Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 5, No. 3 (1930-12)

December, 1930, Vol. V. No. 3 107 The Phonophile's Bookshelf Phono-Technique — Hemardinquer Le Phonographe et ses Mervailleux Progres. By P. Hemardinquer. Preface by M. Louis Lumiere. Paris, Mas son et Cie. 278 pages, 24 francs. (Foreign orders must be augmented by 15 francs to cover carriage charges.) Text and hand-books on the phonograph have largely con- fined themselves to a consideration of its historical aspects. There is considerable literature available on phonographic personalities and recorded music, but technical points are lightly skimmed over or sadly out of date. M. Hemardin- quer accordingly confines himself exclusively to a tehcnical and practical study of the phonograph, written with the general public in mind, but particularly for “discophiles” (which, a note explains, is the name now given to users of the phonograph) and owners of radios. The plan of the book is largely laid out on that adopted in the author’s works on the radio, whose popularity in France led to the pub- lication of a study of the phonograph. As the publishers point out, for many years the phono- graph has been considered at best a semi-artistic plaything. Its transformation into a true musical instrument has taken place only in the last few years. Manufacturers have guarded their methods and technical secrets so jealously that tech- nicians in the past have been unable to obtain sufficient in- formation to publish independent and authoritative techni- cal studies. Consequently the general public is aware only in a very vague and general way of the full significance of the engineering miracles that have wrought the phonograph’s transformation and given rise to the sonal film, or even of the enormous increase in scope of the phonographic industry throughout the world. The triple alliance of phonograph, radio, and sonal film now constitute one of the largest in- ternational groups. M. Hemerdinquer attempts to chart the developments that have given rise to this gigantic growth, and in fairly limited space and not to technical language suc- ceeds in giving a readable and for the most part quite sound survey. It is unfortunate that the numerous diagrams and illustrations could not have been better reproduced, for even as they are, they constitute a large part of the book’s value. Emphasis is given, not unnaturally, to the achievements of early French experimentors, especially Charles Cros, but this is an adavantage from the American reader’s point of view, as he is likely to be familar with the ground-work of Edison only. Indicating the plan of the book in brief, there are main sections devoted to the phonograph’s history (the chapter on prophets of the phonograph is of unusual interest) the prob- lems of recording and reproduction—covering the various sys- tems used and their various merits and defects, the manufac- ture and characteristics of phonograph records, the modern mechanical phonograph, the electrical phonograph and radio- phonograph, the use of the phonograph (with notes on the choice of an instrument and the acoustical conditions under which it should best operate), the applications of the phono- graph sonal film (covering a study of the various tvpes and apparati used in sound movies), and the phonograph of the future. The earlier parts of the book are the most valuable. In the last section M. Hemardinquer does not seem acquainted with the latest American developments, and gives promin- ence to such impracticable experiments as the long-since ex- ploded forty-minute record of Edison. The style is straight- forward and not too difficult for one but slightly versed in the language. A great deal of interesting material is got within a narrow space, and while as a study it is by no means a definitive one, it does supply badly needed and convenient- ly arranged information on the history of the phonograph’s technical progress. No doubt the book will be handled by some of the Ameri- can record and book importers. Those who wish to order it directly should address the publishers, Masson & Cie., 120 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, France. Phono-Technique — Wilson Modern Gramophones and Electrical Reproducers. By P. Wilson and G. W. Webb. London: Cassell & Co. 10s. 5 d. Almost simultaneously with the publication of M. Hemar- dinquer’s book, Messrs. Wilson and Webb, leading spirits of “The Gramophone’s” renowed “Expert Committee” pub- lish a treatise covering the technical aspects of modern phono- graphy and the theory and construction of electrically re- producing instruments. As the readers of Mr. Wilson’s ar- ticles in “The Gramophone” are well aware, Mr. Wilson is one of the best equipped phono-technicians. Here in conven- ient form, he and Mr. Webb have summarized much of the material of their monthly studies of phono-technique and new instruments. The book is more technical than “Le Phonographe et ses merveilleux Progres,” but it pierces more deeply and clearly to underlying acoustical and electrical principles. It opens with a simply written yet unusually sound explanation of the phenomena of sound waves and their transmission. Later chapters cover the principles of design of the various parts of a phonography—particularly the horn, a helpful analysis of the old (acoustical) and new (electri- cal) methods of recording, and practical information to phono- graph owners on correcting defects in their instruments and using them to the best advantage. There are twelve half- tone plates and many illustrations through the text. American phonophiles as a rule are exceedingly vaguely informed about acoustics, the technical aspects of their in- struments, the points of weakness in present reproducing systems, and the direction in which further progress must be made. A little time and thought spent on Messrs. Wilson and Webb’s treatise will give them a sound theoretical ground- ing in their art, and a new understanding of modem phono- graphs and their most efficient use. Victor Educational Catalogue Educational Catalogue and Graded List of Victor Rec- ords for Home, School, and College. Camden, N. J. RCA Victor Company, Inc., Thirteenth revised edition, 1930. 277 pp. (Copies may be obtained without cost from Victor deal- ers.) Recent releases in the educational and masterpiece lists have given added bulk to the admirably classified catalogue issued by the Victor educational department, under the sup- ervision of Mrs. Frances E. Clark. Outside the schools there seems to be a misconception concerning the full significance of this catalogue, which is by no means limited to school pur- poses or children’s records only. As the title page states, these records are selected from the general catalogue be- cause of cultural and educational value, or especially made for some definited educational purpose. The booklet is in- dispensible to every serious phonophile, for it is all that a model record catalogue should be, providing not only graded lists of discs for music study, special lists for music apprecia- tion and the exemplification of all the musical forms, but also convenient tables for the correlation of music with other sub- jects (history, geography, physical education, ballet, etc.), a section of succinct “informational notes” on the selections recorded, and a list of selections classified by composers. Mrs. Clark’s introduction has been augmented by a page on the correlation of radio with music appreciation work in the schools. One of the most helpful features of the book is the chronological table of parallel music, literature, art, and world events, that gives at a glance not only a list of records il- lustrating the music of any particular period or composer, but also a contemporary world figure or event. We see, for in- stance, under Rameau two or three recorded pieces, and that the span of Rameau’s life (1683-1764) corresponded roughly with those of Stradivarius (1644-1737) and Dryden (1631-i700), and included the Hungarian Revolution of 1705. It is a pleasure to watch this catalogue grow in scope and value with every revision. Those who are already familiar with it will need no reminder to procure this latest edition; others should lose no time making its acquaintance.