RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18888, 14 October 1929, Page 6

RADIO

By

“AERIAL.”

Reception Notes. Had occasion to test out yet another of “ Horace's ” brothers on Saturday night with surprisingly good results. In case “ Horace No. 4 ” was functioning better than any of the other 8.-T.'s, put the writer's set on the stand for purposes of comparison. Just as satisfactory results were obtained. It was one more of those nights “ out of the box ” that come along occasionally as if to restore one’s (sometimes) lagging faith in wireless. Yes, it was a great night. M & t*» 3YA‘s old-time concert was a decided success. Had it not been that “Aerial” had to spend some time in neutralising “Horace No. 4” and in carrying outi DX tests, 3YA’s concert would have claimed attention “ for the duration.” : Another old-time night—there’s hun- | dreds of songs and dance" tunes to be revived } r et—would be welcomed. M J 5 •’« It was curious to note that 4YA*s last night on the air under what, after next Wednesday, we’ll call the “bad old conditions ” should have given Christchurch listeners one of the best night's reception of the southern station in months and months. No static, not a. sign of fading and no distortion were observed during several tests between 8 and 10 p.m. 2S H K With no static, no Oswalds, no “roarer ” and the minimum of fading to trouble listeners, all stations within range of the 8.-T. Counterphase, fairly romped in. All the “A ” and “B ” class Apstralians were up and doing and several Japs made themselves nicely audible. Both IYA and 2YA were in fine form. Heard some great vaudeville stuff from 4QG and 2FC. One very humorous song was that given from 4QG—a parody of “ Danny Boy.” ii ti Zi The elections in Australia were favoured with a splendid night for the broadcasting of the results. Every station featured these and the majority kept at it until the early hours of the morning. It was curious to notice the “ cautious reserve ’* in the tones of nearly every announcer as the Labour majority grew larger and larger. They were still at it when “ Aerial ” closed down. Last night saw a relapse in reception 1 conditions. Static was a nuisance—so ' was fading and distortion in several cases. Called it oft at ten o’clock. By the way, listeners may not need to be reminded that the introduction of * summer time in New Zealand will bring j the Pacific Coast American broadcasts in as late as 7.30 or 8 p.m. now, while ’ the Australian concert sessions will 1 not be on the air with their first items until 10 p.m. our time. j WIRELESS FOR BEGINNERS. J No. 25. 1 Do you quite understand what is meant by “ straining electrically ” as applied to the dielectric in a condenser? * Look at it this way: If you place a T piece of tin over a hole in a table, and, with a bradawl, try to force a hole £ the tin. It is obvious that, as your * hand presses the bradawl’s point on I the tin, the tin offers a certain amount c of resistance. At the same time, you f are straining the tin. If the pressure t you apply is sufficient you strain the J tin to breaking point—you overcome £ the tin’s resistance—and the bradawl 1 goes through. Now apply this example to a condenser. Here the “ pressure ” applied is the voltage—the “ urge,” the € force exerted by the battery—and you r can see that it is possible to put a s certain amount of electricity into the 1 condenser thus “ straining the dielec- I trie ” used, whatever it may be—glass, t oiled paper, mica, ebonite, air, etc. It s should also be clear that in applying £ the force, urge, pressure, voltage (all £ the same)—an electrical pressure—to I the condenser a current must flow into the condenser. It likewise follows tha/ t until this current of electricity flows into it, the condenser cannot exercise an opposite force—cannot show an f “electrical strain.” Now, therefore, t when an electrical current flows into a 1 condenser, it will depend on that con- t denser’s capacity what quantity of elec- c tricity (for a given applied force—a e given voltage, that is) will flow into it. r Let us return to the example of ilexibility—springiness—in the case of the a spiral spring mentioned in article 24. p It should be easily comprehended that c the flexibility of the spring depended a on three things: (1) The size of the 1 spring at first—its length and diameter; 5 (2) the thickness or thinness of the c material of which it is made, and (3) e the mechanical extensibility of that r material. Apply these to our conden- t ser and you have an understandable e analogy, namely, the capacity of a con- 1 denser depends on three analogous fac- a tors: (1) The area of the plate form- 1 ing the condenser; (2) the thickness or 4 thinness of the dielectric and (3) the p inductive capacity of the dielectric, v (There should not be any need to ex- F plain the terms used above. Pre\*ious g articles dealt exhaustively with each.) 1As in the case of the piece of tin £ mentioned above, where the straining of the tin had to be overcome before the bradawl would pierce it, so in a “ condenser, the property it possesses of

