DISC MUSIC

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 74, 6 March 1931, Page 3

DISC MUSIC

GRAMOPHONE NOTES SOMETHING ABOUT RECORDS. "The Maid of the Mountains" Tfiose who remember that melodious light opera, "The Maid of the Mountains," which had sUch a popular run in Australia and New Zealand, and- was lately successfully revived, should welcome the London Palladium Orchestra's recording of selections. All the old favourites are there, linked with skilful art and excellently played. Meet Maurice Chevalier , They say that Maurice Chevalier is earning £30,000 a year as popular film idol. At all events he is without question the greatest singing hit of modern times. Personality, voice and histrionic charm, make an irresistible ehsemble, and theatre managements no doubt get their money's worth. Here we have him in two songs from "The Playboy of Paris" —"lt's a Great Life" and "My Ideal," numbers which give his appealing baritone satisfying scope. (H.M.V., EA837.) Famous Strauss Walt* The Strauss waltz from "The Gipsy Baron" was the great hit of that highly successful light opera. Its title, "My Darling," supplies the motif of the music, a lilting, appealing and haunting piece of sentiment, finely orchestrated, brilliantly played by the Berlin State Opera House Orchestra, and well recorded. (H.M.V., C 1912.) A Delightful Pot-Pourrl Most of us think of Mozart as an elegant, refined and fastidious representative of the older school of musical composition. It will be impossible to think so any more, after hearing the delightful Mozart "Potpourri" arranged by Marek Weber, and played by his famous orchestra. It is entitled "Prom Mozart's Treasure Trove," and it is indeed a find. Go to it, good people, and you will be assured Of an excellent impression of Wonderful melodies and sprightly dances. (H.M.V., C 1900.)

Peter Dawson Sings Peter Dawson, who is about to revisit New Zealand, retains a wonderful hold on the public, and he sings good songs and sings them well. In the latest list there are two outstanding discs from his recordings—"Le Reve Passe" (a vision of victory, Flanders, 1914-1918), "Old Comrades" and "Boys of the Old Brigade" (H.M.V. C 2045), and "Auld Lang Syne'' and "The Miner's Dream of Home" (Coodwin-Dryden), which he sings with fine feeling. {H.M.V. 83543.) A Fine-Tenor Here are two melodious trifles by Richard Crooks, one of the leading American tenors of the present day—"Ah! Love's Mystery of Life!" (the Dream Melody from "Naughty Marietta) and Moya's "The Song of Songs." To modern ears they are first-rate examples of melody attuned to latter-day sentiment, and beautifully sung. (H.M.V., DA999.) De Groot Plays De Groot is a favourite violinist of the popular type. His orchestra is one of the finest of the cabaret class in London, and he himself an inimitable artist in his own sphere. There are two very good records from him in the March H.M.V. list—Wagner's "Traume" and Chaminade's "Autumn" (C 1966), and "I'll Sing Thee Songs of Araby" and "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes." (B 3511.) J. H. Squire's Celeste Octet .Fraser-Slmson, a song writer who has very cleverly set to music fourteen of A. A. Milne's "When we were very Young" songs (hear them sung by Dale Smith on Columbia 0146101464), is responsible for one of the waltzes on this disc. Its title is "Collette," and the Celeste Octet caress its dainty and melodious phrases in the way that has endeared them to thousands. Oh the reverse is "Memories of Devon" Valse (Evans)-—a delightful little morsel, equally wellplayed. (Columbia D 0254.) Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" George Gershwin Wrote his "Rhapsody in Blue" for piaho and orchestra. Now Que'ntih' Maclean has arranged it for the cinema organ. All musicians will be glad to see such poetic justice done to this famous piece. There is no denying that the transcription is brilliant —and the playing little short of wizardry, for Maclean plays troth piano and orchestral parts of this work, which, in its original form, already taxes the resources of quite twehty humans and twenty instruments. This is certainly the most skilful manipulation of the "one man orchestra" we have yet heard. The organ is that of the London Regal Cinema —reputed the largest in Europe. This Columbia DOXBI is going to s'el lin thousands. More Guards Marches Kenneth Alford—-otherwise known as Ricketts—is easily the foremost English composer of band marches, and "Colonel Bogey," his masterpiece, outshines even Sousa at his best. Alford, it will be remembered, conducted the Argyll and Sutherlahders at the Dunedin Exhibition. His latest march is called "The Middy," and the Grenadier Guards, under Captain Miller, record it together with Rust's "Faithful and Bold" March on Columbia D 0253. There is a glorious verve and dash in the playing of these—both well up to standard. Johnny Walker Plays "Kitty" and "Betty" Johnny Walker and his Rollickers make a splendid recording of the two fox-trot successes, "Kitty from Kansas City" and "Betty Co-ed.'' They are certainly well in the Johnny Walker tradition, and going strong! Dancers will look forward to many more records from this band. (Columbia D 0240.) Two More Fox-Trots From The Campus Boys Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys —well-known to dance enthusiasts the world over—pair the two fine foxtrots, "Little White Lies" and "Hero Comes the Sun" on Columbia D 0230. These are among the finest jazz items of the month. Ben Selvin's Orchestra Two waltzes, "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" and "When It's Spring-

time in the Rockies" are Ben Selvin's popular choice among the new releases. They are well up to the superlatively high standard set by this brilliant dance band. (Columbia D 0157.)