(From Birmingham)
The BIRMINGHAM STUDIO AUGMENTED ORCHESTRA:
(Leader, FRANK CANTELL)
Conducted by Joseph LEWIS
ASTRA DESMOND (Contralto)
The BIRMINGHAM STUDIO CHORUS

The 'Schicksalsliod,' to give 'The Song of Destiny' its original name, is based on a poem by Holderlin, one whoso last years were clouded by unhappiness which bordered on insanity; noble and dignified in its way, the poem is pessimistic in outlook. It sets forth a contrast between tho happy state of the immortals and the trials and sufferings of mankind, and it ends on a rather hopeless note. There is a quite short orchestral prelude, fore-shadowing the peace and gladness of the opening section of the poem. The chorus enters in the same happy vein, calm and serene, and that continues until the conflicts of our earthly life intrude, breaking in on tho serene mood of the opening with vigorous rhythmic interruptions until the chorus concludes with man's passing away from earth. Then Brahms has an orchestral epilogue in which the themes of the opening are heard again, reminding us of its mood of bright serenity.

The Rhapsody for Contralto, Male Voice Choir and orchestra, is founded on a poem of Goethe's descriptive of a journey to the Harz mountains.
In the first two portions of the poem which Brahms has chosen, loneliness is the key-note, the sad state of those who live apart from comradeship, taking no share in mankind's tasks. The last part of the work is in happier spirit, finding consolation in a divine thought finely expressed ; it concludes with a prayer to the 'Father of Love' to open the selfish eyes of the lonely one to all the beauty about him.

The text of 'Blest Pair of Sirens' is Milton's poem, 'At a solemn Musick.' Known to practically every serious choral society throughout the country as one of the late Sir Hubert Parry's finest and most dignified works, it is dedicated to Sir Charles Stanford and the Bach Choir, who gave it its first performance in 1887. There is a big impressive introduction for the orchestra, in which there can be heard many of the themes which accompany the voices throughout the choral part of tho work. The voices are in eight parts.