“ holding electricity ” is due to the elec trical straining of the dielectric and not to any compression of the electricity. It should be clear that, if you applied enough electrical force (in the form of a sufficiently high voltage) to a condenser you could do as 3 r ou did with the tin—overcome the resistance In the condenser you would break down the insulation—overcome the opposition of the condenser—cause the excess electrons to leap the intervening space—break down the static inductivity of the dielectric—destroy its capacity (a! about the same) when your applied charge of electricity flowed through the insulation from one plate to another.

(To be continued.) Short Wave Broadcasts. “Insulator” reports:—“Shqrt wave stations have been coming in very well during the week, and listeners have had plenty of variety. A station heard a few weeks back giving the call-signl of KIO, has been found to be an Hawaiian station. The call-sign only was given, and the location not mentioned. However, it was only a few days ago that I found th!=: to be in the Hawaiian Islands,, so thiV, adds another country to the hst heard. Doings of the week follow. “ Monday.—Konigswusterhausen at 7 a.m. was very good at R 8 and very clear. RA97 was R 9 towards 10 p.m., with orchestra] items, but static bad. “Tuesday.—GsSW was lotid and clear at 7 am., with a talk in French. The German was also very good with orchestral items. VK2ME and GBX working together at 6.20 p.m. Both excellent. The ZL stations 2BE, 3BA and 388 all at excellent strength between 7 p.m. and 7.40 p.m. W6XN very clear and at R 7 at 7.20 p.m., but static was [a bit heavy. KZRM very good with records at 10 p.m. At 10.30 p.m. the

chimes of seven, and then the weather report. RA97 at 10.30 p.m. was R 7, but static completely spoiled reception. “Wednesday.—GsSW put over a talk on astronomy at 7 a.m., but was very rough. The German, although clear, was not up to usual strength. KZRM very loud and clear at 9.40 p.m. with music. Very well modulated. ZL’s 2BE, 2AX and 2AW all heard well on the 80metre band around 10.30 p.m.

