Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 4, No. 1 (1929-10)

The Phonograph Monthly Review 15 October, 1929 Correspondence The Editor does not accept any responsibility jor opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of un- signed letters, but only initials or a pseudonym will be printed if the writer so desires. Contributions of general interest to our readers are welcomed. They should be brief and writ- ten on one side of the paper only. Address all letters, to CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN, Editorial Department WHAT’S IN A NAME? Editor, Phonograph Monthly Review: I have just read your cordial review, in the August issue of your magazine, of our latest record by Yovanovitch Bratza, and I thought you would like to know that according to a “Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians,” edited by A. Eaglefield-Hull and published by Dutton in 1924, Bratza is masculine! It seems he is a Serbian, born in 1904, and now resident in England. I do not wonder that you were misled by the Russianate feminine ending, and I do not write in any official capacity for Columbia, or with any request for printed correction, but merely as one music lover to another—one who enjoys keenly and finds most helpful your always scholarly, honest, and penetrating reviews. New York City, N. Y. Robert W. Morse, Advertising Department, Columbia Phonograph Company, Inc AGAIN “CHERCHEZ LA FEMME” Editor, Phonograph Monthly Review: There is before me Edison’s form 41226. (This, by the way, is in re critique on Edison 11047—page 422 of your Sep- tember 1929 issue.) Said form, which is for December 1926, contains a picture of one Arcadie Birkenholz. “She” wears closely cropped hair, a starched collar, four-in-hand, and con- ventional business suit, consisting as I infer from the cut of the jacket partly visible in the picture, of trousers, jacket, and vest. “She” used to do a great deal of first-class fiddling for the National Broadcasting Company, principally over WEAF. Leopold Auer referred to “her” as “one of the most gifted violinists of the younger generation.” “She” made her debut in March 1926 at Town Hall (N.Y.) and was very favorably received. He—error—“She” also appeared as soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Cherchez la femme! Bellerose, N.Y. I RA Reviewer’s Note: The two letters above are surely con- vincing warning against accepting the testimony of names with feminine endings. Unfortunately the rush of records for review seldom permits investigation into the careers of all artists. Apologies are due Messrs. Bratza and Birkenholz, and thanks are due our correspondents for calling the errors to our attention. RECORDING IMPERFECTIONS Editor, Phonograph Monthly Review: The nine back numbers ordered have been received, com- pleting my file of volumes 2 and 3, and needless to say I have been busy ever since enjoying the wealth of good things contained therein. The correspondence column was by no means the least in- teresting feature, its most notable characteristic probably being the wide variance in the views on all subjects. On one point however I believe there should be unanimity, and that is that there should now be a uniform high standard of ex- cellence in the mechanical details of records, which, sad to relate, has not bee" achieved. Without mentioning specific records since all the companies err in this respect, I might say that my purchases of recently issued records included some which were extremely shrill, one which developed a break in the grooves, causing repetition, udjp (grmwqjhmtr 0 Encyclopedia of The World s Best Recorded Music A catalogue that lives up to its name is now avail- able. Within the two hundred and fourteen pages of this unique book will be found listed thousands of compositions, in every instance electrically record- ed, miniature scores and books on the composers and their music. Price 25c postpaid throughout the world. BEETHOVEN Septet in E Flat, Opus 20. Complete in ten parts. Played by the Madrid Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Perez Casas. Five 12 in. Span- ish HMV discs in album. Price, complete, $11.50. FAURE Penelope: Je L’attends, Minerve le protege. Act I. C’est sur ce banc, devant cette colonne. Act II. Sung by Mile Germain Cemay, soprano, with or- chestra. 10 in. French Odeon record, price $1.25. (0-188.619) RAVEL Sheherazade (Suite of Songs) 1. L’Indifferent. 2. La flute enchante. Sung by Mme. Cesbron- Viseur, soprano with orchestra. 10 in. French Odeon record, price $1.25 ( 0-188.630). Chanson Populaire Francaise. Chanson Populaire Espagnole. Sung by Charles Pan- zera, baritone, with piano accompaniment. 10 in. French HMV disc, price $1.50 (G-P795). RABAUD Marouf: Dans le jardin fleuri. Marouf: Viens mon epouse fleurie. Sung by M. Jose de Trevi, tenor, with orchestra. 10 in. French HMV disc, price $1.50 (G-P782). HONEGGER Rugby—Mouvement Symphonique. In two parts. Played by the Grand Symphony Orchestra under the direction of M. Piero Coppola. One 12 in. French HMV disc, price $2.00 (G-W1015). RICHARD STRAUSS Intermezzo: Waltz Scene. In two parts. Played by Hans Knappertsbusch and the Berlin State Opera House Orchestra. 12 in. English Parlophone disc, price $1.75 (PA-E10860). Rosenkavalier: Act 1. Nicht dort, dort ist das Vor- zimmer. Act. 3. Bin von so viel Finesse charmiert. ./Wt 3. Mein Gott, s’war mehr wie eine Farce. Act 3. Terzetto, “Hab’ mir’s gelobt ihn lieb zu haben.” Sung by Meta Seinemeyer, soprano; Grete Merrem- Nikisch, soprano; Elisa Stunzner, soprano; EYnanuel List, bass, with Berlin State Opera House Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Weissmann. Two 12 in. English Parlophone discs, price for the set $3.50 (PA-E10864-5). MAIL ORDERS Will be given prompt and careful attention. Every record is carefully inspected and packed in substantial wooden boxes, and insured against breakage. Qtyr CkamnplumT §>lrop Specialists in Imported Records 47 East 47th Street, New York City between Park and Madison Avenues | J. F. BROGAN W. H. TYLER