).. N to V:>lJ.n J AV O~~1H~ l H 6 1 ~2 S'H\OH 1 3 C! 18!;99 1I j The first public offering in eight months ofa magaZlne which aims to be the most beautiful in the world: rH°IUZON
HORIZON is a big (9 Yt" x 12 ~", 136 or more pages), bi· monthly magazine in book form - with hard covers and 110 advertising. Temporarily, you may try a year's subscription at a lowered rate- $6.75 less than the same six issues if bought singly- by returning the postpaid form stapled at the right. Have you met HORIZON yet? Perhaps it's time you did, from the Negev to the stage-lively art from cave as this strikingly different magazine in book-form begins drawings to movie palaces. its third year. What can HORIZON do for you? For it's only once or twice a year, in a few such com Nothing aggressively uplifting, or fashionable, or urgent. patible surroundings as this, that the publishers (the There's no counsel on how to manage your money
SEPTEMBER 1960 l.
JERR~ln magiC carpet* ~=J~ FM anten:na Here's the most exciting new concept in FM rt!ception in ' I ten yeax:s! A precision-designed, all-printed-circuit, indoor antenna , that assures FM tuner performance comparable to what you could enjoy previously only ' with outdoor antenna equipment. And, thanks to the new Magic Carpet, unsightly, expensive and hazardous rooftop antennas are banished forever- the nuisance of ugly indoor devices is eliminated, too. With the Magic Carpet antenna your FM signals will come through brilliantly and reliably without distortion or noise. You will actually enjoy twice QUICKLY AND EASILY ,INSTALLED" " ," the gain of a single bay turnstile outdoor antenna at a fraction of the cost! What's more, with a Jerrold TV-FM 'coupler you can enjoy excellent TV reception from In the Attic Garage Dr Utility In the Closet Under the' Rug the same Magic Carpet antenna Room Ceiling without loss to FM signal even 'Operate both sets developed and ..,nqnufactured by the producers of the famous simultaneously. Jerrold FM Range Extender, the Jerrold VHF Pre amplifier, and the World's Finest Master Antenna Systems! A demonstration will convince: you! The Magic Carpet sells for only $9.95. Write for complete details and'catalog showing the entire line of. Jerrolrj' rec.eption aids . ..
~LECTRONICS CORPORATION Distrib'ut{Jr Sales Division' , Dept. No. IDS-67, Philadelphia 32, Pennsylvania
.. It'frademark Patent Pending
HiFi/STEREO . THE MUSIC HiFi Soundings 8 David Hall Do-it yourself rev;rberalion -beJ1ond stereo? . The Basic Repertoire 19 Martin Bookspan September, 1960 Argenta and Reiner score in Debussy IS Iberia Vol.5 No.3 Wood, GJue, and Geni.us 35 Henri Temianka T he story of Stra.divarius and his Editor remarkable instrumenls, as lold by Furman Hebb a member of the Paganin i Quartel Gustav Mahler-Part II 42 Music Editor David Hall An evalualion of the music David Hall and lhe recordings Managing Editor The Fantastic Saga of the 60 Ken and Noel Gilmore Robert Campbell Siena Piano Art Editor . N ew facls about a fabulous old Lnslrumenl and the man who Joseph FiLzpatrick rediscolJt:red it Associale Editor Be Our Guest 68 . Mrs. Robert Beckerdite Halls Fanlel A report from the states of Missouri and Illinois and John R. Chapin Assistant Edit.or Philip N. LaWn
Editorial Assislant THE EQUIPMENT Dolores M. Gimbel Sound and the Query 41 J. Gordon Holt C BRANCH OFFICES: Midwestern Office 434 S. Wabash Ave., Chica90 5, III., 'Tom Berry, Midwest Advertisi ng Manager; THE REVIEWERS W estern Office, nos Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Martin Bookspan, Warren Hills, Calif., Bud Dean, Western Advertis· HiFi/Stereo Classics 71 ing Manager; Foreign Advertising Repr.e DeMotte, David Hall sentatives: D, A. Goodall Ltd, London' Geoq~e Iellinek, Albert Milhado & Co" Ltd" Antwerp and Dusseldorf. David Randolph SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE HiFi/Stereo Jazz 91 . Ralph J. Gleason, Nat Fo rms 3579 and all subscription corre· Hentoff spondence should be addressed to Cir cul ation Department, 434 South Wabash Ralph 1. Gleason, David Ave nue , Chicago 5, Il linois. Please allow HiFi/Stereo Reel & Cartridge 97 at least four weeks for change of address. Hall, John Thornton Include your old address as well as new - e nclosing if possible an address label HiFi/Stereo Entertainll1ent 105 Ralph 1. Gleason, Stanley from a recent is sue. Green, Nat Hentoff CONTRIBUTORS Contributors are advised to retain a copy of their manuscript and illustrations. Con THE REGULARS tributions should be mailed to the New York Editorial office and must be accom panied by return postage. Con~ributions Letters . 