MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20898, 13 June 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

Two of the prettiest tunes in waltz time, issued during recent months are, " The Love of a Gvpsy " and " Greetings of Spring," which have been recorded for Columbia by the Russian Novelty Orchestra. This is an excellent combination of players, and the novelty effects they secure are really novel. The record deserves to be fairly popular. " I Hear You Calling Mo," and " My Ain Folk," are two popular items sung by the Macstros, which have been released by Columbia. The singing is very musicianly and the voices blend to perfection, giving a quite unusual dark colour to the ensemble. The songs bracketed on this disc are well-known and well loved, and they need no introduction to music lovers. One of the best records yet produced of that rousing song, " The Old Brigade," is the version given by Denis Noble, a baritone in the Columbia lists. The singing is very virile, and Noble's voice is one of which any baritone might well be proud. The folk melody, " When Dull Care," which occupies the other side, is in a contrasting vein, and' makes . an admirable foil to tho roystcring soldier ditty. Two o>gan selections are contributed by Arthu^Moale, the organist of the Central Hall, Westminster, to the His Master's Voice June catalogue. The titles are very well-known, the Intermezzo from Mascagni's " Cavalleria Rusticana," and the Barcarolle from Offenbach's " Tales of Hoffmann." Both numbers are very sympathetically played in the conventional style, and they should find many admirers. The Salon Orchestra is a groujf which has come prominently before the eye of music lovers during the last few months. It has presented several very charming orchostral numbers, and its work has been characterised by neatness and close attention.to the demands of its subjects. Its latest release for His Master'a Voice is the waits, " Thousand and One Nights," which is an arrangement by Schmalstich of some of the best-known of Strauss waltz melodies. Micha Elman, who has confirmed the widely held opinion that he is one of the great fiddlers of the present day, has made a delightful record for His Master's Voice, of two popular numbers. These are Raff's " Cavatina," and Dvorak's " Humoreske," Op. 101, No. 7.—two numbers which need no introduction to the lover of violin music. The purity and sweetness of Elman's tone are recorded with absolute fidelity, and the record should be greatly sought after. For those who appreciate the peculiar charm of accordeon. musio, a record ap- a pearing in the His Master's Voice June catalogue has much to recommend iU t It consists, of two Spanish dancea, a tango and a paso double, played by M.' Vola. The tango, " Rosa," is a very" fine piece of work, and the voluptuous rhythm which this dance demands is very well maintained. The reverse Gide contains " Flor D'Espagne," the paso double, which is very fine, though not quite up to the standard of its companion number. Albert W. Ketelbey's " Reverie " entitled " The Sacred Hour " is ond of this well-known composer's most widoly enjoyed pieces. Together with " The Monastery Garden '' and " The Persian Market," and are real land-marks in popular British music. On a recent Columbia record, Quentin Mclcan, the brilliant organist of the Regal Cinema, London, has given a two-part version of Ketelbey's devotional piece, on tho Christie unit organ. During part of this deeply-felt music, a quartet is heard in a Latin chant—rather reminiscent of " The Monastery Garden. The record is an excolleut one. Two of the most delightful pieces of orchestral music to be released for some time, are tho two waltz selections which Marek Weber has recorded for His Master's Voice. On the first side, grouped under the title of " Old Vienna," are somo of the best melodies of Lqnner, the founder of that most sparkling form of music, tho Viennese waltz. Although his successor, Joliann Strauss, has rather overshadowed the merits of Lanner, his waltzes possess a freshness and charm which is still with them over 90 years since they wore written. On the reverse side is a fascinating waltz by Gung'l, " Amorettontanzc," which is a worthy companion piece. The playing of Marek Weber's orchestra leaves no room for criticism. '