RADIO IN THE HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22574, 12 November 1936, Page 22

RADIO IN THE HOME

PROGRAMME FEATURES r 1 POPULARITY OF SKETCHES r TALK ON GILBERT CENTENARY

BY ALL-WAVE

Joan Doweling, pianist, will he featured from IYA next Saturday, when she will play Chopin's " Valse Brilliante " and Liszt's " Gnomenreigen." On the same programme Bertha Kawlinson, contralto, Avill be hoard in a bracket of compositions reminiscent of the Homeland. The same artist is scheduled for a further recital on Wednesday, when her offerings will I include Chopin's " Lithuanian Song " | and Tsohaikowsky's " None But the j Aching Heart." The chamber music I programme will open with Bach's "Suite for Strings," rendered by the 11 studio orchestra, which will play also an arrangement by Temple-Bevan of i j Bach's " Andante and Vivace for i Strings." At 9.5 p.m., Mr. 11. A. Singer, who has become well-known to listeners through similar broadcasts, will deliver a talk on " The W. S. Gilbert Centenary." Station 2YA is to broadcast to-night at 9.5 p.m. a programme by the Circassians Choir, with interludes by Ina Bosworth, the well-known violinist, who will include in her offerings " Schon Rosmarin," " Wiegenlied," Kriesler's " Liebesfreud " and Sarasate's " Spanish Romance." 3YA will broadcast the first hour of a Scottish concert, " Gathering of the Clans," on relay from the Scottish Society's hall. Friday's programme from the Christehurch station will include Cecily Audibert, in a recital of soprano songs, and a thirtyminute offering of pianoforte and vocal numbers by Michael Head, the English composer-pianist. On Monday at 8 p.m. IYA will broadcast on relay the final concert of the Returned Soldiers' Choir, and at 9.25, "Murder at Monte Carlo," a radio play adapted from the story by Gin - do Maupassant. Suited to popular taste, the radio sketch " A Farewell Supper," by its very simplicity and directness, appealed strongly to listeners. There is much to commend in this type of sketch, and Re?: Savers and Jiis company exploited its possibilities in a masterly manner. Unfortunately, however, IYA does not devote sufficient of its programmes to the presentation of radio sketches, even allowing for the stock of recorded sketches and readings heard all too often. Some time ago the service gave as the reason a lack of suitable scripts and difficulties in connection with copyright, but it is long past time for these obstacles to have been overcome. It is evident that there is no dearth of capable producers and players, and the too well-known recordings should be relegated to the storeroom and local artists afforded greater opportunities. A statement by Professor James Shelley, that ho did not intend to use broadcasting for education in a "narrow" sense, has not altogether allayed the fears of many listeners. Speaking on programmes, another official of the National Broadcasting Service is reported to have said that in Australia the national stations provided educative programmes, and the commercial ones an entertainment service. The general bodv of listeners will react strongly against similar programme ideals in this country. Receivers are purchased solely because of their entertainment value, and it should be the primary concern of the YA stations to provide varied programmes of the highest possible entertainment value. Tho annual licence fees paid by listeners to the National Broadcasting Service meet the whole costs of plant provision, maintenance and programmes. As the "piper" tho listener is entitled to "call the tune." With tho briefest notice, the Empire Broadcasting Service has jettisoned GSF in favour of GSO as the alternative to GSB in tho No. J Empire transmission. Listeners who missed preliminary announcements were unaware of the change, there being but fractional differences in the wave-lengths of GSO and GSF. However, the change appears to have been made to advantage. Though GSO is but .02 metres from the powerful German DJB, there is no interference. The 19-metre signal, though providing a substantially lower signal volume, gives better clarity than tho more static-ridden 31-metre GSB. Though tho German 31-metre stations have lost volume badly on the 31-metre band, there are others stepping into the breach, so much so that on all but very selective sets there is difficulty in separating and recognising them all. The 1936-7 world-wide DX competition now in progress has been subdivided so as to determine the champions in both broadcast and shortwave fields. The conditions provide for the counting only of those cards which give definite verification. Each verification is valued according to the power of the station, its distance from the receiving point, and according to the geographical location of the receiver. The geographical handicap varies from 3 in the case of New Zealand to 7 in the case of Ohio and Ontario. The oontest covers verified reception between September 1, 1936, and April 30, 1937, and entries must be addressed to J. Dickenson, Box 95, Rcgina, Canada, and posted by next August. It will be remembered that J. L. Sullivan, of Cambridge, was last year's winner of the broadcast band contest. FROM IYA To-day, 8 p.m., 8.8.C. recorded programme. "Tho Tallin Under the Tree," an evening in a Continental cafe; U. 5, 8.8.C. recorded talk, "Conquest of the Air"; 0.33, "A Breath of Erin," band miwic of Irish airs; 0.30, Sam Duncan, tenor, "Smiling Irish Eyes," "That Old Irish Mother," and 9.50, "Colleen Bawn" and "In the Land Where tho Green Shamrock Grows"; 10 to 11, music and melody. To-morrow: 8 p.m., studio orchestra. "Javotto" ballot suite; 8.12, Robert Simmers, baritone, "E'en as a Lovely Flower," "Go Not, Happy Day," "Isobel" and "Lovo Weill A-riding"; 8.22, orchestra, Grieg's Norwegian Dances Nos. 1, 2 and 3; 8.43, Tlielina Willoughby, pianist, Prelude in F Major, Ronianco in O Flat Major, Intermezzo in C and "Waltz" (York Bowon); 0.5, talk, Jane Mander, "Women"; 0.34, studio orchestra, Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G Minor; 10 to 11, music and melody. Saturday: 8 p.m., Joan Dowding, pianist, "A Romp," "L'Alouetto," "Valso Brilliante" and "Gnomcnreigon"; 8.15, National Vocal Quartette; 8.45, Bertha Rawlinson, contralto, "My Dear Soul," "Two Ulster Fragments," "Songs My Mother Sang" and "Land of Hope and Glory"; 0.5, "Zoo 'Oliday," a light 8.8.C. recorded programme; 10.10 to 11.15, dance music. Sunday: 11 a.m., morning service from Mount Eden Congregational Church; 3.30 p.m., Cesar Franck's Symphony in D Minor; / p.m., evening servico from Pitt Stroot Methodist Church; 8.30, relay, Auckland Municipal Band, "Orpheus in tho Underworld," "Cocheco," "Brise des Nuifs," "Monsieur Beaucaire," "El Abanico," "Star of Fate," "A Doll's House" and "Trojan Band." Monday: 8 p.m., impression of "Ten Minute Alibi"; 8.10, sketch, "Tho Irish Way"; 8.17, Marriott Edgar in monologues; 8.33, dramatic recital, "Through tho Flood"; 0.5, wrestling relay; 10 to 11, music and melody Tuesday: 8 p.m., "Tho Voice of the Peoplo"; 8.8, Eb and Zeb; 8.18. "Leaves from tho Casebook of tho Tuno Detective"; 8.33, humour by Doug. Stark and Jack Stokes; 8.43, Japaneso Houseboy episode; 0.5, talk, If. G. Bell, "World Affairs"; 0.20 to 11, danco records. Wednesday: 8 p.m., hturiio orchestra, "Suite for Strings'" (Bach), s.m), Bertha Rawlinson, contralto, "Sun Above Me," "Lithuanian Song," "None But the Aching Heart" and "Roam as I May"; 8.30, studio orchestra, Andante for Strintrs; 8.41, recording, Schubert's Quartet in E Flat, Op. 125; 0.5, tulk, R. A. Singer, followed by recordings j 10 to 11, music and melodj. ,