Relayed from the Queen's Hall
(Sole Lessees, Messrs. Chappell and Co., Ltd.)
35th Season
Astra Desmond (Contralto)
Eric Greene (Tenor)
Isolde Menges, Orrea Pernel (Violins)
Gordon Walker (Flute)
Sir Henry Wood and his Symphony Orchestra
(Leader, Charles Woodhouse)

Orchestra
Suite, No. 2, in B Minor, for Flute and Strings
(Flute, Gordon Walker)

Astra Desmond and Orchestra
Aria, 'Agnus Dei' (Mass in B Minor)

Isolde Menges and Orchestra
Concerto, No. 2 in E

Eric Greene and Orchestra
Arias:
See what His love will do (Church Cantata, No. 85, 'Ich bin ein gutes Hirt') (I am a Good Shepherd)
My Jesus is risen (Church Cantata, No. 67, 'Halt im Gedachtniss Jesum Christ') (Hold in remembrance Jesus Christ)

Isolde Menges and Orrea Pernel and Orchestra
Concerto in D Minor for Two Solo Violins and Strings

In the whole realm of classical music there is no stouter witness than this concerto, to the truth of the old saying that the best music is necessarily also the most popular. Fresh and wholesome throughout, instinct with the splendid sanity of the great Bach, it is so full of what the 'man in the street' calls 'tunes' as to dispose satisfactorily of the superstition that the classics are necessarily hard to understand, and that the great Bach is always stern and severe.

It is in three movements, of which the first and third are similar in manner and design, with the slow movement between forming something in the nature of an interlude. Scored for two solo violins and strings only, it is necessarily restricted throughout to the one tone-colour, but Bach contrives to vary the shades of tone in the most interesting way, and there is never a thought of monotony from beginning to end.

The second solo violin and the second violins of the orchestra begin the first movement at once with a merry hurrying tune which is really the main basis of the movement. The first violins, solo and orchestral, take it up at an interval of four bars, and throughout the movement it will be heard now on one, now on another, sometimes for a moment on all the strings at once.

The slow movement is an expressive melodious duet for the two soloists, with only slight accompaniment from the main body of the strings. Again it is the second violin which begins, to be followed with an imitation of the same tune two bars later, by the first.

All but the two solo violins and the bass begin the last movement together, but again with comparatively slight accompaniment, the greater part of the movement is a duet for the two solo instruments. No more need be said of it than that it closes the short work in the same happy spirit in which it opened.

ORCHESTRA
Suite for full Orchestra, No. 6