Recorded Music

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18408, 15 August 1931, Page 18 (Supplement)

Recorded Music

LATEST RELEASES.

Gladys Moncrief?. Gladys Moncrief? has now produced her second Regal record. This disc contains two titles that Gladys Moncrief? is particularly fond of. The, titles are “Sing Me to Sleep” and “Whisper and I Shall Hear." Train Effects on Cinema Organ. Reginald Foort, one of England’s leading organists, has just produced two recordings — “Choo Choo," coupled with “Memories of You." In order to get his sound effects correctly for "Choo Choo" Regtna'd Foort travelled on the footplate of an English express engine. Clapham and Dwyer Again.

The newest disc of these two Inimitable comedians is a sketch entitled “Buying a House." A prospective buyer Is being shown over a house by a veracious salesman. The interchange of courtesies is boisterous. On being informed that the buyer has no children the agent whispers, "Do you want some?" One big advantage is the central heating. All goes well until the buyer ascends seven steps towards the attic and falls with a crash Into the cellar. Clapham and Dwyer have given another of their uproariously funny sketches. Rollicking Choruses.

The young bass-baritone Stuart Robertson, and his male chorus, are again to the fore this month with another group of those rollicking old choruses which are rightly part ot our heritage of song. What could be finer on the lighter side of musio than “There’s a Tavern in the Town," "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” etc.? and Robertson and his merry men are doing a real service by reviving the music, words, and spirit of these songs. In their latest record—the fourth they have made—they sing, “Ho-Ro, My Nut-brown Maiden," "0 Rogerum," "Green Grow the Rushes 0," and “Marching through Georgia,” and they sing them with a will. Robertson has a delightful sense of humour, and the chorus shares In his pranks. Toti dal Monte’s Artistry.

Toti dal Monte, who last month recorded “Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark," Is this month heard in two Venetian songs by Bianchini, "Ninna-Nanna” and “Redentor in Famegia.” The first impression on hearing the record is the artistic singing, combined with a flawless technique. There is no suspicion of shrillness in hqr lovely mellow voice, and every high note is well subdued. "Ninna-Nanna" has a caressing melody which is expressively sung tn beautifully-rounded tones. The second song has a number of tripping passages, alternating with phrases of wistfulness, and dal Monte is In complete sympathy with both moods. She Is supported by the La Scala Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno.

Jigs, Reels and Hornpipe. An exhilarating recording of an arrangement of Irish jigs and reels by G. W. Byng is played by the Mayfair Orchestra. These are the most Irresistible of all dance tunes, and the orchestra plays them with vigour and telling rhythm. On the reverse side of the record Is an orchestral arrangement, also by Byng, of a hornpipe, and again the players have caught up the atmosphere of the dance. Peter Dawson In Eastern Songs. The name of Amy Woodforde-Fln-den first earned a permanent place In the history of English song as the composer of the incomparable "Four Indian Love Lyrics," and she added lustre to her fame with another equally beautiful cycle, "A Lover of Damascus.” She has caught up the spirit of the East and the peculiar syncopated rhythms of her songs have a fascination of their own, and there will be a wide welcome for Peter Dawson’s recording of the six song, of “A Lover of Damascus.” He sings them with convincing depth of feeling and his voice is always rich and resonant. The cycle takes up three sides of two records, and on tha fourth Dawson sings Tchaikowsky's beautiful Inspiration, “To the Forest." Popular Songs by Turner Layton. Turner Layton, famous partner to the negro Johnstone, this month gives us a pairing of Nevin’s "Mighty Lak' a Rose" and “LU' Gal” (Dunbar, Romas and Johnson). So great has been the popularity of the old recording of these ballads that Mr Turner Layton has re-made them by the electric process. The new recording has brought out all the familiar restraint, allied with a sympathy of voice and understanding that characterises his singing. Turner Layton's first Columbia solo disc should not be forgotten, of course, a pairing of two negro spirituals—" Were You There?” (solo by Layton) and "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" (duet by both Layton and Johnstone). , Modern Spanish Muslo. j I - ' Those who like rich colour, dramatic Incident, fiery rhythm, and the sparkle of pageantry In their music will be enchanted by a new recording by the Madrid Symphony Orchestra by Arbos. The work Is "La Procession del Roclo,” by Joachim Turlna, himself a brilliant pianist, and with Falla, Granuados and Albeniz, one of the leaders of modern Spanish music. It Is a glowing tone poem of ths annual "Procession of the Virgin,” a religious feast In Seville. In the muslo one can read the blare and rattle of the merrymakers, the pomp of the gaudily-decked priests, tha music and the bells. Atmospheric to a degree, the work Is a brilliant panorama. Arbos, who ranks as the greatest conductor In Spain, gives a reading of vitality, and makes the work enchant us with Its vivid realism.