An Oratorio
Tho Text from the Old Testament
Dora LABBETTE MURIEL BRUNSKILL
(Soprano) (Contralto)
SrENCER THOMAS REX PALMER
(Tenor) (Baritone)
THE WIRELESS CHORUS, THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (Leader, S. KNEALE KELLEY ),
Conducted by STANFORD ROBINSON rIS, one of the two most popular oratorios of the world. received its first performance in Birmingham Town Hall just over eighty years ago. The Composer himself conducted, and his work gained immediate favour. Its fame quickly spread all over England.
A few years ago the Oratorio was staged and noted by the Moody Manners Opera Company-an event taking us back to the idea of the original Oratorios, which were developments of the religious dramas of the Middle Ages.
The work outlines the great prophet's mediations between God and the Israelites. Besides ELIJAH, the chief characters are OBADIAH, an ANOEr., the Widow whose son Elijah restores to life, the Boy whom Elijah sends to seek signs of coining rain, KING AHAB and the QUEEN.
To soloists are also allotted various parts such as those of Two WOMEN OF ISRAEL and of ANGELS. The Chorus generally represents the ISRAELITES, but also such different characters as the PROPHETS OF BAAL and ANGELS.
Neither is the whole Oratorio, nor are Parts
One and Two. written in an unbroken, continuous flow, but rather in a number of set pieces, which we may classify as follows :-
(1) Choruses, which generally express the prayers, praisos or comments of the People; (2) Solo pieces as follows : (a) Recitatives, or free musical recitation of the narrative. (The accompaniment is sometimes no more than a mere support, sometimes slightly fuller and more descriptive ; in any case, in the Recitatives the words take precedence); (b) Airs, or definite songs in which the music takes precedence. (3) Ensembles — Duets, Trios, etc., in which the Soloists unite, and sometimes (one or more of them) combine with the Chorus.
PART I
The score opens with a brief INTRODUCTION, in which Elijah declaims the words : As God the Lord of Israel liveth, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
This is followed by tho
OVERTURE, a lengthy orchestral piece which Mendelssohn added as an afterthought.
This leads direct into the Opening Chorus. The Israelites are bewailing the famino which is spreading over the land.
Next Elijah, at the bidding of an Angel, departs to the brook Cherith, and thence to Zarephath, where he restores the Widow's son to life.
Next follow KingAhab's accusation of Elijah as responsible for the lack of rain, the downfall of tho Priests of Baal, the triumph of Elijah, and the coming of rain, with the rejoicings of the Israelites.

The Call of Samuel (1 Samuel, Ch. ii, 18-19;
Ch. ii!, 1-21)

Almost at the opening of the Second Part
Elijah prophesies against King Ahab, and is threatened by the Queen.
The rest of the work is almost taken up by Elijah's flight into the wilderness, his weariness of life, and his hearing of the Voice of God.
Tho final numbers refer to Elijah's ascension into Heaven, and end with a Chorus of Thanks-giving.
Those who wish to know something of Mendelssohn's life and works may care to hear of one or two useful books. The best study of the Composer is that in the eighty-column article by Grove in his Dictionary of Music. Small books are Stratton's Mendelssohn (Dent, 4s. 6d.) and Black-burn's Mendelssohn (Bell, Is. 6d.). Parry's Studies of Great Composers (Routledge, Gs.) has a chapter on Mendelssohn, and so has Mason's The Romantic Composers (Macmillan, 10s. 6d.). In Dannreuther's discussion of The Romantic Period (Oxford History of Music, Vol. 6, Oxford University Press, 25s.) Mondelssohn may be studied against the background of his time.

From St. John's Church, Smith Square,
Conducted by the Rev. Canon C.S. Woodward
This Sunday the Children's Service will be relayed from that strange-looking church hidden away in the little square behind the precincts of Westminster Abbey - the church that has been not unfairly described as a giant dining-table upside down. Canon Woodward, its Rector, is well known to the radio congregation, as he has conducted similar services from Westminster Abbey.

Relayed from TRINITY COLLEGE CHAPEL,
CAMBRIDGE
Hymn, ' Come let us join ' (A. and M. 299) Psalms 145 and 146 (Walmisley Chants) Service, Stanford in G
Anthem, What are these that glow from afar ' Hymn, ' O Worship the King ' (A. and M. 167)

The oldest 'May Meeting' in the world opens next Friday, when the Society of Friends holds its 200th yearly meeting at its new headquarters in the Euston Road. It is appropriate, therefore, that there should be a Quaker speaker tonight. Mr. Carl Heath is Secretary of the Friends' Council for International Service, and he is particularly in touch with Quaker work in Europe, where his idea of 'Quaker Embassies ' has led to the formation of centres in Paris, Geneva, Vienna, Berlin, Warsaw, and other cities. He is the author of several books, including one on 'Religion and Public Life.'

The WIRELESS CHOIR
Conducted by STANFORD ROBINSON
Modern Hymns :
For all the Saints (Tune, Sine Nomine)
Love came down at Christmas (Tune, Hermitage) Thou whose birth on earth (Tune, Danbury) Trumpet of God (Tune, Rangoon)
Bible Reading
Old Hymns :
O Sons and Daughters (Tune, 0 Filii)
O what the joy and glory must be (Tune.
Regnator orbis)
O Come, 0 Come, Emmanuel (Tune, Veni
Emmanuel)
Glory to Thee, my God, this Night (Tune, Canon)
Bible Reading
Favourite Hymns :
Holy, Holy, Holy (Tune, Nicæa) As pants the hart (Tune, Martyrdom)
Jesu, lover of my soul (Tune, Hollingside) Eternal Father (Tune, Melita)

THIS fund exists to provide outdoor recreation, after school hours, for children in the poorest districts of London. It maintains gardens, kitchen gardens and playgrounds in such quarters as the Harrow Road, Euston Crescent, Stepney and St. Pancras, where children have a chance to spend their playtime amongst good soil and growing things instead of the usual surroundings of doorsteps, dustbins and rubbish-dumps.
Contributions should be sent to[address removed].

KATE WINTER (Soprano). MAURICE COLE (Pianoforte). THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (Leader : S. KNEALE KELLEY ), Conducted by JOHN ANSELL
ORCHESTRA
' Indian ' Suite
IN 1891 MacDowell became interested in Indian lore, and from a book of Indian music took some themes whic-h lie utilized in this Suite.
In a note upon the score he directed that
' if separate titles for the different Movements are desired, they should be arranged as follows : (1) Legend ; (2) Love Song ; (3) In War Time ; .(4) Dirge (5) Village Festival.
KATE WlNTER
Constancy
Merry Maiden Spring Thy Beaming Eyes
MAURICE COLE and Orchestra
Second Concerto
KATE WINTER
My Love and I Slumber Song
A Maid Sings Light To a Wild Rose
MAURICE COLE
A Haunted House .. (from
From a German Forest
Of Brer Rabbit's Fireside lales )
To the Sea (from 'Sea Pictures')
ORCHESTRA
Woodland Sketches (Orchestrated by Charles Woodhouse )