RADIO

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1931, Page 5

RADIO

H

"AERIAL.")

NOTES AND NEWS. Reception. There was not space available in yesterday’s notes to comment on reception on Tuesday evening. Conditions were fairly good all evening. A word of commendation is due 3ZC on the marked improvement in modulation. This station’s transmissions, so far as local listeners are concerned, compare more than favourably with any DX station’s broadcasts. There has also been a welcome change in the programmes pu» over—both in the way of studio items and in a greater variety of recorded presentations. The ether was again in kindly mood last night, permitting KFI, Los Angeles to be heard at good strength for over an hour during the early part of the evening. While it is still all very wonderful to be able to reproduce broadcasts put on the air thousands of miles away and at the great strength exhibited by KFI lately, one—out here —hears very little more (except, perhaps, on Monday evenings) than can be heard by tuning in on any dance session by a YA staAnd that leads up to a point the writer has heard mentioned, with increasing frequency, by listeners during recent months, to the effect that it is about time broadcasting stations provided listeners with more variety during the so-called “ dance ” sessions. For some years now we have heard little other than what one listener has dubbed “ those everlasting lovesick jazz warblers ” in a plethora of foxtrots, until, in some houses, the announcement that dance music session is commencing is the signal for the receiver to be turned off.

That is all very well for some, of course, but there are many others who are reluctant to turn their sets off oefore bedtime (so long as there is some station audible), if only for the reason that any old kind of music is preferable to the burden perfect silence has become to them. As it is questionable if more than an infinitesimal percentage of listeners ever actually dance to the music put over by broadcasting stations, it would seem reasonable to expect that minority to indulge their penchant for dancing in dance halls and for the broadcasters to replace their present dance sessions with a session of recorded music such as the truly enjoyable presentations they now provide during their afternoon i sessions. There is a wealth of glorious music, of all types, in recorded form that is available for broadcasting—presumably as available in a copyright sense as that put over in the afternoon sessions—and, as the majority of listeners are unable to hear afternoon broadcasts, they are denied the pleasure and profit at present enjoyed by the minority. The foregoing is not intended as suggesting that dance music—even "lovesick jazz warbling’’— should be banned altogether. A little of it, on occasions, would be more highly appreciated by many than the present feast of foxtrot offerings. Ship Ahoy! The ether just would, of course! When 2FC was tuned in at 9.50 last night it was disappointing to find so much noise and instability of signals. Later, round about 10.15, signals improved a trifle, and the opening chanteys by the “ shellbacks ” were heard fairly well. ! 2FC’s announcer made a comment regarding the singing of sea chanteys that should be borne In mind by those presenting them In concert halls or over the air. "Sea chanteys," he said, "demand one feature—one that was essential in their singing by the shellbacks of the old-time windjammers, namely

that they should show no variations in time, as it was on particular beats that all hands bent their backs in the haul.’’ Rebroadcast of WBZAL. There was little delay by 3YA fn putting the Crosley station WBXAL, Mason, Ohio, on the air last night. Speech from Mason was, at first, far better than music, the announcement by the station regarding its programme for New Zealand listeners being strong and quite clear. The musical offerings suffered from atmospheric noises, etc., and from the attentions of one or two shortwave listeners until they had tuned in WBXAL properly. Later—after 10 30— there was a slight improvement in the clarity of the musical items. As a “stunt" it was very interesting, of course, but it emphasised the point that such rebroadcasts have little entertainment value In the present stage of short-wave transmission and reception over great distances. However, without these attempts at transmission, reception and rebroadcast, no progress would be possible, and the fact that such success as was obtained last night showed a marked advance over previous attempts is an indication that worthwhile rebroadcasts of transmissions on the other side of the world may not lie so very far off In the future. The R.B.C. is to be congratulated on the measure of success that attended last night’s experiment. Programme Features. From the Lewis Eady Hall, a concert by the Aeolian Orchestra, under Mr Gerald T.-Lee, will be broadcast on relay by 1 YA this evening. Featured on 2YA's programme will be Mr Rex Harrison, baritone. He will sing four very popular songs: " I am a Friar of Orders Grey ", " The Vulcan’s Song ’’, " The Crescent Moon ", and “The Lute Player". Miss Muriel Johns will sing songs at the piano. Mr V. Evans will give two humorous items. Also included on the programme will be Mr Terence O’Brien, Irish tenor, and a violin solo, "Romance” (by Wien*ewskl) will be played by Mr VV. Haydock. The Orchestrina, under Signor A. P. Truda, will be heard In “ Sylvia ” ballet music, “ Miniature Suite ’’, Serenade Roccoco", the selection “ Gipsy Princess ’’ and the latest dance novelties. The weekly international talk from 3YA will be given by Mr George Lawn, M.A., of Canterbury College. Ho will speak on " Manchuria Silent day at 4YA. In his English language talk from 2BL, Sydney, this evening at 8.15, Mr R. M. Crawford, 8.A., will discuss the question, “Why Do We Read?” The concert programme (from 9.30) will include items by the Sydney Madrigal Society. Enid Conley will contribute pianoforte items, and Joyce and Inez Lang will be heard in harp and viol'n duets. A further feature will be a recital by the A.B.C. Military Band. The feature of 2FC’s trancin'ssion this evening (from ten o’clo-k) will he the presentation by the A.B.C. Plnj-ers of Oscar Wilde’s well-known drama, "A Woman of No Importance”, with Mr Duncan MacDougal, director of toe Playbox Theatre, in the role of Lord Illingworth. TO-NIGHT’S CONCERTS. Following arc the wireless programmes to be broadcast to-night:— 2YA, Wellington (416 m 7.0: News session. 7.40: Lecturette, Miss Inez Connop, " Dancing In Relation to Health." 8.0: Overture Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards. “A Princess of Kensington ” (German). 8.9: Mozzopoprano, Miss Muriel Johns. "In My Bouquet of Memories"; "Heavenly Night "Along the Road of Dreams.” 8.21: Salon Orchestra, "Sylvia Ballet." S. Baritone. Mr Rex Harrison. I \m

a Friar of Orders Grey " The Vulcan’s I Song”: "The Crescent Moon", "The I Lute Player.” 8.47: Orchestra. “Miniature Suite” (Coates). K. 66: Ural Cosj sacks, “Das Gebet Des Kasaken.” 9.0: (Weather report. 9.2: Acoordeon, Rene Leroux and lial Musette Orchestra, “The Girl From Paris”; "The Bagpipe’s ! Song.’’ 9.8: Humour, Mr Vryn Evans. ■ “Taffy was a Welshman”; “The Melodrama.” 9.15: Violin. Mr W. Haydock, “Romance” (Wieniawski); Orchestra, " Serenado Roccoco” ( Meyer-Hclmund ). 9.30: Humour, Will Fyffe, “Daft Sandy.” 9.38: Tenor, Mr Terence O'Brien. “Love’s Garden of Roses”; ” What a Wonderful World It Would Be”; "Tumbled Down Shack in Athlone.” 9.4 8: Orchestra. “Gipsy Princess’’ (Kalman): "Latest Dance Novelties.” 10.0: Close. 3TA, Christchurch. (306 m 7.0: News session. 7.30: Review of the "Journal of Agriculture." 8.0: Specially recorded international programme. Dr Eugene Ormandjr and his Salon Orchestra. International Singers. Abroad with the Lockharts. Weather report and station notices. International talk. Mr George Lawn, M.A.. Canterbury College, " Manchuria.” Ambassadors of Melodyland. Hy-wide and Handsome. Nat BrusilofT and his I.ldo Venice Orchestra. Close.