Cinema News and Property Gazette Technical Supplement (1924-1925, 1943, 1946)

November 26, 1925. Supplement to THE CINEMA NEWS AND PROPERTY GAZETTE. 23 nient of a definite form in film music ; to encourage composers and executive musicians to devote their gifts to the cinema ; to advise and help in every way possible those already engaged in the work ; to provide musical suggestions and special settings to films ; to provide training by means of lectures, personal and correspondence instruction ; to provide a circulating screen music library ; to publish a periodical, The Cinema Musician; and to promote intercourse and interchange of ideas amongst members. There is no fee for membership. Amongst the many advantages of membership, it may be mentioned that cinema managers may obtain the advice of an expert committee on all matters relating to their music ; and both managers and musical directors have access to the register of musicians, vacant and wanted, kept by the society. Musical directors have the use of the society's library at special rates, and may obtain expert advice at any time. Orchestras are provided, and managers can rely with confidence upon the judgment of the society's officials in selecting musicians. Special courses of instruction are given in screen music. The society possesses its own film music studios and private cinema theatre, and also controls the Guild of Orchestral Players, membership of which is strictly confined to bona-fide professional orchestral players, who must produce (upon their application for membership) satisfactory evidence of proficiency and ability. Meetings, auditions, lectures, &c, of the society are held at Avenue Pavilion, 101, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C. , and the offices of the Guild of Orchestral Players are at 72, Wells Street, London, W. 1. I advise any of my readers whose interest in cinema music is sufficiently keen to communicate with Mr. Emile J. Bennet, F.R.S.A., Film Music Studios, Westville, Babbacombe, Torquay, or to apply to either of the above-mentioned addresses. It will be seen from all this that here is an earnest endeavour to place cinema music on a firm foundation and develop it as an independent art form. With right support and encouragement, this society will prove of inestimable benefit to the cinema, the cinema-musician, and film producer ; and will also prove instrumental in establishing and maintaining film music on a sound artistic basis. REVIEWS OF NEW MUSIC. By DR. GEORGE TOOTELL, Mus.Doc, F.R.C.O. Messrs. Boosey and Co., Limited, 295, Regent Street, London, W. 1, have forwarded a selection of new publications which is of exceptional interest to the cinema musical director. The series of " Boosey's Orchestral Journal " is well known for the standard of musical composition, as well as for the excellent printing, editing, and quality of paper; these new issues are in every way fully up to the well-known standard of this firm, and comprise some numbers of exceptional interest and utility to the cinema musician. " Mademoiselle Kiki," by Harold Rawlinson, is a " Sketch of Montmartre, No. 2," being a companion entr'acte to this composer's well-known " Monsieur Tricotrin." " Mademoiselle," as pictured in this sketch, is a very delightful little lady, piquant and extremely dainty — points which are delightfully brought out in the instrumentation. This is altogether a very charming light number, which will enhance innumerable light film scenes. " Sea Maidens,''' by James M. Gallatly, is a valse-intermezzo, and provides another delightful light-entr'acte. This again, will prove a most useful and attractive adjunct to film scenes of a light, or lightsentimental character. A very fascinating and wholly original number is " Portrait of a Dancer in Red," by Maurice Besly. Here we have something entirely new and original; an orchestral phantasy (occupying 15 minutes in performance) comprising a variety of moods — including a fascinating tango movement — and some clever orchestral colouring. Played in its entirety as an orchestral selection, this number is an assured success : it is one of the best compositions of a "fantasy " character which has ever come under my notice. 1 strongly recommend this to all cinema musical directors. " Lotus Blossom," by Fredcrick Humphries, is a very charming and delicate Oriental donee — "Chinese" in character and quite delightful in effect. This is a good number ; the instrumentation is delicate and highly effective. Another very attractive Oriental intermezzo is " 'NeaMh African Skies," by Leon Jessel. This is a light 2-4 intermezzo, and will prove a capital accompaniment to Oriental or Eastern scenes of a light character. Last, but not least, comes a suite of three pieces, "May-Day Suite" by Alison Travers — a short suite occupying about ten minutes in performance. Here is some music of a virility and freshness which is refreshingly welcome, and quite " English " in character. I have thoroughly enjoyed this suite, and so will every cinema musical director who secures it. The three movements are : — 1, " A May Morning," which is after the style of a minuet, and is moderate 3-4 time. No. 2, " Noon Reverie," is a charming and melodious romance; while No. 3, "Around the Maypole" is a lively and vigorous 6-8 dance movement cf considerable length. The writing is unpretentious; the composer knows what to say and how to say it ; and in that, and the discreet and artistic scoring for orchestra by Sydney Baynes, we are provided with a charming work which will prove a welcome addition to the cinema musician's library. From Messrs. Paxton and Co., Limited, 95, New Oxford Street, W.C. 1, we have received three new numbers in their " Anthology of Music " series, which comprises arrangements of classical and other compositions for trio — pianoforte, violin, and 'cello. The new numbers are " La Paloma,", (Yradier) arranged by Tolhurst ; Chopin's Nocturne in E Flat, the arrangement of which has been very tastefully done ; and Beethoven's "Minuet in G," which, by a strange turn of chance, became so widely popular through its use as a " theme " in the music to the film " Scaramouche." This series of trio arrangements is of inestimable value to small instrumental combinations in cinemas : the price of each number (complete) is extraordinaiilv cheap— only one shilling— and the printing, paper, and editing is of the verv best quality throughout. Also nnHished bv this firm is a new arraneement for trio, of Schubert's Symphony in B Minor, " The Unfinished." This is in everv wav admirable : the pianoforte copv in itself provides an excellent arrangement for piano solo (b^ Edric Cundell) : an edition of first-rate quality, and published at a remarkably cheao price. " Temple Bells at Twilight,'" by Charles Aucliffe, is a charming romantic intermezzo, by a composer of light music who knows his business from A to Z. This number should prove very popular, and will be found useful for innumerable filmscenes. I am very much struck bv a new idea in the way of manuscript music paper which is introduced by Messrs. Paxton. .This is an "Errata" sheet, or M.S., " Mending Sheet," and consists of a sheet of manuscript music paper, one side of which is plain and gummed, the other containing the plain ruled Staves; these are supplied either 12 or 20 staves to the page. This is an admirable innovation, and its utility is obvious : band parts may be corrected, cues written in, &c, with the minimum amount of trouble, and moreover, the resulting effect will be neat and tidy. This is an invention which, though small in itself, is of the greatest utility, and I hereby hand out my congratulations to the inventor who conceived such a useful idea. . The catalogue of new music issued by Messrs. Paxton is well worth the obtaining and reading, if only for the very interesting account of the origin and development of this firm. The story provides a classic instance of the results achieved by earnest and brainy endeavour, and determination to overcome obstacles. Messrs. Paxton have rendered great services to the British musician and the British public ; their house is founded upon a rock ; may they proceed from strength to strength ! I advise musicians to secure a copy of this catalogue : it is full of good things, immensely interesting, and excellently compiled. A selection of new publications from Messrs. The Lawrence Wright Music Co., Denmark Street, Charing Cross Road,