THE NAFFORD QUARTET: BERTHA DARCH (Soprano); MABEL LITTLE (Contralto); FRED MITCHELL (Tenor); WILFRID LITTLE (Bass)

Very little is known of John Bartlet save that he published in 1606 'A Booke of Ayres, with a Triplicitie of Musick.' Orlando Lassus was one of the great sixteenth-century group of Flemish Composers who stand at the threshold of music's first great climax-the climax of unaccompanied choral music which, in our own Elizabethan Composers, reached heights which have never been surpassed.
Lassus went to Italy when he was a young man, and his name then became Orlando di Lasso.
Francis Pilkington, Parish Priest, Minor Canon and Precentor of Chester Cathedral, found time also to compose, and to play the lute. His piece is as charming a lullaby as music knows.
Thomas Morley was a contemporary and possibly a friend of Shakespeare, who set to music some of the poet's songs. In the first of the two songs now to be sung the unknown author tells of a fair but disappointing maid:
'April in my mistress' face
And July in her eyes hath place; Within her bosom is September,
But in her heart a cold December.'
The other song is that lighter kind of Madrigal, a 'Ballet,' with a care-free 'Fa-la-la' refrain.

HUGO WOLF AND HIS SONGS

LECTURE-RECITAL

Mme. C. WINWOOD RUSSELL (Contralto); MAY BLYTHE (Soprano); GEORGE RUSSELL (Tenor); THE NAFFORD QUARTETTE

Mme. C. WINDWOOD RUSSELL
A Maiden's First Love Song
Anacreon's Grave
Come within, noble warrior
Secrecy
Wandering
THE life of Hugo Wolf was subject to violent storms. He had a very highly-strung nature and died insane whilst still young. He wrote a great quantity of songs, most of his compositions being done at white-heat, in a great access of creative force.
The Maiden's First Love Song is sung as she plies her net, and compares her work to Love's casting his net. She fears the new sensation of love, yet finds it exquisite.
Anacreon's Grave is a meditation over the grave of the poet, where blooms the rose, where vine and laurel intertwine, and the turtle-dove coos. All the seasons save Winter are in loving sympathy with the happy poet; from Winter he is protected by the hills.
Come within, noble warrior, is the stern summons to a defeated foe to submit to his conqueror, to lay aside his trappings and pride, and become a servant.
Secrecy, one of the best-known of Wolf's songs, is in the first volume of his settings of poems by Edward Morike. 'Tempt me not, O world, again,' is its theme. 'Let my heart, unspoken cherish all its rapture, all its pain.'
Wandering tells us of the sweet emotions awakened by the sight of Nature's beauties, that still appeal to all that is good and tender in man. How happy could one be if the whole of life might partake of the spirit aroused on such a lovely morning! - thus runs the song's sentiment.

GEORGE RUSSELL
Love within my bosom To rest, to rest The Soldier
New Love
Captain Dreadnought

LOVE WITHIN MY BOSOM HAS LIT A FIRE is the cry of the maiden in the first song. 'Water, dear mother, for the burning heart,' she begs; but then comes the realization that all the waters of the ocean cannot extinguish the flame.
'To rest, to rest; I am alone,' says the poet.
'Oh, lead me on to the realms of night, far from earth's sorrows, and in dreams bestow a blessing on me!'
There are two songs entitled The Soldier. One of them is a careless ditty of the maid the soldier loves-and apparently treats in a free-and-easy fashion, leaving her whenever lie feels inclined.
The other soldier song is a wild, brief stanza, vividly describing a flight with a maiden.
In New Love the poet muses on the question whether two people can ever be bound by perfect love. Then comes the reflection that he may be at one with God, and in the thought he finds happiness.
Captain Dreadnought toasts his fair dame - Dame Fortune. In spite of her occasional rebuffs, which he meets with a good heart, he has no doubt that with her assistance he will in good time ascend to the Temple of Fame.

MAY BLYTH
It's a year almost ..... Lohr Down in the Forest ........ Landon Ronald A Request ..... Woodforde-Finden Cradle Song........................ Brahms

QUARTET
Come forth, Sweet Nymphs ..... Vautor Lady, your Eye..................... Weelkes
Miss Lillian Mills (left) plays the part of Marged in the one-act comedy that the Cardiff Radio Players will broadcast tonight, and Miss Violet de Villamil sings in the concert of Old English Music from Bournemouth at 9.35.

MAY BLYTH
I took my mother's heart ..... Layton
Hunger ..... Layton
Lullaby ..... Sandford O Lovely Night ............ Landon Ronald

QUARTET
Sister, Awake .... Bateson, arr.W. Barclay Squire On the Plains, Fairy Trains .......... Weelkes