Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1, No. 8 (1927-05)

362 The Phonograph Monthly Review 5/SI! Brunswick 3158, 3175, 3160, and 3194 (DlOs, 75c each) are the new additions to the Brunswick series of College Glee Clubs. They are, respectively, the Wesleyan Glee Club (H. Calvin Kuhl, leader) in Alma Mater and Lamp in the West; the Fordham University Glee Club (Kenneth Bailey, leader) in Alma Mater, The Ram, and Ave Maria (Arcadelt-Dam- rosch); the University of North Carolina Glee Club (Paul J. Weaver, leader) in Hark the Sound of Tar-Heel Voices, Ma Little Banjo, and Toll the Bell Angel; and the Princeton University Glee Club (Luther M. Strayer, leader) in Princeton Steps Song and Princeton Marching Song. All are well up to the standard set by previous releases. Columbia 899-D (DIO, 75c)—God is a Spirit and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, sung by the St. George Chapel Choir of Windsor, is a good choral recording for those who desire two religious selections well sung and well recorded. Victor 20494 (DIO, 75c) is undoubtedly the most interesting choral record of the month. It couples Coleridge Taylor’s vigorous Viking Song with a choral arrangement of Dvorak’s famous Songs My Mother Taught Me, both sung by the Associated Glee Clubs of America and recorded at the Philadelphia Sesqui-Centennial Exposition. From a record- ing standpoint perhaps this is the best of the Associated Glee dubs’ releases and the Dvorak selection is of particular inter- est for this special Dvorak number of the magazine. It should be said, however, that the choral arrangement of this deservedly popular song hardly gives as effective an idea of its qualities as the solo version. Victor 20506 (DIO, 75c)—Do you Call That Religion, and Honey, by the Utica Institute Jubilee Singers. Well sung and recorded. Victor 35814 (D12, SI.25)—The Glow-Worm and Spring- time, sung by the Boys’ and Girls’ Chorus of Brooklyn. For some unknown reason this interesting recording was included among the Easter Specials in the Foreign List. The Boys’ and Girls’ Chorus, judging from their performance, have been excellently drilled and the unnamed conductor deserves con- siderable praise. It would be a pleasure to hear this chorus, equally well recorded, in selections of perhaps more serious musical worth, for they sing with feeling and confidence, evi- dently the result of careful training. Victor 79236 (DIO, 75c)—God’s Son has Set Me Free and Deck Thyself My Soul, sung by the St. Olaf Choir, and well up to the standard set by their release last month. The first- named selection is sung in Norweigan, the second in English. (This, too, is drawn from the Easter Specials in the foreign list.) Victor (See also mention of the recording of the Victor Light Opera Company under Popular Instrumental and Vocal Releases). The finale of the Gems from My Maryland, with its striking orchestral accompaniment, deserves special com- ment. Homocord 4-8768 — Wagner: Pigrim Chorus from Tann- hauser and Beethoven: Glory to God in Nature. D12. Sung by the Berlin Liedertafel (Max Wiederman, Dir.) accom- panied by the Berlin Symphony. Homocord 4-8767 — Haydn: Komm, holder Lenz and Jagd- chor, Hort das laute Geton, both from Die Jahreszeiten. D12. Sung by the Berlin Volks-Choir (Dr. E. Bauder, Dir.) accompanied by the Berlin Symphony. The above two Homocord electrical choral recordings, par- ticularly the Pilgrim Chorus, stand high in the ranks of rec- ords of chorus with orchestra. The recording is rather un- even at times, but at its best it is most powerful and im- pressive. Not to be overlooked. Brunswick 10265 (D10, $1.00)—Indian Dawn and Because of You, sung by Richard Bonelli. The recording here reflects the same progress shown by all the recent Brunswick releases, although it is almost too powerful at times. Brunswick 10326 (D12, $1.00)—Shepherd Show Me How to Go and Saw Ye My Saviour? sung by Marie Morrisey to the accompaniment of string quartet and organ. Two good re- ligious selections in appropriate versions. 1 1 ■ ■ ■ ~ - U S* Brunswick 30116—Panis Angelicus (Franck) and Pieta Signore! (attributed to Stradella). D12, $1.00. Sung by Guiseppe Danise with violin obligato by Frederick Fradkin and harp and organ accompaniment in the Franck song. Danise as always has a magnificent voice to display and the Franck work is an excellent vehicle to display it. Columbia 4037-M (D10, $1.25) Kashmiri Song and I Heard You Singing, tenor solos by Charles Hackett. Mr. Hackett has not been heard as frequently of late on records as might be wished; we look forward to some more releases from him in the near future. Columbia 5069-M (D12, $1.25)—Schubert: Du Bist die Ruh’ and Gretchen am Spinnrade, sung by Elsa Alsen. An excel- lent choice of songs for this German soprano whose recent appearances in this country have been so successful. The piano accompaniments are well played and splendidly re- corded, but the recording of the voice is not very kind to its actual quality. It is a pleasure to see Schubert’s best songs being recorded again, however, and one hopes that the beau- tiful Auf dem Wasser zu Singen will soon be issued. (Perhaps more praise could be given to this release, if it were not for the memory of the incomparable Polydor recording of Gret- chen am Spinnrade by Marcella Roeseler, reviewed in the November number.) Columbia 2049-M—Where my Caravan has Rested and Rose in the Bud. D10, $1.00. Two well-known songs sung by Louis Graveure of the resonant baritone voice, seldom heard lately on records. Columbia 2048-M—O legere hirondelle (Gounod) and Serenade francaise (Leoncavallo). D10, $1.00. Sung by the Russian coloratura soprano, Maria Kurenko, in a rather nasal voice that perhaps may be atributed to the recording. Homocord 4-8764—Handel: Largo and Arioso. D12. Sung by Manfred Lewandowski, accompanied..by ’cello and organ. Characteristically German, particularly the slurred phrases on the ’cello. The recording is fair. Victor 6629 (D12, $2.00)—Neapolitan songs: The Chimes of San Giusto and If My Mother Only Knew, sung by Tito Schipa. Victor 8069 (D12, $2.50)—Forza del Destino: Swear, in This Hour, and Boheme: False One!, sung by Beniaminio Gigli and Giuseppe de Luca. The leading vocal records of the month. Heard on the new 7 Victor Electrolo they, particularly the Forza del Destino selection, reveal possibilities in recording of the human voice one had hardly dreamed of before. The early electrical vocal records were practically all almost unbearable; even the splendid Pagliacci Prologue by Lawrence Tibbett was not entirely free from an intense “sharpness.” But here we have all the old beauty of the Victor vocal recording together with a new and almost overwhelming realism and power. On first hearing this record by Gigli and de Luca, we were tempted to say, “Talk about your Carusos and the rest as you will; we never had anything like this before.” Then we played the old Victor record by Caruso and Scotti of this same selection. The new Electrola drew out details that we never heard on the record before, and indeed, it was a great disk for its day—or any day. But the new one, giving the artists all the benefits of the last words in recording, surpasses even the other, fine as it is. Those who have felt that the orchestra, piano, and jazz band were the ones to benefit most by the new recording should buy both these records and be reassured. We look forward to many more of the same outstanding merit. (It is almost unnecessary to add that the orchestral accompaniment, as always in Victor vocals, is as close to perfection as one could desire.) Victor 4005 (D10, $1.00)—Lilly Dale and the Hazel Dell, sung by Olive Kline and a Male Quartet, in the old-fashioned, “restful” style. Victor 1229 (D10, $1.50)—Lilies of Lorraine and A Rose for Every Heart, sung by John McCormack. A companion record to his recent release of Roses of Picardy.