“Thursday.—A good day—ten countries heard between 6.30 a.m. and 11 p.m. Only ten stations heard, but each in a different country. GSSW commenced a talk at 6.35 a.m., but was not very loud—better at 7.20 a.m. The German at 6.45 a.m. was very clear and steady with orchestral music. An American station on 24.5 metres was working duplex telephony. No callsign given. Very clear. Bangkok, Siam, was heard at 7.20 a.m. at R 7, but Jie did not keep going long. All talk. Very clear and steady. VK2ME was R 9 at 7 p.m., calling England. ZL2BE was very loud at 7.20 p.m., working 3BC. KZRM put over an enjoyable hour of recorded items till 10.30 p.m. The last item was one from the Fox Movietone ‘Follies’ now showing in this city. RA97 was very clear, and R 8 at 10.30 p.m., although static was heavy. PCK was R 7 at 10.45 p.m., with talk in Dutch, working with PLE. The latter station was RB, and very clear. No static. Modulation very good. PCK was louder at 11 p.m. Reception this day covered stations in England, Holland, Germany, U.S.A., Siberia, Java, Phillipine Islands, Siam, Australia and New Zealand. “Friday.—PCJ was R 8 at 6.45 a.m., but much weaker later. GSSW was very clear and steady with music at 6.50 a.m. The German was R 8 at 7.5 а. with orchestral music. Sydney and England talking together at 6.30 p.m. KZRM put over very loud chimes at 9.30 p.m. on opening their session. Static bad. RA97 suffered, too, from static. All talk at 10 p.m. PCK, however, had no static around, and was very clear and steady at 10.15 p.m. “Saturday.—The German opened at б. a.m., with chimes, and a long announcement in German. Very good strength. PCJ at the same time was RB, but at 7 a.m. strength had dropped considerably. GSSW was spoiled by a ripple. A talk illustrated with short piano pieces was given at 6.45 a.m. KZRM was R 9 at 10.10 p.m. Static bad. RA97 same strength at 11 p.m., with talk. PCK at 11.10 p.m. was clear and steady, working duplex telephony. :: :: :: “Sunday.—W6XN was fair at 3 p.m. (daylight-saving times mentioned now), with dance music. They were best about 6 p.m. WBXK put over baseball results, and the weather forecast, at 4.15 p.m., and then commenced the special programme for Commander Bvrd, and also for Sir Hubert Wilkins on his way south. W2XAF and W2XAD both very good at 4.30 p.m., with dance music. Modulation excellent. A new station was on the air, W9XF, of Chicago, on approximately 49 metres. First heard at R 5 at 5.15 p.m., but R 7 by the time they closed, shortly before 6 p.m. Recorded items heard. Surging and a heavy ripple in the background made reception quite good and fair on the speaker. Announced as ‘The International Relay Station W9XF, Chicago, operating on a frequency of 6020 kilocycles.’ This corresponds to a wavelength of 49.83 metres. KZRM opened at 10 p.m., amid a heavy barrage of static, which made listening uncomfortable. RA97 was very loud at 10.45 p.m., but static also bad on him. ZLIBC at Auckland was the last station of the day. Excellent records at RS at 10.55 p.m. Modulation very good.”

does not mean that it has eclipsed

“ Waiata Poi,” which gained him his international reputation as an interpreter of Maori melodies, but he is the first composer who has had both the originality to embody the Maori tribal songs in grand opera and the ability to make an artistic success of it. By incorporating the warrior choruses and tribal songs into “ Teora,” Alfred Hill only follows the precedent of Leoncavallo, who based “II Pagliacci ” on Italian peasant tunes, and many other composers who have used simple folk songs as the background for the elevated themes of grand opera. In orchestration, dramatic power and scoring, it is fit to rank with many of the operas of the Italian school. The plot concerns a Maori chief, Tanui, who defeats and slays an enemy and makes a flute from his arm-bone. When he plays this flute, he seems to hear the voice of his enemy. His son, Waipata, has been sent to make prisoner Teora, the daughter of the dead chief. lie falls in love with her, but when he returns with the girl to his father Tanui accuses her of bewitching his flute. She is put to the ti st. and vindicates her innocence. Tanui attempts to play the flute, but. on-hf axing the voi< e of th< c id rfian once again, he is overcome with horror and remorse, and expires in a fit of terror. Ihe opera closes with the love theme rising triumphant. A powerful contrast is supplied by the dignity and passion of the first part and the close and the middle section with its softer love songs and the dramatic trial scene. The weird melodies of the flute have a haunting rhythm that is characteristic of the Maori chant, and this is used with great effect throughout. The same company that made so great a success of “ Teora ” on the occasion when it was first performed in the Turret Theatre will broadcast the opera from 2BL this evening. Miss May ! Craven will take the part of Teora,

Harold Tollemache will be Tanui, the chief, Rupert Swallow will play the part of Tanui’s son Waipata, with Wilfred Thomas as Tohunga, the mediator. John Ryan will sing the part of “The Spirit of the Flute.” The performance will be conducted by the producer, Joseph Post? who was responsible for the original staging of “ Teora.” A greater audience than would otherwise have been privileged to hear this opera will eagerly welcome this broadcast. Radio has again proved its value as a means of keeping every listener in touch with the best of the modern music. 55 55 The New 4YA.