12 Spectrull1 28 are ha~dled wi t h re asonable care, but this magazine assumes no responsibility for thei r Index of Advertisers 114 sa fety. Any acceptable manuscript is sub Just Looking 22 leet to whatever adaptations and revisions a re ne cessary to meet requirements of this Plloto Credil.s-Cover: pllOlogra.ph by Hechl-Alpha Pholo A ssociates; p. 35: pholo-Courtesy of The Melropolitan publicatIon. Payment covers all author's NTuspum of Arl, Bequest of Annie Bolton Matthews Brya'll, 1933, label-The Betlmann Archive; p. 36: The BeU",,,nn rig hts, titles and interest in and to the Archive: p. 37: The New York Public Library : p. 38: Musical Courier; p. 39: (lop left) Richard 0 ' Hara.. M usiC
350A MONO AMPLIFIER, distortion free performance over entire audible range. Output: 40 watts at less than 0.5% THD. Response: ± 1 db from 5-100,000 cycles. Load impedance: 8, 16 ohms and 70 v. Output impedance: continuously adjustable .14 to 7.5 times nominal load impedance on 8 to 16 ohms taps. Less than 10% of nominal load impedance on 70 v line tap. Noise level: 40 dbm; 86 db below full output. Controls: gain control RL/ RG control, power switch. 7" high, 9%" wide, 13%" deep. Weighs 27 lbs. Less cabinet .. . $171.00
353A STEREO AMPLIFIER-PREAMPLIFIER, incorporating today's most advanced features. Power Output: 100 watts stereo program peak power, 50 watts rms con tinuous stereo or mono. Rumble filter: 12 db per octave below 30 cps. Distortion: Less than 1 % THD at 25 watts 1000 cycles each channel. Less than 1 % THD at 20 watts 30-15,000 cycles each channel. 20-20,000 cycle response at 25 watts, ± 1.0 db; 10-30,000 'cycles at 1 watt, ± 0.5 db. Low noise level, 14 stereo or mono outputs, 6 stereo or mono inputs. Plati num pink or gold panel cabinet. 5%" high, 15" wide, 11%" deep. ~eighs about 35 lbs...... $225.00
308A FM TUNER, featuring wider slide rule dial, automatic frequency control that locks-on exact station. Features 3 IF stages, permitting clear separation of weak stations from strong. Between station silencing; output for stereo multiplex adaptor. FCC radiation certifi cation. In New low-silhouette metal cabinet with platinum pink or platinum gold panel. 5" high, 14" wide, 9" deep. Weighs about 10 lbs...... $t20.00
Write for free catalogs: Address Dept. HFR-6D ALTEC LANSING CORPORATION, a subsidiary of Ling·AlIec Electronics. Inc. 1515 South Manchester Avenue, Anaheim, California 161 Sixth Avenue, New York 13, New York
for the best in sound systems, choose components by '1 7 SEPTEMBER 1960 YOUR NEEDLE' I' IS DISTORTING HiFi Soundings
SOUND BYAS by DAVID H ALL ., '
MUCH AS 85% DO-IT-YOURSELF REVERBERATION-BEYOND STEREO? (if it isn't a Fidelitone Pyramid Diamond) A conventional needle with a rounded ball tip 0\'" THAT the shou ting and the tumult over "Ule m IraCle of can't fit the microgroove accurately. Its rounded N stereo" has died down to the po int where two-cha nnel record in.g shape prevents proper contact in the high tonal playback fo~ the home is taken as a m atter of course, some of the more passages. Result? Distortion and noise . enterprising makers of aud io equip m ent in bo th compon ent and console But, Fidelitone's new Pyram id Diamond is shaped .like the original cutting stylus to fit the record form are out- to add some extra spice to the stereo cake. It takes the groove exactly. It maintains proper contact in form of devices, either built-in or available as individual com ponen ts,. BAll POINT DIAMOND PYRAMID DIAMOND out over a broad frontal area of 100 feet or so, ra ther tha n compressed into a 12" or IS" loudspeaker aperture. One result of this "spread," as lAnd the n.ew shape of the Pyramid Diamond well as of the d epth of the orchestra on stage, is tha t the initial sound IMPORTANT NOTE: Stereo records must be played only on a stereo record player. If you do not now own one, by all means con tinue to acquire regular long-play high-fidelity records. They will play with true-to-life fidelity on your present phonograph and will sound 19. Also: Night on 32. Perdido, Jump 21. Expertly played 26. Complete score. 