TIME SIGNAL FROM GREENWICH,

Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues played through consecutively at this hour daily throughout the month

THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. conducted by FRANK BRIDGE
BEETHOVEN'S Second Symphony was first performed in Vienna in 1803, when he was thirty-three. Even in those days of his young manhood he was suffering from incipient deafness, and from other troubles. Just a few months before he completed this happy work he had been plunged into one of those fits of depression that became more common later, but which he overcame with magnificent courage, as he overcame many more trials in his later years.
There are four Movements.
The FIRST MOVEMENT, after a very slow and fairly long Introduction, dashes off in a quick, spirited style, and lie keeps this up throughout its course.
SECOND MOVEMENT. (Slow, with breadth.)
This is mainly lyrical, and there is in it much delicate and charming Woodwind work.
TmRD MOVEMENT. This is the Scherzo.
Instead of the old Minuet, Beethoven gives us a livelier, more skittish movement.
FOURTH MOVEMENT. This is a lively piece to wind up with.

Sung by Helen Henschel

Jules Massenet was one of those fortunate people who find their life-work quickly, and are able to apply their gifts to the very best advantage. His early successes at the Paris Conservatoire were repeated as soon as he began to write Operas. At the age of thirty-four he received the decoration of the Legion of Honour, and two years later he became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts - the youngest member ever elected. He always knew how to hit the Parisian taste. Not many of his works have survived in England, but the Opera, Manon, was long a favourite at Covent Garden.

Bizet lived only thirty-seven years, and suffered many disappointments, but at least one of his works, Carmen, has triumphantly held the stage for over half a century, and seems likely to do so for some generations to come. In a Cradle Song we expect to find the chief charm in lyrical expressiveness, rather than in the command of rhythm and colour that makes his best stage work so attractive.

Upon Gabriel Faure, who died in 1924, in his eightieth year, a great many dfneial distinctions were conferred, including the rare one of a 'National Homage' at the Sorbonne in 1922. Among his best work (certainly his most .distinctive, characteristically French music) may be included his songs, of which he wrote very many. Of these, Apres un reve has so attractive a melody that instrumental soloists quickly adopted it for their own.

Bach's six Brandenburg Concertos were written for the Count Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg, who had heard Bach play, and immediately asked him to write something for his own private Orchestra.

If, in the Third, any interest is needed besides the sheer joy of the music itself, it is provided by Bach's happy disposition of his instruments. Strings only are used, but they are divided into ten parts - three each of Violins, Violas, and 'Cellos, together with one of Double Basses.
The effects obtained are of two kinds. Generally, there is a great fullness of sound, due to the many lines of music running side by side; at other times, one group is answered by another, or one part by another.
There are two Movements, but there is no break between them: they are connected by two sustained chords. Both Movements are quick. The second is rather like a Jig, in the familiar rhythm of two-in-a-bar, each beat being divided into three.

Delibes made his name as a successful composer of Ballets and short comic
operas. Sylvia was the successor to his extremely successful first Ballet, Coppelia, but there was a gap of six years between the two, for the Franco-German war of 1870 broke out'a few weeks after Coppelia was produced.

Four separate pieces make up this Syliles Suite.
The First is a lively Prelude, with the title The Huntresses.
The Second starts with a short Intermezzo, then breaks into a lazy, easy-going Slow Waltz.
The Third is the popular Pizzicato - a piquant little trifle mainly for 'pizzicato' (i.e. plucked) Strings.
The Last is a rather longer, jubilant, piece - a Bacchanal. A festival of the God of Wine is held. There is represented p. long procession-satyrs, Bacchic priests, the Muse of Comedy, and Terpsichore, Muse of the Dance, with her train of girls dancing and playing the lyre. At length the revels begin and Bacchus himself arrives in his car.

(Born January 25, 1759)

Andrew Shanks
Gae Bring to Me a Pint o' Wine
My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
Corn Rigs

Professor George Gordon, reading 'Tam o' Shanter'

Andrew Shanks
Ae Fond Kiss
Duncan Gray

Robert Burns (1759-1796) is not merely the poet of Scotland. He is one of the purest lyricists and most lovable characters who have ever written in a language that an Englishman can (more or less) understand. The son of a cottar, brought up in extreme poverty, himself working as a farm labourer at the age of thirteen, he knew hardship and suffering enough to make him a truly human poet; and his natural good-humour saves him from being cynical even when he is most fiercely satirical at the expense of the 'unco guid.'