An event of importance to broadcasting in New Zealand takes place on Wednesday’ evening next, October 16, when the Hon J. B. Donald, Postmas-ter-General, officially opens the new station for 4YA, Dunedin. This station is of the same power as that of IYA and 3YA, 500 watts, and the plant is the most modern that is procurable. The new station is the most compact of all the YA’s. Everything is on the one floor level—two studios, two lounges, 4YA offices and the transmit- ■ ting rooms—and in this respect that station is distinctive from the others of the New Zealand chain. All the experience derived from working the I other stations, augmented by the best I adyice from overseas, has been brought to bear on the Dunedin station, which is as well appointed and as well equip- • ped technically as any broadcasting station in the world. The new 4YA is located on the top floor of the newly . erected offices of the Dunedin “ Even- ‘ ing Star,” and steel lattice-work towers, . modelled on the famous Eiffel Tower,. ! support the aerial 150 ft above the street level. To mark the opening of • : the new station, an exceptional pro-' ? gramme has been arranged, the pick of the vocal and instrumental talent of Dunedin, including the Dunedin Pipe ; . Band and the St Kilda Band (the champion band of New Zealand) having been engaged. YA Studio Notes. At nine o’clock this evening, from 2YA Mr Justice Macgregor will deliver a lecturette on “ The Art of Public 1 Speaking.” There will be brief relays this evening from the concert chamber i of the Wellington Town Hall, where a programme of music is being presented by the Symonds-Ellwood-Short Trio. Only the items most suitable for broadcasting will be relayed. The Ariel Singers will render the vocal portion of the studio programme, their items on this occassion consisting of Old English folk songs, a type of music in which this quartet of talented artists has specialised. 55 55 55 At 3YA Mr E. J. Bell, Christchurch Public Librarian, will give his fortnightly book review at 7.15 p.m. At 7.30, Dr Charles Chilton will review the September number of the “ Journal of Agriculture.” This is one of the 3YA Primary Productions Committee’s talks. The New Brighton Municipal Band, which presented such a bright and attractive programme when it broadcast from 3YA a few weeks ago, has prepared an equally good entertainment for this evening. Also contributing to the evening’s programme will be Mrs Jean Scrimshaw (soprano), Miss Maud Stringer (contralto), Mr Peter Macdonald (tenor), Mr Robert Robson (bass), Mr H. Instone (reciter) and the Studio Trio. Silent day at IYA and 4YA. 55 55 5? TO-DAY S PROGRAMMES. Following: are details of to-day’s programmes received from New Zealand and Australian broadcasting stations: — IYA, Auckland. Silent day. 2YA, Wellington (416 M 3 to 4.55 p.m.: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children’s session. 6.0: Dinner session: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, " Nocturne No. 2 —Fetes ’* (Debussy). Violin, Fritz Kreisler, “Da Vida Breve.” San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, “Serenade” (Moszkowski), “ Aubade " (Auber). 6.15: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, “ Nutcracker Suite.” San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. “ Diebeslied ’’ (Kreisler). 6.30: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, “Nutcracker Suite.” Instrumental Trio, Kreisler. Kreisler and Raucheisen. “ Intermezzo —Arlesienne.” 6.45: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, “ Nutcracker Suite.” Violin, Fritz Kreisler, “Tango,” Op. 16 5, No. 2. Royal Opera Orchestra, “ jEugen Onegin.” 7.0: News session. 7.4 0: Decturette, Mr A. IS. Wilson, “ Tourist and Holiday Resorts.” 8.1: Orchestra, “ Maritana.” 8.7: Soprano, Miss Jeanette Briggs, “E'er a Snowflake Leaves the Sky.” 8. LI: Relay from Concert Chamber, Town Hall, of chamber music concert by the Symons-Ell-wood-Short Trio, “Trio.” 8.21: Ariel Singers. “ The Tailor and the Mouse.” 8.25: Bass, Mr J. M- Caldwell, “Shepherd, See Thy Horse’s Foaming Mane,” “ Had a Horse.” 8.32: Orchestra, “Dance of the Hours,” “Gavotte.” 8.40: Tenor, Mr W. Roy Tli.ll, “Impatience.” 8.44: Decturette, Mr Justice MacGregor. “ The Art of Public Speaking.” 8.59: Ariel Singers. “Hares on the Mountains.” 9.3: Weather report. 9.5: Relay from Concert Chamber. Instrumental, Trio, “Variations” (Beethoven). Mezzo-contralto, Mrs Bernard Wood, selected. Quintet, trio, assisted by Mrs E. Meier and Mr Frank Crowther, “Quintet” (Dvorak). 9.40: Vocal duet, Misses Jeanette Briggs and Ngaire Coster, “ Linger, O Gentle Time.” 9.44: Organ, G. T. Pattnian, “Humoresque.” 9.47: Ariel Singers, “Mowing the Barley.” 9.51: Orchestra, “ L’Arlesienne.” 10.1: Close down. 3YA, Christchurch. (306M.—980X.)„ 3.0: Afternoon session. 5.0: Children’s session. 6.9: Dinner session. Brunswick Concert Orchestra, “Wine, Women and Song.” Pianoforte, Karol Seretor, “ Hungarian Rhapsody ” No. 12 (Liszt). 6.15: Orchestral, “Shubertiana.” Piano and trumpet, Lie Simo, “ Caressing You.” Colonial Club Orchestra, “My Lover.” Famous Forty, “ Annie Laurie.” 6.30: Herman Trio, “Pierrette,” “ Dalvisa.” Frank Westfield’s Orchestra, " Classica.” 6.45: Dajos Bela Orches-

