(By permission of the Air Council)
Directed by Flight-Lieut. J. AMERS , M.B.E. THE Athalie in question is the tragedy of Racine. Mendelssohn wrote music for a performance of it in Berlin just over eighty years ago. Most of the music is rarely heard now, but one extract from it, this War March of the Priests, has always been very popular.
IN his Hungarian Rhapsodies (originally written as Pianoforte Solos) Liszt paid proud homage to the national melodies of his native Hungary. The music of the ancient i nhabitants of the country, the Magyars, was taken as raw material by the gypsies who came to Hungary from the East early in the fifteenth century. Melodic decoration and strong rhythmic stresses characterize the gypsy songs and dance-tunes.
The First Rhapsody begins with a dignified section (corresponding to the Lassan of the gypsies), containing two Main Tunes. The First is in a minor key, and the Second resembles the well-known Rakoczy March (with Berlioz's treatment of which most listeners are familiar).
Next comes a lively section in the style of the gypsies' Friska dances. The music works up in speed and brilliance, the First Main Tune occurring again and a fourth Tune appearing before the exciting finish of the work. HELEN HENSCHEL The Little Red Lark(Irish Folk Songs)
The Glen of Kenmare(Irish Folk Songs)
Jock o' Hazeldean (Scottish Folk Songs)
Leezle Lindsay(Scottish Folk Songs)