31. " . •. the tone is 20. Bess, You Is My even more brilliant on a stereo B: ld Mo~ntain, Pol for Joy, C Jam Blues, by "a fabulous tech· "A hit, another R&H likeshimmeringsllk" Woman Now; It Ain't phonograph if you purchase one in ovtsian Dances, etc. Flamingo, 3 more nician"-N. Y. Times winnerl"-Newsweek - High Fidelity Necessarily So ; etc. the future. SPECIAL 5th ANNIVERSARY OFFER FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST RECORD CLUB TO CELEBRATE ITS 5th ANNIVERSARY tions are fully described in the Club the Columbia Record Club now offers Magazine, which you receive free each r- SEND NO MONEY - Mail Coupon Now to Receive Your FIVE RECORDS -, month. new members the world's finest high COLUMBIA RECORD CLUB, Dept. 225-5 CIRCLE 5 NUMBERS: fidelity records - either regular or You may accept the monthly se lec stereo - at tremendous savings! Terre Haute, Indiana (If you enroll in one of tion for your Division ••• take any the Regular Divisions, All 32 of the records shown here are of the wide variety of other records I accept your special 5th Anniversary Offer and h ave circled you receive your 5 rcc .. available in both regular high-fidelity offered in all Divisions ••• or take at t he right the numbers of the five records I wish to receive. Bill me $1.97 for five regular high-fidelity records OR $2.97 ords in regular high- and stereo-fidelity (except No. 8 - NO record in any particular month. fidelity. If you enroll listening in Depth - ste"reo only). for five stereo records - plus a small mailing and handling Your only membersh ip obligation is charge. Enroll me in the following Division of the Club: in a Stereo Division, If you have a 'standard phonograph, to purchase five selections from the (check one box only) you receive your 5 rec· you may join the Club and receive the more than 200 Columbia and Epic ords in stereo.fidelity) regular high·fidelity versio ns of any ,..----REGULAR DIVISIONS STEREO records to be offered in the coming o Classical 0 Broadway, Movies, DIVISIONS 1 17 32 five of these records for $1.97 •• , ·12 months. Thereafter, you have no o Listening & Dancing Television and 0 Stereo Classical ••• and you enroll in anyone of further obligation to buy any additional o Jou Musical (omedi~s 0 Stereo Popular 34 the Club's four regular Divisions: records ... and you may di scontinue 3 18 Cla ssical; Listening and Dancing; your membership at any time. '::I-a-g-'--:'e-e -t:-o-p-u-rc-;h-a--:s-e -:fi~v::-:e:---:s::e i:::e::-:ct-:;i::-:on::-:s::-;f::-ro:':m~the more than 200 Broadway, Movies, TeleviSion and regular high-fidelity and stereo records to be offered during 5 19 35 Musical Comedies ; Jazz. FREE BONUS RECORDS GIVEN REGU the coming 12 months, at usual list price plus small mailing LARLY: If you wish to continue as a and handling charge. Thereafter. if I decide to continue 6 20 36 If you have a stereo phonograph, member after purchasing five rec ords , my membership. I am to receive a Columbia or Epic Bonus you may join the Club and receive the you will re ceive - FREE - your choice record (regular or stereo) of my choice FREE for every two 7 21 37 stereo·fidelity vers ions of any five of of a Columbia or Epic Bonu s record additional selections I accept. these record s for $2.97 . • • (regular or stereo) for every two se lec- 8 22 41 • •• and you enroll in either one of tions you buy - a 50% dividend. Name ..•• •• ••••• ••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••• • •• • 42 two stereo Divisions: Stereo Classical The records you want are mailed (Please Print) . 9 25 or Stereo Popular. . and billed to you at the regular list Address •••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••• •• ••••••••••••••• •• 10 26 46 HOW THE CLUB OPERATES: Each month price, generally $3. 