HEDDLE NASH (Tenor)
NIEDZIELSKI (Solo Pianoforte)
THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, conducted by JOHN ANSELL
ORCHESTRA THE Cracoviak is a quick Polish dance, generally having a good deal of ' ragtime.' It owes its name, of course, to the city of . Cracow. A century has nearly gone by since Chopin earned for Poland a distinctive place in the world of music. We have had to wait some time for another Polish composer approaching the calibre of Chopin, but there is now a promising group of composers known as ' Young Musical Poland.' Of these,
Szymanovski is the most familiar-at any rate in England. Ludomir Rozyeki is another important figure in the group. He was born in Warsaw forty-two years ago.
THIS, one of the happiest of Brahms's works, is in four Movements.
The FIRST MOVEMENT (Fairly quick) is graceful and flowing. There are two Main Tunes-(a) the one which appears at the opening as a duet for two Horns, and (b) that which appears a little Inter as a 'Cello and Viola duet. Out of these the Movement grows.
The SECOND MOVEMENY(Fairly alow) is meditative. It is somewhat complex in its structure, and calls for sympathetic and attentive listening if its beauty is to be realized.
The THIRD MOVEMENT (Moderately quick and graceful) begins with Oboes. Clarinets, and Bassoons-alone, except for the 'Cellos, plucking arpeggio passages. So far, we have a sort of quick Minuet, three-in-a-bar, but a quick passage, four-in-a-bar. soon follows (it begins for Strings alone, as a contrast to the preceding portion for Wind alone). Out of these two happy little tunes the Movement is largely made. The .FINALE (Quick and spirited) opens with a long-breathed swinging tune for Strings. The Second Main Tune is also for Strings alone, rather slowly, with a syncopated (or ragtime) repetition of a note.