tra. “ Schiatz ” Waltz.. Edith Lorand Orchestra, “Tales of Hoffman.” 7.0: News session. 7.15: Talk, Mr E. J. Bell. Book Review. 7.30: Farm chat, Dr Charles Chilton, “ Review of September Number of Journal of Agriculture.” 8.0: Chimes. Programme by New Brighton Municipal Band and assisting artists. 8.1: Band, “March of the Anzacs," “The Cuckoos.” 8.10: Soprano, Mrs Jean Scrimshaw, “ Golden Dancing Days.” 8.14: Studio trio. “Serenade” (Drigo), “Ye Banks and Braes,” “ Sleeping Beauty—Waltz.” 8.24: Bass, Mr Robert Robson, “Go to Sea,” “Out on the Deep.” 8.30: Band, • “Just like Darby and Joan.” 8.34: Contralto, Miss Maud Stringer, “ Douglas Gordon.” 8.38: Band, “ Ice Cream,” “Dada, Dada.” 5.46: Recital. Mr H. Instone, “The Scottish Spirit.” 8.53: Tenor, Mr Peter Macdonald. “ When Song is Sweet,” “Until.” 8.59: Xylophone novelty, Rudy Star Three, “Pollv.” 9.2: Weather report. 9.4: Soprano, Mrs Jean Scrimshaw, “ l Wish 1 Were a Tiny Bird,” “ House Hunting.” 9.10: Studio Trio, “La Cinquantaine,” “ Swedish Folk Song,” “ Serenata ” (Moszkowski). 9.19: Bass, Mr Robert Robson, “Off to Philadelphia.” 9.23: Band, “ Saxonhurst.” 9.32: Contralto, Miss Maud Stringer, “In an Old-fushion- • •d Town,” “ Five Little Piccaninnies.” 9.35: Band; “Sliding Jim.” “Saskatchewan ” 9 46: Recital. Air H. Instone. *• Tb- Pawnbrokers’ Ball " 9.54: T-nor. Mr p, f- Macdonald, “ Goodbye.” 9 58Hand " Dvmtroon.” 19.2: Close down. 4YA, Dunedin. Silent. 4Q£*. Brisbane (3558&, —7603:.). 10.0; The Ipswich Vice-Regal Brass Quartet, “ Obefon.” Jack Land (tenor), -On With the Motley.” 10.15: Daisy M’Dowell :ind Mrs A. F. Stoddart, vocal duet, “I’ve Been Roaming.” Brass Quartet, “ Merry Sunshine.” J. P. Cnrnwe 11 <bnss). “ West Susse.x Drinking Song.” 10.30: F. Bower and J. w*. Burgemeister, instrumental duet, “Norma.” Brass Quartet, “Scotia.” Jack Land (tenor), Macushla.” 10.45: Douglas Drouyn and his trio, featuring the electric Vibra harp. Daisy M’Dowell and Mrs A. F. Stoddart, “ Sweet Babe, a Golden Cradle Holds Thee.” 2 1.0: Weather forecast. The first talk in connection with 4QG’s Home Garden Scheme, “ An Outline," by “ Te-1 coma.” 11.15: Radio Comedy, “That

