Books › Musical Courier 1927-06-16: Vol 94 Iss 24, 1927 › scan 29
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Musical Courier 1927-06-16: Vol 94 Iss 24, 1927
58 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 30. See the scan on archive.org.
1MUSIC ON THE AIR
3One disadvantage of the radio is that the listener cannot talk back to those who have done the speaking through the microphone. This is a nerve-racking restraint, for many times comes the sincere desire to call back to those favorite of radio favorites—the announcers—to beg them to repeat, in English which we are accustomed to understand, the names of artists, composers, compositions and other various details, which in their moments of loquaciousness they have rolled off into undecipherable sounds. Human nature is queer; it usually likes to know everything about what is going on.
5ON TURNING THE DIAL
7Monday, June 6.—Early in the evening came the usual Roxy Hour, the outstanding feature of which was a very good orchestral interpretation of the Tchaikowsky Nutcracker Suite. The Gypsies had something of local color when they wandered to Spain for the evening; there were Spanish dances, tangos, and arrangements of Sylvia and Mandoline. John Barnes Wells, tenor, only contributed two short songs as his share of the evening's entertainment. It seems queer that he should have chosen two so much alike—Red Roses of June and The Red, Red Rose. They recorded well, but variety is essential. The National Grand Opera presented Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, Cesare Sodero conducting. Frances Sebel as Santuzza and Devora Nadworney as Lola sustained an excellent standard throughout the evening.
9Tuesday, June 7—Anyone who knows the lusciousness of Paul Robeson's baritone would naturally place him as the high light of the evening's headliners. Known as the "Negro Chaliapin" he more than lived up to his already far-reaching reputation. With Lawrence Brown he gave eight negro spirituals that through the microphone seemed to have a closer appeal than when we heard him in concert. Anyone who has not the natural gift of interpreting the "spiritual" will know that it cannot be imitated. This treat came on the Edison Hour over WRNY. Frederick Baer on WJZ, in the Continental Program, gave an excellent rendition of the Rigoletto Parisiemo. There was fine dramatic style besides the particular resonance which either distinctly is or is not on the radio. The tenor and soprano, whose names were not caught respectively offered Massenet's Elegie and the Planquette Normandy. Frankly speaking, the tenor was disappointing; his voice was nasal and the French atrocious. It is such contributions that urge a quick turn of the dial. The soprano was good and the orchestral Wagner Prelude a real balm. On the Anthony Sawyer Hour over WOR, Irving Kennedy, tenor, and Amelia Nuet, violinist, were the best. The latter especially pleased with her Kreisler number. What is there about good violinists that, when they play Kreisler, one can shut one's eyes and relax? WGBS early in the day had the blind pianist, Samuel Diamond, and in the evening the Jewish Cantors furnished a program. For those who are not completely familiar with the background of a race it is difficult fully to appreciate such folk melodies. It is in just such a cause that plays like the Dybbuk are of value.
11Wednesday, June 8—WGL's feature was Frank La Forge and a galaxy of artists from his studio. The vocal contributions were chiefly numbers arranged or conceived by Mr. La Forge, all with decided Mexican flavor. Manlio Ovidio, baritone; Edna Bachman, and Gil Valeriano, tenor, were those picked as being particularly pleasing, and of these Gil Valeriano was the star. What a delightful, easy production and what sweetness there is in his voice! Whether Mr. Valeriano knows it or not, let him believe this listener: he ought to specialize in this field. Supplication and Astrellita, as usual, headed the list of favorites. The Maxwell hour did not live up to its schedule of travel—a pleasant surprise; for instead, Lambert Murphy, as guest artist, between the orchestral selections was heard in the Swan Song from Lohengrin and Schubert's Serenade. From this there was a quick turn to hear Mario Chamlee singing from the Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic City. Chamlee was in supreme voice, finer that we have heard him in a long time and he, without reserve, won the evening's honors. Besides arias, which are his forte, Cramer's Fleetling and Leoncavallo's Mattinata made one long for more, which in spite of the thunderous applause was not forthcoming.
