Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1927-11)

44 The Phonograph Monthly Review November, 1927 m - 1 - — 1 members and shall retain undiminished the parti- cularly warm and personal interest we have al- ways felt in this, our first society. With the co- operative enthusiasm and abilities of the new members of the society, we can rest assured that the Boston organization will successfully sur- mount the many obstacles which have confronted it in the past. Over forty members are now regularly enrolled and eager to lend their services, but the problem of a suitable meeting place is still a difficult one. Dealers’ shops—used at first—are becoming more and more unsuitable as the members are desirous of making the society a purely amateur organiza- tion with no suspicion of commercial influence. It is to be hoped that many new music lovers can be interested in the society and we trust that any of our readers living in the vicinity of Bos- ton who are not already members will lose no time in getting in touch with Mr. Maynard, who should be addressed in care of the Fine Arts De- partment of the Boston Public Library. From the Chicago Gramophone Society word has come of the plans for a second set of records to follow the Franck Prelude Choral and Fugue issue of several months ago. Mr. Fisher writes me that an over-crowded schedule at the record- ing studios has necessitated the postponement for a few weeks of the making of these records, but that the recording will be speeded along with as little delay as possible. Full details of the work and the artists will be announced in an early issue. Another record issue announcement should be made here, although the releases themselves can- not be named until next issue, when they will be reviewed in full.' This is a special list of Victor Red Seal records to be released on November 11th. It is both long and varied, including works of uncommon interest to every enthusiast, several electrical re-recordings of old favorites, and a large number of new issues. Don’t overlook it! And apropos of “overlooking” anything, I trust that no one will overlook the new typographical changes that have been introduced this month. The italics in which by General Review has been printed have evidently proved unduly difficult to read; with this issue they are abandoned forever! The introduction of black-face type for titles in the review columns also should add material to both eye-ease and convenience in looking up rec- ords. Further changes may be made later; we are always open to receive suggestions and to adopt those which prove practicable and valuable. The article on the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and its Conductor, published last month, has apparently aroused considerable inter- est in the West. Among the comments received, the one that gave us all the most pleasure was a very kind note of appreciation from Dr. Herz himself, who expressed in particular his keen pleasure in the thought that “through our rec- ords we are giving the music lovers in the East on opportunity to hear some of the work we are doing out here.” For the benefit of our western friends, perhaps Captain Barnett would give us permission to use an altered version of his slogan, “Hands and Ears across the Continent!” The tests of the Euphonic and Symphonic needles proved a signal success judging from the reports we have received from the enthusiasts who have put them on trial. Some of the reports are published elsewhere in this issue; the others will follow next month. For those who have de- cided to use the fine gauge needles and ^rips, we are glad to announce that the H. Royer Smith Company of Philadelphia has cabled across for a large supply and should have them available by the time this is published. Not content with this alone, Mr. H. Royer Smith has also decided to im- port a supply of the Russian Ballet Orchestra records made by Edison Bell, about which we have received so many inquiries. Further trib- utes to the progressiveness of one far-sighted American dealer! Another example of the work of a progressive spirit, this time on the part of a manufacturer, also deserves comment. I refer to the new and enlarged booklets of biographical and musical notes accompanying the last group of Columbia Masterworks Albums. All the companies have been bringing out ever more elaborate and valu- able album booklets, and Mr. George C. Jell, who edits the Columbia booklets and annotations so capably, gives further effective proof of his de- termination to keep at the head of the procession of new developments. Mr. Borowski’s excellent notes for the new Brunswick album series have already been commented upon, but I should not forget the un-named author of the Victor book- lets, whose sound musicianship and colorful liter- ary style have long given us as much occasion for admiration as the actual recorded works in the Victor Music Arts Library which they accom- pany. These notes are doing a world of educa- tional good; now it can only be a question of time before they include a complete miniature score of the composition! Of course everybody has heard about the new combination Columbia-Kolster electric pick-up phonograph, and the glowing reports are by no means exaggerated. I have heard one of the ad- vance models and must confess that it really is a wonder! Further details will probably be given in these pages next month. Another new instrument now going on the market is the Edison Company’s “Edisonic,” which I have not yet heard, but of which I am informed by an enthusiast friend who heard it at the factory that it is a revelation in reproduc- tion. A package of the new Edison records ar- rived at the Studio too late for review, in this issue, but the one record I had a chance to hear demonstrated effectively the remarkable progress in recording the Edison Company has achieved. The scratch is now entirely gone; there is abun- dant clarity and volume with no decrease in tonal beauties. The record I heard was No. 60063, our old friend Juan Pulido singing Amapola and El Relicario. Hearing it convinces me that some- thing quite exceptional can be expected in the future. Edison owners will be happy to know