98 (Classical $4.98), the Club's staff of music experts plus a small mailing and handling 12 27 48 selects outstanding high-fidelity rec- charge. Stereo records are $1.00 more. City . •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ZONE •• •• Stote ••••••••••• CANADA:"rices slightly higher; 1111 L eslie St., Don Mills, Onto ords - bot.h regular .and stereo - THIS 5th ANNIVERSARY OFFER may nev If you wish thIs membership credited to an established Columbia 14 30 49 from every field of mUSIc. These selec- er be repeated - so mail coupon now! or Epic record dea ler. ~uthorlzed to accept subscriptions. fill in: 15 31 MORft .THAN 1.000,000 FAMILlftS NOW ENJOY THE MUSIC PROGRAM OF Dealer's Name...... I S5.H B(REO) ! 5 7.GS(STER) I COLUMBIA RECORD CLUB Terre Haute, Indiana LD!!!.e~~~~.;.;.;. •..;.;.;;.;.:. •.;.;.;:.:.;. • .:.;.;~ • .:.:.:.-.:.:.:~ •.:.;.:~ ______~ ® "Columbia," ~ • • 'Epic." Cf< Marcas Reg. @ColumbiaRecordClub. Inc •• 1960 SEPTEMBER 1960 of the music; if they are missing alto . gether, we will complain of the hall being "dead," lacking warmth. Our hypothetical "ideal" home music playback system, then, should not only be able to give us the broad frontal "spread· depth" effect of a symphony orchestra in a concert hall, it should also be able to offer us the "delay·dispersal" effects that give to the live I.istening experience its very special character. The current rash of new reverberation devices, which can be used with eithe'l' mono or stereo program material, does represent a step along the road toward providing the "delay-dispersal" effect in the home listening situation; but it is only a step and a rather primitive one in most instances. Since most of the new reverberation units are designed to oper· ate only with currently existing frontal speakers, the best one can hope for is to be able to add reverberation to those mono and stereo records that are deficient in "room tone." However, if an array of three or more small satellite speakers (they can be unbaffied G-i nchers) is placed toward the rear of the listening area and fed from the reverberation unit, then we have come another step along the way. ·While we can control the amount of "echo," most of the currently available reverberation devices offer no variability in the "delay" factor. Th is is a compli· PERCUSSION cated and expensive thing to do properly, ~ESPANOI. and the nearest thing we have to a de· vice that will offer both variable rever· beration and variable delay is the Ecco· Fonic-at ., 300-plus. We come now to the one element in the use of reverberation and pseudo·stereo devices that has been tbe stumbling block for most of these units th at have been introduced up to now-How much elec trica l or acoustical distortion do they in· troduce? For all practical purposes, this is another way of asking: Do they sound natural? Of course, the user of even the best type of reverberation unit can add an unholy amount of acoustical distortion to his musical listening simply by turning up the control knob too far; the result is blur and confusion of sonic texture. Re· verberation, like garlic, must be used with the greatest finesse and discretion. But the fact still remains that many reverber ation devices, by the very nature of their design, possess built·in resonances and other elements that make for an unnatural sound, regardless of the volume level at which they are operated. So we say to our readers, if you want to experiment with the new reverberation units-built·in or component-use your ea'rs befo1'e buying. Listen to a wide va· riety of music, especially piano, violin, and guitar, and note whether or not the sound of these instruments undergoes a change in basic character as tbe rever· beration unit is brought into play. If the sound remains natural up to the point of optimum enhancement (not maximum setting), tben the chances are that you have something which, especially when used with dispersed satellite loudspeakers, can definitely enhance certain aspec;ts of home hi-fi listening. The motto, h owever, in using "do-it-yourself" reverberation still remains-taste and discretion. 10 HiFi/STEREO H. H. SCOTT proudly introduces the most weight 47 pounds. Power Rating: 44 watts powerful, most versatile, complete stereo per channel (IHFM rating) ; 0.8 % Total Har amplifier ever made. A recent demonstration monic Distortion; Power Band Width 20- at KLH Research and Development Corp., 25,000 cps. $269.95. Slightly higher West of Cambridge, Mass., proved the 272's amazing Rockies. Accessory Case Extra. capabilities. This powerful new unit simul ~ taneously drove 20 KLH Model Six speakers .