DISC MUSIC

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 90, 4 July 1930, Page 2

DISC MUSIC

GRAMOPHONE MOTES SOMETHING ABOUT RECORDS A New Vocal Discovery, Bella Baillie—Shiv now calls herself Isobel Baillie’, which is ranch nicer—has been the rage of the musical season in London, and anyone who hears her latest record of tho aria, “Hear Ve Israel,” from Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” will readily understand why. Her beautiful voice is the idead! medium with which to express the inspired lines of the aria. To a natural purity, and to an inborn sense of the beautiful in vocalism, she adds a deep understanding of tile meanipg and majesty of the work, and thrills ns no loss with her interpretation than with the silvery perfection of her soprano. The accompaniment reveals a clarity and richness of tone wholly astonishing. Columbia 01706. ** * * A Boy Soprano Sings Well. Master John Bonner has chosen, two dleliglitfnl songs, well suited l to his fluent soprano voice. Th e Purcell song, “Nymphs and Shepherds,” is a typically pastoral composition of the seventeenth century, while “Should He Upbraid?’ on the reverse side, has the same simplicity of construction. In both cases the piano accompaniment forms a perfect background). (Columbia 02988.) ** * * Another Fine Scottish Record. Laidlaw Murray, another fine baritone from n.orth of the Border, has been persuaded to record for Columbia.; “My Ain Wee iHoosa” (Mfs Wilson and D. L. Mun.ro”' and) ‘•'There a Wee Bit Land” (J. C. Grieve) are his choice this month, and well snug they "are, too. His voice is of course lighter in timbre than Elder Cunningham’s, but his singing has the same feeling of sincerity andi warmth. (Columbia 01826.) ** * * < ‘Tannhauser’ s Overture. Willem Mengelborg is a wizard.. With his wand lie can bring music <fHom his ICo nfc e.i lUgcbo u w O relies tfra that is almost magical in its combination. of unified precision and interpretative feeling. This recordng of Wagner’s “Tannhauser” Overture, is splendid work for this world-famous Dutch orchestra. Gramofans will be pleased to see that Columbia are continuing their policy of great music lor a greater public. This brilliant recording is amongst a host of other “celebrity” works recently released ed op dark-blue labels. This means, of course, that the finest music is no\y obtainable at the price of jazz records. To all those ip search of a really adequate recording of “Taimhauser” this version of Wagner’s most popular overture is warmly commendjed. (Columbia 02945.) •» * * * Olddime Dances. In, the time old-time party stylo, with guests and an M. 0., Jack Hyl,tou and his orchestra give a splendid little entertainment on a 12-inch record; on which is grouped a number of old) dances. These include the polka, veleta, barn dance, cake walk, walijz, military two-step, Sir Rogifr Ide Coverley, galop, and lancers. What memories there old tunes revive, and they are' made to live again by realistic presentation. Hylton has evidently a fondness for the music of other days, as this is a companion record to his two groups of “Good Old Songs.” It is a record that ; is bound to be popular. (H.M V 01784.) ** * * Musical: Switch on Organ. A number of beautiful melodies have been grouped together by Leslie James for a splendid Wurlitzer Organ recording. Excerpts from such eternal favourites as “Poet and Peasant” overture (jSupjpe), “Leibest'raume” (Liszt), “Moment Musicale” .(Schubert), “Melody m F” (Rubinstein), “Hungarian Rhapsody” (Liszt), “La Paloma” (Yradier) “Minuet” (Boccherini), “Hungarian Dance” (Brahms), and “Blue Danube Waltz” (Strauss) make up this amazing organ “switch,” and James uses a. wide range of tone colours with ju|tistb( effect. (H M.V. 8321.3.) King’s Speech Recorded. A gramophone record of the; historic speech made by tbe'jvTDg m the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords •at; the opening of the Five-Power iNavaJ Conference is now on safer <>n 0 cannot conceive ot a belter reproduction. His Majesty’s voice is beard «itli a clearness and a faithfulness' . 1 that might suggest him actually ' speaking in the room In which the disc is running. His enunciation and characterisation could not In; better, bur this record a special decorative, label in royal purple, gold, and scarlet, has been prepared, with the Royal Anns of the Jvin.r at the top. At the suggestion of TiTs Majesty, the proceeds are to be devoted to the “Wireless for the Blind Fund.” (If. MW. RB 3290.)