Brute Simmons ” (Arthur Morrison). Scene, Kitchen in the House of Simmons. 11.40: Douglas Drouyn and his trio, featuring the electric Vibra harp. J. P. Cornwell (bass), “ A Devonshire Wedding.” 11.55: The Rhythm Rascals, entertainers'. 12.30: News; weather information; close down. lOR TUESDAY. 3ZC, Christchurch. (250M.—1200K.). 10 a.m.: “Student Prince” (selections), H.M. Theatre Orchestra. 10.8: Tested recipes: Savoury pies, mutton and kidney pie, Cornish fish pie. 10.25: “Herd Girl’s Dream,” Instrumental Trio; “ Die Nac.ht,” Male Voice Choir of Vienna; “ Pastorale,” Edouard Commette (organ); “ Madrigale,” Yvonne Curti (violin). 10.45: Short talk supplied by Messrs J. Ballantyne's. “ Love in Idleness,” Court Symphony Orchestra; “Der Tanz," Male Voice Choir of Vienna; “Czardas,” Yvonne Curti (violin); “ From a Russian Village ” (descriptive), Rand of the Royal Air Force. 11.30: Close down. 12 noon to 1.30: News and reports session and programme of popular music. 2.30 to 4.30: Afternoon concert session, including: “ Invitation to the Waltz,” Weingartner and Basle Symphony Orchestra: “Floral Dance,” Kenneth Walters (baritone); “Concerto in D minor” (for two violins), Alma Rosengrin-Witek and Anton Witek; “La Giaconda: Cielo e Mar,” Alessandro Granda (tenor); “Simple Aveu,” Instrumental Trio; “ Lass with the Delicate Air,” Maria Kurenko (soprano); “Etude in C minor” (Chopin), “Waltz in A flat major” (Brahms) and “ Prelude in A fiat major” (Chopin), Percy Grainger (piano); “ Land of Hope and Glory,” Harold Williams and Chorus; and popular numbers. 4.30: Close down. 6: Children’s hour. 7: Wireless talk and Morse session, followed by tabloid news session. _ 8: Evening concert session, including: “ Raymond,” overture. H.M. Scots Guards Band; “Monotonously Kings the Little Bell,” Don Cossacks Choir. 8.10: From the studio, a Mozart composition by the String Quartette (Messrs S. P. Smith, T. Miehallson, Walter Nlcol and E. Andrews); followed by “Stay with me Summer,” and “ I am Longing for the Spring,” Miss Renee Hyde (mezzosoprano) ; “ Haydn Quartette,” String Quartette. 8.45: “Romance: La Nuit” (Rubenstein), Sophie Braslau (contralto); “El Puerto ” and " Ctibana,” William Murdoch (piano); “Orpheus with his Lute,” Dora Labbetto (soprano); “II Trovatore,” selection. Silver Stars Band. 9.30: Programme of dance music. 10.30: Close down.