•...... to full room volume (with virtually unmeas • urable distortion). • • The versatility of the 272 is unmatched. It • H.H. SOOTT has 25 separate controls. Its advanced fea • H. H. Scott Inc., Dept. MR·9, III Powdermill Road, tures include such H. H. Scott exclusives • Maynard, Mass. as: electronic Dynamic Rumble Suppressor';' • o Rush me your new 1960 Hi Fi Guide and Catalog. which automatically removes annoying turn • o Also include complete technical information on your powerful table and record-changer rumble without • new 272 complete stereo amplifier. • NAM~F audible loss of music; unique Pick-Up Selector • ______Switch; separate Bass and Treble controls on • ADDRESv..S ______• CITY ______STAT~E ______each channel; Center Channel Output with • front panel control; massive output trans • Export: Telesco International, 36 W 40th St., N.Y.C . forme;rs using EL34 output tubes. Total .. • Covered by one or more of the folloiui ng patent8: 2,606,97J, • 2,606,972, 2,606,973. • Letters Sleuthing .. • What and Where and Who i5 this Phil harmonia Orchestra led by Klemperer on Angel Records tbat is so highly recom· mended? F. J. Harmuth Bridgeville, Pa . . Located in London, the Philharmonia 'was originally organized as a studio or chestra specifically for recording. Num bering in its ranks many of Britain's finest players, it grew so pop'ular that the mu sical public clamored for "in person" ap pearances. Finally the orchestra was per slwded to come out from behind the micr.ophones, and it is now one of the greatest and most rewarding attractions 0/ the London concert season. LA CALLAS! Wolf Amended • The article on 'Wolf in your June issue is a fine tribute for the anniversary yea.!'. LA SCALA! To David Hall's splendid discography I would like to add these worthwhile items: Prometheus (Rehkemper, Scala 809), Nine ·LA GIGC'ONDA! Moerike Lieder (Erna Berger, Deutsche Grammophon), Four Lieder (Lisa della ALL .IN STEREO Casa, London 5260), Eight Lieder (Blanche Thebom, Victor LM 1203), Seven Lieder (Gerard Souzay, London LL 1476). For anyone interested in Moerike's poet .....i-i:~ ry (on which many of the Wolf songs are - ~ based), there is a bilingual edition of forty of his best lyrics published by Methuen (London, 1959). ~ N0W MARIA CALLAS, "undisputed queen of the world's opera" P. L. Forstall (Time), 'has scope to unleash ctll her dramatic talents. As one Evanston, Ill. , " ~oui~ expect, she is' magnificent as La Gioconda, a fiery tigress who .. .. 'sings l~e an angel. This is the tole CaIIas sang at her debU1i in Verona Short-Changed? ... ~in "1947. Her American debut on records nearly :1;0 years ago was in the • Your Martin Bookspan recently praised same'ble. Since then, Callas has become"a legend. the Everest recording of Tchaikovsky's fi • Manfred Symphony. Another publication On this new Angel recording from La Scala ill Milan, Callas is-sup- criticized the recording for some cuts in the score. Which reviewer is wrong? ported by eonductor Antonino Vono with the full La Scala orchestra H: A. Loeb, III and chorl,ls. Breathtaking! Six sides, with a complete, illustrated Italian Chicago, Ill. English librettO. Angel S-3606-C/ L, or 3606-C/L (monophonic). Making cuts in some scores is common A galaxy of Callas heroines- concert practice. Some reviewers like to call attention to this, occasionally to poillt famous pe~tormances ,of comptete operas from La'Scala out what they honestly fe el to be an artistic blunder, but more often to show their Pztccini . - Bellini musical erudition. Other reviewers tacitly La Boheme ...... _3560-13 / L Norma ...... 35 17-C/ L accept the cut~ as the conductor's preroga Madama Butterfly .. 3523-C/L I Puritani ...... 3502-C/L tive, especially if they otherwise like the ~ane>n Lescaut ... . 3564-ClL La Sonnambula .... 3568-5s/L performance. Our man is one of those in Tosca ...' ...... 3508-B/L LeoncavaUo the latter camp. Turandot ...... 3571-C/ L L Pagliacci ...... 3527-3s/L Verdi Mascagni Aida .' ...... 3525.ClL Dissent on Toscanini Cavalleria Rusticana 3509-35/ L La Forza del Destino 3531-C/ L Rossini • In his reference to Toscanini perform A Masked Ball .. -... 3557 -C/ L ances discussed in "Basic R epertoire" Mr. II Turco in Italia ... 3535-55/L Rigoletto . .. : . . .. 