full flavour of this music. " The Corpns-Christi Festival at Seville," with its blaze of fortissimo and its final, vanishing pianissimo, sets a severe test for performance and reproduction—a test that is passed with flying colours.

That practico makes perfect is an axiom abundantly proven bv the La Scala Chorus recording for Columbia two of Verdi's most overwhelming choruses, " La Ternpesta " and " Fuoco di gibia," from " Otello." It used to be regarded as almost impossible to do full justice to these, but they are executed with the utmost ease and vigour. The grand body of tono surges with rhythmic energy. Like a disciplined army the singers sweep to their breathless climaxes, and the record never flags for a moment. Tho truth and sincerity of tho tone, even at its very loudest, is amazing and the solo passages and the orchestration corno out with unfailing clearness and' accuracy.

If, when she visits New Zealand later in the year, Dusolina Giannirii, the young soprano, can give us anything approaching her recording of " Madre, pcitosa Vergine," ono of the great musical moments from Verdi's " Forza del Destino," the success of her tour is assured. Sho has a magnificent mezzo voice of wonderful purity, which sho combines with a phenomenal range and a consummate mastery of dramatic expression. Hearing this Ilis Master's Voico record, it is not difficult to understand why Giannini is a rising star in tho operatic firmament. Tho choral and orchestral background on the record serve as an admirablo setting for the peerless voice of the young singer.

Edgar Walhicc (master of thrills), has written a " thriller," specially for tho gramophone, which has never been published or produced in any other form, and gives it to the world in his own voice. In crisp, dramatic style, 110 retails the exciting incident of " Tho Man in the Ditch." .\ lonely road closo by' tiie scene of a murder, a wrecked car, the crouching man in tho ditch, memories of a criminal feud, a shot, a woman intent to kill, theso are some of tho things with which this famous writer grips flic listener. -Right up to the end and the astonishing revelation in tho last utterances, the interest is held. This is a new recording lensation in every sense of tho word, and is a notable triumph for the j Columbia Company. I

The Quartet in 0. Minor was written by Debussy in 1393, and at that time was something absolutely new in chamber music—nev. in melody, harmony and form. Though its novelty aroused instant opposition, its genius and charm quickly won for it a durable popularity among music lovers. It seems strange that, having achieved so striking a success with tins form at his Jirst effort. Debussy should abandon it, for over. Tho Loner •String Quartet of Budapest, givi; a capital rendering for Columbia of the Quartet, which was one of the most successful items of their triumphal tour of Britain last year, 'lho records are brilliantly at* mosphoric, sparkling with ethereal 'halflights, and tho fairy-liko glamour that Debussy know so well how to evoke. The tone is sharp and clean, and (ho melodic lines arc crisply defined throughout. This is one of tho Loner Quartet's lincst productions to dale.