GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Otaki Mail, 4 June 1930, Page 1

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

I LATEST COLUMBIA RECORDS. ly Beecham Playing Handel. j> So provocative and so original was < ' iShv Thomas Becehnm-'s playing of flio ! complete "-Messiah" tltat it, was only i natural that public clamour should iu- > sist upon his enlarging- our insight inj« :to Handel. On a-new record he gives |{ : tlie'Pastoral Sympliony from- the Mes- | i'siali, and the Largetto and Polonaise < from the 14th Concerto Grosso. The > I Pastoral has a inoble breadth, and [■i'serves to illustrate Sir Thoihas's linn > M&fy) O' l .tone-balance. ' Better still ;s I; the stirring Polonaise, beautifully ■clean .in texture and healthily manly j jjin •purpose.-.. Sir's Thomas's "nervous !| .energy is tine tonic to those who are j ;apt to take the elasics, and especially > Handel, as soporifics. (Columbia J 04384). i "Lea Preludes," by Liszt, j William Mengelbergand the Amster- < dam Concertgcbouw Orchestra revive • the glories of Liszt's "Les Preludes" | for us on two 12-inch discs. The one . weak spot is the theme of the second | subject. Apnrat from this, the work /is surprisingly <' big ".'for, Liszt, ami is typical of ;his gorgeous colouring." -The tone-poem-, even carries this mel- J j ody well; and with the candid, clear-i i sighted performance that Mengielberg 1 j gives it, makes us recognise its essen-. i tial greatness. It is indeed, one of the j J works on which the orchestral music f of (he ensuing fifty years was found-

j ed. Tliu quiet passages reproduce 1 with a variety of colour .that' thrills j the listener and the" loud passages animate and stir him like a storm. (Columbia 04S80-S1)/ Among the Popular Records. (Columbia 01885). Gladvs Monerieff, the darling of the Australian public, sings a pair of old favourites, "My Life is Love" and "Farewell." (Columbia. 01881). A> new Scots -humourist, Sandy MacFVirlaue, tickles •our "ribs (and doesn't get far awav , from our hearts) in these capitally j sung Scotch songs—" When the. Heathcr Bells': are Blooming" and "In the I Morning." Lively, catchv tunes. i ; ,(Co,].umbia 0jl886)(. I"A; Bachelor 1 Gay Am 1,". an old favourite,: from i

■ \' The Maid of the Mountains," sounds .'is fresh as ever from fthc Jips of Colin Ggjio. On the reverse Gladys Monerieff rind Colin Oane make an attractive duet of "A Paradise, For Two." Glasgow Cathedral Organ. Herbert Walton, the veteran organist of Glasgow Cathedral, offers on one side of a new disc three numbers •that hark back to the mists of Scottish tradition. They are the Lament of Sir Rory Mor, Maelcod of Maelcod and Macrhnnioii's Lament. In rieii, resonant tones of almost human vitality the organ pierces to the heart of the sad but sometimes fiercely determined music. On the reverse side is Grieg's "Death of Ase," from the Peer Gynt Suite —admirably expressive of the all-string body 'for which it was written., (Columbia 05008). A Scotch Baritone. Alexander Carmiehaol attracts as nt once by the warmth of his tone. A naturally jdeasjug voice has not, been ■allowed' to squeeze "itself into " aca"demic ruts. Free and spontaneous, his . vigorous baritone is surprisingly, poignant in the semi-traditional song, "Fiona's Keening for his Grandson, Oscar." More heartening is the "Bonnie George Campbell" paired with it. but both are of the stuff that popularity is made of, and Mr Cartriicliael's next record will be looked forward to with interest. A New Don Cossacks Eecord. _ The Don Cossacks, who have been silent for some time, add to their brilliant series of records with a pairing of two Russian hymns by Thesnokoff. This is quite their best for a long time. The titles are, "Safeguard, O Lord/' and "Save, 0 Lord, Thy People." Tone, balance, brilliance—all are completely satisfying. and. from the glorious richness of the bassos to the bird-like purity of the altos each note lias been "recorded with absolute fidelity. (Columbia 05060). HIS MASTER'S VOICE.

