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Show I f SPRING MUSICAL MUSINGS I v j Deep in the affections of all our people peo-ple lie those older American songs, -o near akin to the folk songs in their simplicity and beauty These is a pathos path-os and tenderness in their heart -touching melodies that have established them for all time. This is especially true since so eminent an interpreter as Alma Gluck has brought to them her art and sent them winging their way on Victrola records to acquaint the present and future generations with their charm and to find lodgment in the heart's innermost precincts. "Darling Nellie Gray" is one of these I old-time melodies that sparkles with new interest through the rendition that Gluck has Just given on Victrola records. Such songs as this find in Alma Gluck an ideal interpreter, as is attested by the popularity aceorded her records of "My Old Kentucky Home." "Carry Me Back to Old Vir-ginny," Vir-ginny," and "Old Black Joe." John McCormack Inspires Faith for These Troublous Times. Like the sun breaking through the j i clouds of a dark and lowering sky. 1 comes a message to the heart cast down with doubt and dismay at the uncertainties the future appears to I hold. V- "The Lord is My Light" is a hymn 1 nf trust that McCormack, on a new K trola records, delivers with passion-I passion-I ate sincerity. Granting that the war . has brought untold misery, it is a welli known fact that in France and England Eng-land there has been a great renewal of religious faith. Torn with anguish and spent with grief that no human agency agen-cy can palliate, men are turning again 1 to the "God of our Fathers, known of old." and in the light of that faith are finding new courage to bear whatever suffering may yet be theirs. Apart from its message the song is unusually good music melodious in style, gloriously rich in harmony and intensely dramatic in feeling, and McCormack Mc-Cormack sings it with a noticeable display dis-play of inspired confidence and burning burn-ing earnestness. "A Little Bit of Honey" is the latest composition from the pen of Carrie Jacobs-Bond which Evan llliams has made Imperishable by singing it for Victrola records The song transports you to a log cabin 'way down south, where a coal-black pickanniny has arrived ar-rived in state with "a little turn-up! nose, and a little bunch o' wool upon o' head." The note of ecstacy in Evan Williams' Wil-liams' voice as he sings is truly remarkable re-markable iudeed, one cannot help feeling that, as the plaintive melody unfolds, he is thinking of the days when the four tall sons he has sent to the war were as small as this wee black hero. And it inspires him to sing with a depth of feeling that is readily catching in spirit. The Art of Galh-Curci Finely Displayed Dis-played in "I Puritani." Here is an ana primarily designed to show off a singer's vocal gifts With consummate art Galli-Curci has made these passages of vocal display a means of intense emotional expression on a new Victrola record just issued. For sheer vocal dexterity this record is remarkable. There are many brilliant bril-liant passages, and singers wiil note wtih envy and admiration the ease with which Galli Curcl sings difficult, rapidh-descending chromatic scales one of the hardest things to do vocally. vocal-ly. One of the most pathetic scenes in all the old Italian operas is that in "1 Puritani" in which Elvira, the Puritan English maid, ha ing discovered that her loer had apparently deserted her on her wedding day, betrays the fact that her mind is unhinged. As her mind dwells upon the past the music is sung in tendered accents. Presently, however, belief that her lover will return re-turn brings a new note of hope, and the melancholy opening phrases give place to more joyous strains. The music is not unlike that of the ' Mad Scene" from "Lucia." Caruso sings a song to which he brings all the warmth of his native Italy with his golden voice, for "Eyes of Blue" is distinctly an Italian love-song. love-song. It portrays a lover who has seen the sky and the sea, but fiuds them pale beside the eyes of his beloved be-loved eyes that have made him a veritable ver-itable slave. With emotions kindled under the burning rays of the Italian sun, the Italian is apt to express everything he feels. Americans could not do that without a visible show of self-consciousness. When Caruso sings a song of this caliber he interpret - the reeling of his countrymen in masterful fa: h ion, as is demonstrated by the glowing glow-ing fervor he has put into the Victrola record of this melodious ballad. Boston Symphony Orchestra Plays "Marchc Miniature," This charming example of the lighter light-er vein of a composer whose most notable not-able work was an overpowering ex-pressoin ex-pressoin of gloom, suggests some curious cur-ious pageant in fain land rather than anything human. "Marche Mintture" arrestes attention from the start. The tune la simple, straightforward, and easllv grasped, but by no means commonplace. com-monplace. If is truly remarkable that the inter-pretation inter-pretation of such beautiful symphonies symphon-ies by so noted a musical organization as the Boston Symphony orchi sira can now be successfully preserved, as is the case with this Tschaikowsky production pro-duction on Vicirola records. ZSimbaliai has added to bla reperotire of Victrola records "Chant Negre" a tender lyric melody, which by its simplicity sim-plicity and pathos can claim kinship with some of the negro "spirituals" by which it has evidently been inspired. The negro has brought to American life a quality of wistfulness anrl pathos which offers valuable material to the American composer. The emotional Character of "Chant Negre" offers ample am-ple opportunity for the show of feel- ins which Zimbalist happily displays in this select ion. Popular War-time Song Hits, , The Shannon Four present this I month on Victor records "Tom. Dick land Harry and Jack," which tells the j boys to "be quick and do the trick." so they can come back to the homes I and sweethearts that await them so ' bravely. On the other side of the same record rec-ord the Peerless Quartet sings "All Re-voir Re-voir but Not Good-bye. Soldier Boy," an equally cheery number in the same strain. The line. "When you've won your victory God will brine ou back to ine," further elucidates the purport of its sentiment. "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight" describes the supplication of a little one whose daddy is "over there." It is effectively sung by Henry Burr on a new Victor record. On the reverse side Percy Hemus sings "On the Road to Home. Sweet I Home." The song is a reminder that no matter how far the loved one may have gone there is a Hand that will guide his footsteps back to those he left behind. A strain from "Home Sweet Home" is appropriately interwoven with this melody. Mr. Heinus is a prominent I American artist who has temporarily given up his own career in order to teach sailors bow to sing. Other striking popular melodies appearing ap-pearing on new Victor records are. ' I'll Take You Back to Italy." presented pre-sented by Ada Jones and Billy Murray i a "conservation" song in Italian dialect dia-lect between an East -side organ grind-' cr and Marie; "Round Her Neck She Wears a Yeller Ribbon" for her lover who is fur, fur away," rendered by the American quartet; "Are You From Heaven?"' sung by Henry Burr; "Give Me the Right to Love You," rendered by the Sterling trio; "I'd Like to be a Monkey in the Zoo' and "Go-Zin-To," both sung by Frances White. New Dance Numbers on Victor Records. I Dancers may consider themselves fortunate in ihe presentation of two such catchy tunes as "Tickle Toe," a medley one-step from the recently-produced happy-go-lucky musical farce, ! "Going C." The Victor Military hand, which plays them, adds color and zest jwith its mellow brass and woodwind I and the clash of cymbals. The first two of a series of standard songs interpreted by Laura Llttlefleld appear on new Victor records just issued. is-sued. They are the ' Cradle Song" and 'The Little Dustman" by Brahms Both have become classics in the realm of children's sonL-s Mrs. Lit-t Lit-t It field has a soprano voice of fresh and vibrant quality, and an interpreta-live interpreta-live gift both of which she uses with telling effect in the interpretation of these two exquisite gems. The cream of all that Is new and best In music from monib to month is available aiwas on Victor records. Not only Victrola owners, but anyone interested in music (and who is not?) can hear any selection they wish by stopping in at the nearest Victor dealer's. deal-er's. 6o |