From Birmingham
Relayed from the Pump Booms, Royal
Leamington Spa
Musical Director, EDNA WILLOUGHBY
THE LONDON RADIO DANCE BAND, directed by SIDNEY FIRMAN
WARD AND LONG (Comedy Duo)
MARIO DE PIETRO (Banjo and Mandoline)
JACKSON and BLAKE (Comedy Duo)
(From Birmingham) :
' The Wallypug in London ' (G. E. Farrow), by permission of the Oxford University Press. Bongs by Marjorie Hoverd (Soprano) and Harold Casey (Baritone). ' The Fairy Godmother's Adventure '
From Birmingham
The Birmingham Studio Orchestra
Conducted by Joseph Lewis
S.B. from Glasgow
THE STATION SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conducted by Sir HENRY WOOD
HERBERT WALTON (Organist)
IN a programme note to the revised version of the Symphony (brought out in 1920, six years after the actual first performance), Vaughan Williams said :
' A better title would perhaps be " Symphony by a Londoner," that is to say, the life of London (including possibly its various sights and sounds) has suggested to the composer an attempt at musical expression; but it would be no help to the hearer to describe those in words. The music is intended to bo self-impressive, and must stand or fall as " absolute " music. Therefore, if listeners recognize suggestions of such things as the Westminster Chimes or the Lavender Cry, they are asked to consider these as accidents, not essentials of the music.'
There are four Movements in the Symphony.
The FIRST MOVEMENT opens with a Slow Introduction, gradually emerging from a haze.
After a faint echo of the Westminster Chimes, we are plunged into the Movement proper.
The SECOND MOVEMENT is slow and meditative, almost mystical.
The THIRD MOVEMENT is called a ' Scherzo.'
Vaughan Williams has added the word ' Nocturne 'to his title, and has said : ' If 'the hearer will imagine himself standing on AVestminster Embankment at night, surrounded by the distant noises of the Strand, with its great hotels on one side and the " Now Cut " on the other, with its crowded streets and flaring lights, it may serve as a mood in which to listen to this Movement.'
The FOURTH MOVEMENT is very forceful, dramatic, and intense. Its chief Tune bears the direction, ' Majestic, in the manner of a March (quasi slow).'
Towards the end, when the Westminster
Chimes have again been suggested, fainter than ever, we pass into an Epilogue, based on the opening of the whole Symphony. This dies away into silence.
THE First Dance Rhapsody was brought out at the Hereford Festival of 1909. It is written for a large Orchestra, including the rarely-heard Heckelphone (an improved Bass Oboe).
At the outset a short Introduction brings forth some of the tunes to be worked upon. Two of these appear successively on Oboe and Flute.
In the next section the time quickens considerably, and a new tuno is given out, low down. Violins, in octaves, have another.
After a climax a slow section ensues, in which a Solo Violin has a beautiful version of tho first Tune, accompanied only by Strings.
The last clear division is that in which the very lively pace is resumed. The ending is loud and most energetic.