For School and Home. Play ways (educational) planned bv MraJ. Murray Macßain. H.M.V.: ij 2805-07. Specially selected for ear-training, time-beating and other rhythmic activities. A booklet by -Mrs Macßain • gives' a full description of how to use the records, price 1/-. Details of the records include:— 82805—A I.iUie March Past tar. Alee -Rowley). Part 1: Introducing .“The Minstrel Boy," “Men of Harlech, I Mine Eyes Have Seen.’ 7 Part 2: Introducing “John Peel ” “When Johnny Comes Marching IJome,” “British Grenadiers. ’> B2SOf> —Music for Rhythmic Kxercises (arr. Alee Rowley). Part 1: • Dance.steps, introducing “ Yankee Doodle.’’ “On the Bridge of Avignon,” “Hunting the Hare.’,’ Part 2: Stepping, beating time and ball movements, introducing “Orn-c I J.oved a Maiden Fair,” <‘Lass of Richmond Hill,” “I’oliv Oliver,” “ Valse Coppclia” (Delibes). B2So7—Music- for Simple Dances (arr. Alee Rowley). Part i: (a) ’Circle Dance; (b) “Little Peasant ! •Dance.” Part 2: (a) “Stcp-stateiv” (Beethoven); (b) “The Wild Horseman” (Schumann). Pianoforte Gems.

Harold Bauer (pianoforte) in Etude- ! in D Fiat.” (Liszt) and “In the Ni<»lir (Schumann). H.M.Y., D 81252. , The Liszt “Etude” requires an j amazing technique lor the left hand, j Bauer breezes through this difficult ; "Etude” as TllongH it were child’s • play. In this as- Well as in the lovely • Schumann “In the'Night” the meicdic line is exceptionally clear. Famous Vatican Choir.' The Sistine. Chapel at Rome is probably the oldest organisation of the kind in existence. It was centuries before Papal authority permitted it to be heard outside. The following fecordings for His Master’s Voice arc therefore of unique interest; DB 844. “Laudato. Dominum”- (Palestrina), aiul (“Teuebrae faefea sunt” (Vitforia). - - ’ - DB 625—“Adesie. Pidelis,” “O Salutaris Ilostia.” BA C2G—“Aie Maria” (Vittori3) auih “Exultate Deo” (Palestrina). Nigger Minstrels. Minstrels (male voices) in “A Minstrel Show.” Part 1: “Make a Lot of Noise,” “Down XVhere the Water Melons Grow,” “Lazy Moon,” “Oh, Dear Golden Slippers.” Part 2: ‘ ‘Alius the. Same in Dixie,” “By the Light iif the Silvery 'Moon,” “Abraham Liacoin Jones,” ‘‘Under tin- Bamboo Tree,” ‘-Cany Me flack to Old Virginnv,” “Climbing t~p the Golden Starts. ’ ’ H.M.V. E 839.

Thch old-time minstrel shows of twenty years ago may come back some day. In; This record you will be able t« hear-ail those fine old songs sung

again in true minstrel show style, with orchestral accompaniment. Fine .B a ritone Singing. Vaughan Williams’s “Silent Noon” and Liza Lehmann’s “Myself When Young.” .Stuart Robertson, baritone. ll.jM.y. 82755. Stuart Robertson’s singing is a tfudei of smoothness. One particularly admires the playing 0 f the beautiful acconipauiment of the first-named piece. • Charming Songs. / Lilian Davies .(soprano), in itfmiberg’s “Lover, Come Back to Me,” and “One Kiss.” Lilian Davies is here excellently recorded, and the finely played accompaniment provides a most satisfying baekgiound. H..M.V. 83037.