3537-5s/L Bookspan has shown · a most upsetting 11 Trovatore ...... 3554-5s/L proclivity, if a rather touchingly childish one, for such terms as: "feverish intensity," "nervous," and "antiseptic." ' '''hat is there in all of Toscanini's per 'formances on LP (all of which I own) that can be caIIed, by any cogent process of 12 HiFijSTEREO I! .! . \ .... "' ,. . CLASSICS THAT MADE THE HIT PARADt : i ·...... · . - a new bonus reel from A udiotap e · DET A I LS OF THE PROGRAM Some of our greatest popular songs.- ·hjts like "Full "Classics that Made the Hit Parade" includes Moon and Empty Arms," "Till the' End of· Time," these popular symphonic themes: "Stranger in Paradise" - took their melodies from the Borodin . . . . Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor classics. Eight of these lovely themes-in their original (Stranger in Paradise) classical setting - are the basis for "Classics that Made · Tchaikovsky Symphony NO . 5 in E · (Moon Love) the Hit Parade," a program with strength, variety, and, Wa ldteufel Espana Waltz · of course, rich melodic beauty. (Hot Diggity) · This unusual program, professionally recorded in Chopin Polonaise No.6, ·in Ab Major · (Till the End of Time) sparkling full fidelity on Audiotape, is available RIGHT Tchaik ovskY Symphony No. 6 in B Now from Audiotape dealers everywhere. (And only ll:he Story of a Starry Night) · from Audiotape dealers.) Ask to hear a portion of the ". · : 1 'Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor program, if you like. Then, take your choice of a half (Full Moon and Empty Arms) · hour of two-track stereo, or 55 minutes of four-track Chopin . Fantasie Impromptu in C# Minor · (I'm Always Chasin,g Rainbows) · stereo or dual-track monaural sound - all at 71h ips • Tchaikovsky . Romeo and Juliet Overture · Don't pass up this unique opportunity. · (Our Love) · "Classics that Made the DETA I LS O F THE OFFER · Hit Parade" makes an ideal • This exciting recording is available in a spe · addition to Audio's first two cial bonus package at all Audiotape dealers. bonus reels, "Blood-and The package contains one 7-inch reel of • Audiotape (on P h -mil acetate base) and the Thunder Classics" and "High : valuable "Classics that Made the Hit Parade" Spirits," still available at : program (professionally recorded on Audio Audiotape dealers. : tape). For both items, you pay only the price • of two reels of Audiotape, plus $1. And you : have your choice of the half-hour two-track : stereo program or the 55-minute monaural d- . : or four-t rack stereo versions. Gil lOta~, ~ "it speaks for itsell" : See your Audiotape dealer now. · AUDIO DEVICES, INC., 444 Madison Ave., N. ·Y. 22, N. Y. ·.•••..•...... , ...... In Hollywood: 840 N. Fairfax Ave • • In Chicago: 5428 ·N. Milwaukee AVe. thought "feverish?" I won'l quibble about the fact that Toscanini's approach always has a deep and fundamental kind of intemity; but really, there is something wrong with Mr. Bookspan's vocabulary when he can say, on one a nd the same page, that "feverish intensity" is charac teristic of the Maestro while the perform ance in question (Mendelssohn's "Italian") still manages to be " firmly disciplined." Indeed, NIr. Bookspan's comments be tray an uLler incomprehension of, and be wilderment at, the style and objectives of this conductor. Or perhaps he simply doesn't feel that the Toscanini ideal of musical re-creation is a worthwhile one to be sought after. This ass umption would be strengthened by his continual prefer ence for Koussevitsky, a man more in the tradition of Stokowski than of Toscanini. But whatever the case, the honest critic must endeavor to understand the approach with which he disagrees and gives full credit in print to its validity. George F. Brisco Staten Island, N . Y. Nowhere in these pages has the great. ness 0/ Toscanini been disputed, and we are indeed happy that this great musician has left us such a magnificent phono· graphic heritage. But no single man's genius enco'ltpasses the totality of music. In art, no one has the last word. If Mr_ Bookspan succeeds in arousing ·K . controversy by the honest exercise of his best judgment, we feel assured that he is creating a healthy climate for the growth STEREO TONEARM of his readers musical insights. with superb new features for higher