THE WIRELESS MILITARY BAND
Conducted by B. WALTON O'DONNELL
Roy HENDERSON (Baritone) ; ANTONIO BROSA
(Violin)
(Pictures on page 333.)
TCHAIKOVSKY'S piece, an early work, is based on Shakespeare's play. It is really a tone-poem-an attempt to reproduce in music some of the emotions of the drama, without following the story scene by scene. It has three chief features: a chant-like tune suggesting Friar Lawrence and the marriage solemnity; vigorous music, reminding us of the Montagup-Capulet feud, and a tender tune obviously suggesting the love of Romeo and Juliet.
ELGAR'S Sursum Corda was originally scored for Strings, Brass and Organ. It begins in slow, serious style, and then comes one of those broadly spreading, richly expressive tunes that are so characteristic of the Composer, and which here so well represents the thought expressed in the title–' Lift up your heart!' A climax is worked up, and a contrasted section follows, less smooth and at a quicker pace. The first mood then returns to round off the piece.