13Thursday, June 9—On WEAF, Hans Barth devoted his "half hour with great musicians" to Grieg. With orchestral accompaniment he rendered, in exquisite style, some of the composer's famous shorter lyrics. In general Mr. Barth has a forceful tone and a decided leaning to the dramatic. In direct contrast to this program in style was the delightful one given by Keith McLeod over WJZ, in which he indulged in some distinctive ballet numbers, one of the most lucidly given being the Levitzki Waltz. Mr. McLeod's fleetness of technic enables him to do this type of work with especial charm. Over WOR came the usual pleasing tones of the Sittig Trio. As an ensemble it easily stands in the front ranks and there is decided originality in the work. A Horn Dance arranged by Bridge was a good example.
15Friday, June 10.—The Royal Hour of Music Makers strayed far from the scheduled program, for instead of the Scandinavian melodies of Grieg we were left close to home with the favorite air from Rose Marie, The Indian Love Call, and the familiar, but never old ballad, Broken Dreams, sung with feeling and a great charm by Helen Clark. I'll Always Remember You also carried the ability to stir old reminiscences. The Philco Hour, immediately following, offered besides some orchestral gayeties, Erva Giles and Frank Munn as soloists. Miss Giles has a pleasing soprano and one well known on the microphone. Her solo, Only a Rose, as well as the tenor's vocal arrangement of Kreisler's Old Refrain were two entertaining bits. Finally the Hoffman Barcarolle, as a duet, proved that the singers are well cast together.
17Sunday, June 12.—Quite early in the evening, over WOR, Robert Braine, pianist, thoroughly delighted with the Grieg A minor concerto accompanied by the Bamberger Little Symphony. Mr. Braine, whose reputation as a pianist is one of long merit, was especially happy in the first movement of this melodious work. This particular section has many opportunities for some fine climaxes and the pianist seemed more than competent to bring out good effects. Godfrey Ludlow, a favorite of radio listeners, gave a program of French composers. The selections heard were a movement of the Saint-Saens concerto, a Bourre by Mouret, and the Tricotee by Saint-Saens. In this last number especially was noted the warmth and firmness of the violinist's tone in the broad passages. William Simmons then began the Atwater-Kent Hour. There was regret to find that he had already given some of his numbers before we could tune in and we were only on time to hear Herbert's Gypsy Love Song, Watt's Blue are her Eyes, The Open Road, and also the spiritual, Steal Away. Mr. Simmons seemed to be in even finer form than at his two previous recitals for this hour; there was ease about his singing and his higher notes held a resonance that came through without the least blast. Other interesting features of this evening were a Pagliacci piano tabloid performance by Marjorie Morrison, and Simon Wolf, violinist, playing on a treasured Stradivarius the first movement of the Lalo symphony; both artists were heard over WPCH.
19IN FORECASTING
21Over WEAF, Thursday, June 16, Arcadie Birkenholz, violinist, will render the seldom heard concerto in D minor by Max Bruch. Frances Paperte, mezzo soprano, who has appeared with the Chicago Civic Opera Company and has also sung at the Stadium as soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra, will present a program on which will be featured an aria from Thomas' Mignon, Logan's Pale Moon and Chaminade's L'Anneau d'Argent. The Second Summer Cities Service Program will be broadcast direct from Chamber Music Hall of Carnegie on Friday. The sextet from Lucia is probably the outstanding feature of the Goldman Band program for Saturday. Lotta Madden, who will be the vocal soloist, will render the aria, Ritorna Vincitor, from Aida. Paul Althouse was to have been the feature of the Atwater-Kent Hour on Sunday, June 19. Instead the singer will be heard over the air the three first Sundays of July. Mr. Althouse is a favorite wherever he sings and through his broadcasting has added a long list of friends.
