RADIO IN THE HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21880, 16 August 1934, Page 5

RADIO IN THE HOME

SPECIAL CONCERT RELAY CHOSTIAKOFF TO SING HAYDN'S " CREATION " TO-NIGHT BY ALL-WAVE The broadcasting of the Robin Hood pageant by IYA -was very much appreciated, though one would have welcomed a shortening of the latter portion of the broadcast, consisting as it did of occasional comments superimposed on a background of scuffling and of vague music. For some unexplained reason the transmitter remained on the air until a very late hour after this broadcast, perhaps catching up on its schedule. This extra time served to annoy some people who had been patiently waiting for IYA to close down bo that they could get in some delicate dial twisting in their efforts to outdo the other fellow on distant reception. It is amazing how many otherwise sober and normal-minded individuals will sit up until the wee small hours to log some weakly received foreign Btation. Specially fine and interesting programmes are available from IYA tonight and to-morrow evening. To-night IYA on relay from the Pitt Street Methodist Church will put on the air Haydn's oratorio " Creation," with Madame Cora Melvin .(soprano), Roger Errington (tenor) and Frank Sutherland bass) taking the principal parts, and with Mr. Edgar Randal at the organ. Friday night we shall enjoy from the same station, free from static disturbances, Senia Chostiakoff in a ballad programme consisting mostly of wellknown items. The singer is to be accompanied by Paul Vinogradoff.who will render on the piano the concert paraphrases of both " Faust " and " Rigoletto." It is unfortunate that this programme should have been set down for a I* riday evening when so many listeners are obliged to spend the evening shopping.

It was the writer's good fortune to hear the education session from lxA last Tuesday afternoon. Both Mr. Garry and Mr. Fisher are to he congratulated on their talks, which bore evidence of most careful preparation and were intensely interesting and instructive. Though intended primarily for school children, every Ne»- Zealander should be in possession of the outline of the early' history of the. colony, put forward in these lectures. " Changing Conditions in China," a talk from 2YA on Tuesday evening, covered observations gleaned over a 33-year period of residence in that country. The lecturer, the Rev, G. H. McNeur, dealt with his subject in its general aspects in a thorough and most convincing manner and stated his conviction that in the fullness of time the peoples of China would be united into one great nation.

Two American stations despairing of any really practicable television system being evolved for some considerable time have embarked on what they call "facsimile" broadcasts. The transmitters are as complicated as a television plant but the receivers are simple affairs, smaller even than a mantel receiver. The facsimile receiver is attached to the ordinary broadcast set. It consists of subsidiary apparatus which actuates a rapidly moving fountain pen which reproduces on a wide paper tape the illustrations or text put before the transmitter. It will give perfect reproduction of cartoons,_ line drawings, or printed text, but is limited in its application to still pictures and its speed on text does not exceed 40 words a minute. It is therefore useful only as an adjunct to a broadcast in that it will record news when one is not listening in or will record fashion designs or cartoons.

The broadcast description of the test football match last Saturday from IYA was disappointing. Firstly, it was difficult to follow the commentary. Apparently because of the well known vagaries of short wave the speech, not infrequently, was mushy and distorted so that listening became a strain. Slightly better reception was had through 2YA. Secondly, the sporting announcer was apparently not too familiar with the identity of each player and his narrative suffered in consequence, as in his endeavours to determine the names of the players concerned he lost the thread of the play. Lastly, it is hardly necessary to add that even the result of the game was disappointing.

Sunday evening the after-church programmes of both IYA and 2YA offered excellent fare. It was regrettable that some different programme arrangement permitting of one hearing both the band programme from IYA and also the recorded version of Puccini's "La Boheme" from 2YA had not been possible. In the pious hope that La Boheme" would later bo put on the air from IYA one enjoyed the band programme and the supporting soprano solos of Miss Taylor" and cornet solos o£ Mr. Bowes.

The extended dance session from IYA last night does not arise from any change of programme policy in the direction of the much desired consolidation of stray disjointed hours of dance music into one worth-whilo session. The somewhat extended period was due to the fact that later in the week the dance hours are curtailed slightly to permit of dovetailing programmes.

Each London policeman has a midget radio receiver accurately tuned to the police broadcast fitted inside his helmet. The larger British and American cities have their patrol cars equipped with radio transmitters and receivers. But Ahieriea has found that standard and even special vehicles so equipped are too slow and not sufficiently mobile for the running down of criminals. The Police Department has therefore evolved a radio-equipped motor-cycle corps. Each motor-cycle has its own transmitter and. as each machine is capable of much higher speeds than any car and can, in addition, thread its way through traffic congestion, great things arc hoped of this special corps.

The DX Challenge Cup was won recently by Mr. I), N. Adaina, using a standard Majestic set, which received 546 verified stations. Tho four previous competitions also have been won with Majestic receivers, with 500, 416, 366 and '291 stations. * IYA ITEMS FOR THE WEEK To-day (also from IZHi: 8 p.m., Haydn'a "Creation" with Madame Melvin and Messrs. Sutherland and lOrringtcn. To-morrow (also to 1ZH): 8 p.m.. Studio Orchestra; 8.17 p.m. and S.'lti p.in , l'oiu Vinogradoff (pianist*: 9.20. Senia Choatiakoff (tenor), ballads. Saturday: 8 p.m.. Chiriios: 8.36 p.m.. ".Antiarson Sou ad": 8.42. piano symphony. "By a Waterfall": 8.57 p.m., Tofn Kati'a Band: 0.20. '•Hansel and Uretel" (by Humperdinok) Sunday: 7 p.m., evening service from Pitt Street Methodist Church: 6.H0. Studio Orchestra: 8.12. Mrs. H. Owers (contralto): 0,2. Sonits. Cliostiakoff: 9.2G, Studio Orchestra: 9.32. Senia Cliostiakoff: 0.51, Studio Orchestra.. Monday (flso to IZH) r Travelogue. "Hither and Thither"; 9.2, "Animal Life in Africa." a talk by Mr. Gudgeon; 9.20, Senia Choatiakoff (tenor). Tuesday: 8 p.m. (also to IZH': 8 p.m. chimes, followed by recorded programme of orchestral. vocal and instrumental items. Wednesday: 8 p.m.. Mayor's Relief Concert relayed from Town Hall, including Senia Chostiakoff (tenor). Paul Vinogradof! (pianist). Miss Cecil Hall's Russian ballet. Miss Delmarr (soprano) Vincent Aspey (violinist), Alan McKlwain (humourist). Charles McCallum and players in "Mixed Reception," Ray Jury (xylophonist), and the Studio Orchestra under baton of Mr. H. Baxter.