RADIO NOTES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 63, 20 March 1929, Page 3

RADIO NOTES

(By "GRID LEAK.)

, NEW STATION DIRECTOR The new station director at IYA, Mr L. Barnes, is a man with wide musical experience, and the benefit' of it should soon be felt at IYA. Mr Barnes has for some time been incharge of the Dunedin station. /Mr S. J. Ilayden, late director of IYA, who relinquished his duties here last Sunday evening, has proceeded t'o Dunedin, where he will take charge. CHOIR FOR IYA. The question of a choir for IYA was discussed at the last meeting of the MusicaJ and Dramatic. Committee, and it was decided to recommend to the broadcasting company that it advertise for a conductor for the choir, which is t'o be composed of 16 voices. "STAINER'S CRUCIFIXION."

Lovers of choral music are promised a treat next Sunday evening, when the choir 'Cf the Beresford Street Congregational Church will render “Stainer’s Crucifixion.” ANNOUNCEMENTS IN ENGLISH. An experiment lb be tried by the manager of 2FC is novel and the first cf its kind to he adopted by a leading broadbasting) stationj in the world. This is that the ann’cuncement of all musical items is to be in the English language. It is pointed out that no two announcers pronounce any foreign tfitle alike, and probably not more than 5 per cent, of listeners really understand ■ what 1 the announcer means until the music reaches them. In a letter (to artists appearing at 2FC studios it is pointed out that 1 quite a num- , her of people know that the English ■ hackneyed “La Donna Mobile” is “Wbman is Fickle” but he asks what about titles like these: —“L’Apres Midi d’un Faune;” “Perigliarti ancor languente;” “TuWiddu mi tolse 1’onore;” and “Auf 'den Wasser zu singen,” which are being encountered on every programme?

KADIO AND GRAMOPHONES.

an unexpected happening

The element of the “unexpected” > s always t'o be reckoned with in wireless. A few years ago it was 'generally thought that the rapid expansion of the broadcasting system would inevitably bring disaster to >the gramophone industry. On the 1 contrary, the last 12 months have witnessed 'one of the most amazing booms in combined radio and gramophone activity that the commercial world has yet seen.

Instead of “killing” the gramophone, the thermionic amplifier, developed ami perfected by radio engineers and used with the gramophone electric “pick-up,” has given it a new and vigorous lease of life In the first place, it has im-

proved the manufacture of gramophone records out' of all recognition; and in the second place it has harnessed the wireless receiver to the gramophone both in the house and in the theatre and dance! hall. One great' advantage of this development is that the music lover can hear his favourite items at' will •when the radio programme does net suit him.

I Unfortunately, however, broadcast ing authorities in the colonies have taken undue advantage of the gramophone, with the result that it to'o 1 often provides a lagre part of the broadcast programmes. RADIO DOWN SOUTH. ' Mr S. J. Hayden, who left' on transfer to 4YA on Sunday evening, will face no light task in the southern city. Broadcasting has never really “caught 'on” in Dunedin, though that city had it's first big chance to listen-in at the time of its exhibiion. Since then, however, 4YA has been eclipsed in power and treatment by the northern stations, and discontent finds frequent expression in the south as a result. The position scemg to be that of stalemate. It Would appear that the attitude of the Broadcasing Company is: "Give us suppor in license fees and we shall pifovide improved service, which is not 1 warranted by district is: “Give us service and you will revenue.” The listeners’ viewpoint get increases in licenses.”