Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 3, No. 12 (1929-09)

c MUSIC LOVERS PHONOGRAPH AXEL B. JOHNSON, Managing Editor Published by THE PHONOGRAPH PUBLISHING CO., Inc. General Offices and Studio: 47 Hampstead Road, Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. Telephone Jamaica: 5054 : Cable Address: “Phono” THE PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY REVIEW appears on the twenty-eighth of each month. All material is fully protected by copy- right and may be reproduced only by permission. Yearly subscription price $4.00 in the United States and $5.00 in Canada and other foreign countries, postage prepaid. Single copies 35 cents. All communications should be addressed to the Managing Editor at the Studio, 47 Hampstead Road, Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. All unsolicited contributions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. All checks and money orders should be made out to THE PHONO- GRAPH PUBLISHING C0 4 , Inc. General Review A S announced in a stop-press note last month /-V the Edison Company has begun to issue JL jL electrically recorded needle-cut disks. Their first releases, reviewed in this issue, are distinguished by remarkably clear and powerful recording, and also by a very successful eradica- tion of surface noise. Martinelli's magnificent performance of Celeste Aida and M'Appari (from Martha) is the outstanding work, followed by Carl Flesch's fine violin record of Hubay's Hejre Kati and Vieuxtemps' Reverie, Mario Basiola's performance of the Prologue to Pagliacci, marches by the Goldman Band (Stars and Stripes Forever and The Third Alarm), Kreisler's ar- rangements of Rimsky-Korsakow's Hymn to the Sun and Song of India played by Arcadie Bir- kenholz, Calm as the Night and Forgotten sung by Theodore Webb, two Carrie Jacobs-Bond songs by Elizabeth Lennox, and a very strong popular and dance list featuring among others Miss Patricola, The Happiness Boys, Bob Peirce, Vaughn de Leath, B. A. Rolfe's Lucky Strike Or- chestra, and the Picadilly Players. I shall look forward to the first Edison symphonic recordings. From Brunswick we have received a very son- orous violin record of Eili Eili and Kol Nidre played by Max Rosen, At Parting and Songs My Mother Taught Me sung by Kathryn Meisle, an- other excellent disk by Jessica Dragonette (Old Folks at Home and Love's Old Sweet Song), Spanish-Mexican waltzes in quiet, graceful per- formances by Louis Katzman and the Brunswick Concert Orchestra, popular musical comedy med- leys by the Colonial Club Orchestra, marches by the Brunswick Military Band, and the usual strong popular list, led by Lee Sims' piano solos and dance disks by Tom Gerunovich's and Hal Kemp's orchestras. The Odeon list is led by Popy's brilliant Orien- tal Suite given a most sensational performance by Dr. Weissmann and the Grand Odeon Orches- tra. This work is one that should have a place in the popular concert repertory, and these im- pressive records should do much to make it better known in this country. Dr. Weissmann also con- ducts performances of two light novelties, Japan- ese Lantern Dance and Chinese Street Serenade, but they are less striking and effective than the Popy work. Two later releases announced in their advertisement this month did not arrive in time for review in this issue. Two works share first honors on the Victor list, one the complete opera Aida in nineteen twelve- inch records and the other a small ten-inch disk of the Evolution of Dixie, played by the Victor Concert Orchestra under Mr. Bourdon. Despite the disparity in size the smaller work is if any- thing even more impressive than the larger. Mr. Bourdon again proves his astonishing skill as a conductor and the recording of this amusing and effective concert piece is superlatively brilliant. I can give it the most hearty recommendation. The stars of the Aida performance are Dusolina Giannini, who sings the part of Aida, and Carlo See last page for Table of Contents Copyright, 1929. by the Phonograph Publishing Company, Inc.