23Over WJZ, Alice Godillot, soprano; Rose Bryant, contralto; Maurice Tyler, tenor, and Walter Preston, baritone, will be the soloists on the hour, "Our Musical United States," to be broadcast, Thursday, June 16, with the studio orchestra directed by Hugo Mariani. The Arion Male Chorus, broadcasting Friday night, will include Beethoven's Hymn to the Night and Brahms' Lullaby on the first part of the program. The Royal Typewriter Hour will go on a trip over the seas presenting a program entitled "Life on the Ocean Wave." The musical ship will be in charge of "Captain" Charles Harrison, tenor, and Helen Clark, mezzo soprano, will be first mate. The orchestra crew will be under the leadership "Bos'n" Joe Green. Marley Sherris will present his postponed radio concert of June 4, on Saturday, June 18. Mr. Sherris, bass, follows in the footsteps of Milton Cross, pianist, Keith McLeod, pianist, and Godfrey Ludlow, violinist, in the fourth of a current series of recitals. One of the features of the evening's offering will be the Persian Garden Song Cycle by Liza Lehmann. A vocal quartet composed of Mildred Rose, soprano; Litta Grimm, contralto; George Rasely, tenor, and Mr. Sherris, will render solos, supported by the Mediterranians. The three piano concerto of Bach will be heard Sunday night, June 19, with Keith McLeod, Lolita Gainsborg and Julius Mattfeld.
25Over WOR, The French Trio, made up of violin, harp and flute, will have its first appearance at this station, Thursday, June 16.
27Over WGBS, a program of East Indian Songs will be heard on the International series, Thursday afternoon, June 16, offered by Mary Bongert. In the evening Helgis Bokke, Norwegian concert violinist, will give a program of concert classics. The artist has appeared in Oslo as soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Norwegian capital. The musical portion of the afternoon's program on Friday, at this station, will be Serbian folk songs, offered by Ethel Edmonds.
29Over WPCH, Gounod's Faust is scheduled for Thursday, June 16, at eight o'clock.
31FACTS OF INTEREST
33Wisconsin has a new radio station, WTMJ, The Milwaukee Journal, which will be in operation within two months.
35Florence Macbeth, of the Chicago Opera, sang at the reception tendered Lindbergh by Secretary Kellogg and the Minnesota Society in Washington.
37WNYC and WEAF are sharing the Goldman Band concerts, which are broadcast from the Central Park Mall. Wednesday is allotted to the first named station, and Monday and Saturday to WEAF.
39WLW, located in Cincinnati and operated by The Crosley Radio Corporation, has announced the formation of an artists' bureau. Contracts provide that the artist entrust to the bureau the management of all engagements for public and radio appearances.
41The Story of Music, by Paul Bekker, recently published by Norton, contains twenty lectures prepared by the eminent German critic at the request of the Southwest German Radio Corporation for the Radio High School.
43Doris Le Vene, a young and promising pianist who was awarded the stadium prize in 1925, was soloist with Major Bowes' Capitol Family, June 12.
45Isidor Strassner's talented pupil, David Novick, was heard over WEAF on June 5.
47Over WGL a group of artists from the La Forge-Berumen studios rendered an interesting program on May 22.
49MARGHERITA TIRINDELLI.
51Smallens Newest Member of League of Composers' Executive Board
53The League of Composers announces that Alexander Smallens, musical director of the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company, has just become the eleventh member of its executive board. Mr. Smallens has held this position in Philadelphia for the last five years, during which time he has also appeared as guest conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as with the Pennsylvania, Fairmount and Philharmonic Society orchestras. His professional career began as assistant conductor of the Boston Opera Company in 1911. Since that time he has appeared as conductor in Chicago, New York, Berlin, Madrid, Colon and Havana. Last fall he was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Society for Contemporary Music of whose music committee he is the chairman. He is also a member of the music committee of the American Section of the International Society for Contemporary Music, whose duty it is to select American music for the European festivals.
55Closing Recitals at King-Smith School
57Many varied and interesting programs are given at the King-Smith Studio-School in Washington, D. C. The Rock, a play by Mary P. Hamlin, based on the Bible showing the development in the character of Simon Peter, was given recently under the direction of Carolina McKinley with a cast which included Winifred Buckingham, Margaret Cowan, Alexandra Endsey, Mary Jane Rayburn, Julia Crehore and Virginia Miller. The music which was given at the beginning and between the second and third acts was arranged for three-part women's chorus by Mr. King-Smith. On May 13 and 14 programs were given by the dramatic art class, the offerings including one act plays and readings. The closing recitals for this season were given on May 19 and 20, the program for Thursday being presented by Les Fauvettes and the students in rhythmic expression. Several of the selections for this program were arranged by Mr. King-Smith. At the closing recital on Friday evening a delightful program of music was given.
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