Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1, No. 5 (1927-02)

202 The Phonograph Monthly Review Frederick Stock Conductor , Chicago Symphony Orchestra receive discerning attention. It would be hard to estimate too highly the results of his labors in Chicago where the orchestra has meant so much to the work of music appreciation and knowledge. Chicago is particularly noted for the number and enthusiasm of those interested in the phonograph and the best recorded music. Two phonograph societies are established there and are steadily growing and expanding. Almost unanimously the members will credit their interest in fine music to the concerts of Dr. Stock and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Not only in the city, but all over the Middle-West where ever the influence of the orchestra has spread, music lovers will tell the same story. Truly, a wonderful work has been accomplished. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Stock are now exclusive Victor artists, but before speaking about their recent recordings, one should mention the recording of the Strauss Waltz, Voices of Spring, made some time ago for Columbia, No. 7023 M, and still kept in the catalogue. Other recordings were made at that time, but have since been discontinued. The Victor recordings are as follows: 1152 To a Wild Rose and To a Water Lily (Mac- Dowell, orchestrated by Stock). 6560 Carneval Overture, Op. 92 (Dvorak). 6576 In Springtime, Overture, Op. 36 (Gold- mark) . 6579 Valse Triste (Sibelius), Serenade, Op. 63 (Volkmann), and Flight of the Bumble Bee (Rimsky-Korsakow). A remarkably well-chosen list of works, bril- liantly performed and recorded, which all enthusiasts hope will be the first of many fine recordings. Dvorak's whirling Carneval Over- ture in particular, at the time of its issue the only recording of the work, is done with remarkable effectiveness. The Goldmark overture, In Spring- time, is fully up to the standard set by the other; an excellent record for use in the building up of musical appreciation and taste. The Sibelius Valse Triste is without doubt the best existing record of this popular composition. On the other side is Rimsky-Korsakow's Flight of the Bumble Bee, a fantastic scherzino recently very popular in this country, and Volkmann's Serenade, Op. 63. In addition to the above double-sided twelve- inch records is the double ten-inch one of Mac- Dowell’s most popular pieces, To a Wild Rose and To a Water Lily, exquisitely orchestrated by Dr. Stock, and played with simple delicacy and finish. Excellent pieces for educational work, of course, where they are already well known in less effective arrangements. Phonograph enthusiasts are looking anxiously forward for future recordings and especially for those of large works. Brahms' Third Symphony has never been recorded and Dr. Stock's concert hall interpretation has aroused widespread praise: what could be more ideal than to have him record it? It would seem certain that the growth of music appreciation and the interest in recorded music today would justify the under- taking of this far from small task. Another un- recorded work for which Dr. Stock is famous is Schumann's Rhenish Symphony in his own re- orchestrated version. Both of these works are serious omissions from the list of recorded sym- phonies. Chicago may well be proud of its orchestra and conductor and their recordings. The splendid work that they have been doing is accomplishing the finest possible benefit for a truly musical America. P HONOGRAPH enthusiasts of experience are all familiar with the name of Captain H. T. Barnett, M. I. E. E., as a technical expert and writer upon subjects dealing with the phono- graph and recorded music. In England, Captain Barnett has also done much pioneer work with the Gramophone Societies and as a lecturer. Readers of The Phonograph Monthly Re- view, whether familiar with Captain Barnett's work or knowing of it by reputation only, will be pleased to hear that he has joined the staff of the publication as a Technical Expert and will contribute from month to month an instalment of ''British Chatter," the first of which appears in the following pages. As all readers of the Captain's booklet, "Gramo- phone Tips" (reviewed last month), ^re aware, the technical side of the phonograph is the one