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

November, 1927 The Phonograph Monthly Review 79 OXFORD MUSIC The English Ayre, by Peter Warlock (London: The Oxford University Press) 142 pages. Peter Warlock (Philip Heseltine) is known as an authority upon the early English song writers, as well as a composer. (His Serenade for string orchestra was recently recorded by the National Gramophonic Society.) This present work deals with the period of the English Ayre beginning about 1597. The ’composers discussed include John Dowland, John Dan- yel, Captain Hume, Ferrabosco the Younger, Campion, Philip Rosseter, and others. There are numerous musical illustra- tions, several beautiful reproductions of title pages of early song books, a bibliography of modern reprints, and a histori- cal introduction. A wealth of authoritative information in compact form. The English Madrigal, by E. H. Fellowes (London: The Oxford University Press) 11 pages. Uniform with the volume above, this study begins with music in the Elizabethan home, and goes on to discuss the madrigal as a form, the words, and the composers, including, of course, such noted names as Byrd and Gibbons, some of whose compositions have been edited for publication by Dr. Fellowes. There are musical illustrations and reproductions of contemporary engravings. Beethoven—I. The Pianoforte Sonatas, by A. Forbes Milne (Oxford Press) “Musical Pilgrim” series, 50c. 66 pages. The title is somewhat misleading, as only five of the sonatas are studied: E flat, Op. 7; D, Op. 28; D minor, Op. 31, No. 2; Appassionata; E, Op. 109. These are given detailed analysis, with all themes illustrated in annotation. Mr. Milne is methodical rather than rhapsodic, and he makes no attempt to comment on any aesthetic points. Frankly a technical study and not of great interest except to the student of musi- cal form or of the particular sonatas considered here. The Listener’s Guide to Music, by Percy A. Scholes (Oxford Press) xi plus 110 pages. This work was originally published in 1919 for use in the Army Education Scheme, and is intended largely for class use. The present edition is the seventh; there is an introduc- tion by Sir Henry Hadow, and a concert-goer’s Glossary. Scholes as always writes helpfully for the “average man”, but there are other brief outlines of this sort which are more in- formative and stimulating than this, particularly for American readers. Scholes himself, in later works, has written some of these The Romance of the Gramophone, by T. Lindsay Buick (Ernest Dawson, Ltd., 40 Manners St., Wellington, New Zea- land) xvii plus 107 pages; price, six shillings. From the other side of the world, in far away New Zealand, comes this little story of the history and romance of the gramophone, written in a readable yet compact style, rather informally to be sure, but in the manner that will be most effective with the majority of its readers—amateur phono- graph enthusiasts. It may well take an honored place in every record buyer’s library, for it collects under one cover a multitude of information, most of which is only available at the cost of considerable research and study, elsewhere. Records are not dealt with, although the author half- promises a later book on that subject, to which we may well look forward. The story goes up to the invention of the electrical process of recording and the new-style instruments. There are a number of reproductions of early models of gramophonic instruments. Mr. Buick has evidently gone to considerable trouble to accumulate information and confesses that the many con- tradictions he met with gave him a good deal of trouble. It is to be expected that complete reconciliation of all re- ports from various sources would be impossible. Several doubtful points have slipped into his present volume, but on the whole, it deserves no inconsiderable credit for handling a very difficult task in remarkably competent fashion. Popular Books For the Layman The Borderland of Music and Psychology FRANK HOWES $2.25 With a Preface by Sir Hugh Allen, Principal, Royal College of Music, London. The book presents in a clear and non-technical way a series of Essays upon the relationship between music and ordinary normal life. Some of the topics are—Gregariousness in Audiences and Performers. Emotion in Music, Applause, Inspiration and the Sub-conscious, Taste. Mr. Howes is one of the best known of the younger school of English music critics. Wagner and Wagenseil A Source of Wagner’s Opera “Die Meistersinger,’’ by HERBERT THOMPSON, 1927 $4.00 All lovers of Wagnerian opera should be interested in “old Wagen- seil.” According to most authorities he was born in Nuremberg in 1633, and wrote, what may be called in translation, “Johann Christ of Wagenseil’s Book of the Mastersinger.” From this strange medley of irrelevant facts and fancies, Wagner, aided by Cornelius, drew the story of his opera, “Die Meistersinger.” A Musical Pilgrhn’s Progress J. D. M. RORKE ., v $1-50 No musical autobiography of this kind was ever before written. The author, who describes his book as “personal adventures and discoveries in music,” is an amateur who with the help of reproduced music has found his way about the lands of music, and recorded his experiences with great frankness and artistic insight. Everybody's Guide to Radio Music pe"rcy a. scholes $ 2.00 With a foreword by Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith (Chief Broadcast Engineer, Radio Corporation of America). A book appealing to the wide public of listeners-in. Includes a Simple Description of the Vari- ous Forms of Music, and of the Orchestra, a Short Account of the History of Music, Some Advice on the Enjoyment of Radio Opera (with a List of Published Libretti, etc.), and a Discussion of What Constitutes Good Music and Good Musical Performance. Crotchets PERCY A. SCHOLES v $2.50 Fifty-four short essays on various musical topics for the layman, being reprinted, with slight alteration, from “The London Observer. ’ OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS AMERICAN BRANCH 35 West 32nd Street, N.. Y. Music—Classical, Romantic, and Modern, by Eaglefield Hull (E. P. Dutton & Company, New York) xii plus 473 pages: $5.00. With History, Literature, Art, and various other subjects being “outlined” so rapidly, it was to be expected that Music would shortly experience a like fate! Mr. Eaglefield Hull is the first to essay the task and does a surprisingly effective piece of work. The book is not too bulky nor heavy in style and for a book of convenient inclusive information is invalu- able to every music lover—professional or amateur. The evolution of music is traced, the various composers and their methods of work are described, all in a manner that is designed to be of the most practical value to the reader. There is appended a list of books recommended for refer- ence and also one of the most modern and inclusive lists of phonograph records we have yet seen. Of course, there are many omissions in the latter, particularly of German record- ings; and there is a serious fault of versions being mentioned that are by no means the best of a given composition; but considering the titanic difficulties confronting any compiler of such a list during these days of rapid developments in the recording field, due credit must certainly be given here. The over-emphasis on English composers, particularly Elgar, is altogether disproportionate, but makes the book no less stimulating. Modern composers receive appreciative treatment on the whole; in fact, this section of the work is by far the most interesting and valuable. The study of Schonberg is particularly significant. Unless one possesses an extremely large and inclusive li- brary of books on music, this work is almost indispensable, and it can be recommended warmly to every phonograph enthusi- ast. He will find much to arouse his ire, perhaps, but he will find much more to arouse his interest. The appendix also contains brief biographies and glossaries of musical terms. F. F.