playback quality and installation ease: , Speaker Assays • You should debunk the myth lhat loud speakers cannot be reviewed because their Model S-220 MICROPOISE DYNAMIC 12" arm characteristics are a ma tter of personal BALANCE CONTROL':"By dialing preference. So is the performance of a the cushioned , spring-tension concerto- which doesn't keep you from Microscope Balance Control, describing it. Loudspeakers can be com the arm is dynamically pared in such terms as "X has Slightly balanced and set for accurate better bass response than Y," or " the high stylus pressure: est frequencies are not as smooth, tending PERMANENTlY AITACHED towarcl stridency and accentuation of sur face noise .. _ ." etc. PLUG·IN CABLE-fully shielded William W. Kirkness single-jacket cable is anchored Burlington, Vt. to the arm-includes two color-coded plug·in leads, Beginning with our October issue, we 2 shields and a ground wire. will evaluate not only loudspeakers but No soldering! No hum also the performance of entire systems. problem! Fast, correct installation assured! Sinatra and New Fields to Conquer FAST SINGLE-HOLE MOUNTING: • I agree that economic necessity may de Arm base mounts through mand a Sinatra story, but for the future, single hole by tightening what are yo u offering the person who is PLUS THESE EXTRA FEATURES ... of single locknut. progressing, growing up, learning, opening new avenues of musical thought? • Acoustically isolated counterweight. Revolutionary automatic Murray A. Wesgate ,. Exclusive precision low friction Sili control accommodating the , Pendleton, Oregon cone damped horizontal bearing - S-220 will soon be announced! eliminates horizontal oscillation_ I t wasn't economic necessity that prompted our Sinatra article, which still • Exclusive gimbal assembly incorpo Dept.H I.r---;:;'~~;~-~O-~~;;Y:~nc ., seems to be drawing a lot of mail, both rates individual double sets of 5 ball, ~ 38-19 108th St., Corona 68, N. Y. 1 mm. bearings - provides freest i vociferous and adulatory. We feel that he lateral and vertical motion and as· : Please send me free brochure: is something of a phenomenon as well as I sures perfect tracking. I a competent musician and deserves cover :I Name ______age on both counts. For reading to "open • Plus many other exclusive Rek·O-Kut I features. ! Address ______up new avenues 01 musical thought" may be David Hall's current Mahler series Model S-260,...... 16" arm,...... ,34.95 net I Extra Stereo Shell- ! City ______, will serve. L ______,__ •. ____ .. ____ ,__ ., ___ ~~ Model PS·20L ...... 5.95 HiFi/STEREO Still available- Model S·120 .. .12" arm,.. Now 24.95 Net Export: Morhan Exporting Corp. 458 Broadway, N. Y. 13. Model S·160 .. }6" arm .. ,Now 27.95 net Canada : Atlas Radio, 50 Wingold Ave., Toronto 19. Bell, who first made stereo home re record-playback freq uency response of from pre-amp output during recording and 18-16,500 cps ± 3 db @ 71/2 ips. playback. cording possible for everyone, an • NEW SPEED KEYS automatically switch nounces a new, advanced version of There are 7 models of the Bell pre-amp record equalization for max im um the popular Bell Stereo Tape Trans Stereo Tape Transport for any system response at both speeds. port. Wi th this component in your you prefer. Bell dealers can give you • NEW "OFF" KEY disengages idler drives when power is off. music system you can record and play full specifications and assure early de • NEW POSITIVE RECORD INTERLOCK has back stereo of true professional quality livery. Consult your hi-fi or camera back-lighted indicator tor added safeguard . . . make stereo recordings off-the-air, dealer, music or department store . against accidental erasure. copy stereo tapes, discs, enjoy today's • NEW MIKE INPUTS, on master control panel, are readil y accessible however fabulous library of 2-track and 4-track LOOK FOR THESE NEW FEATURES: Transport is mounted. stereo tapes. • NEW RECORO LEVEL METERS 'on each Stylmg, with walnut grain vinyl-steel channel accurately indicate recording level, MORE GOOD NEWS! deck, matches other components in provide visual balance on playback. All-new Bell stereo components are Bell's complete new li ne. Outstanding • NEW STEREO PRE-AMPLIFIER, for record soon to be announced. ing and playback, has both channels on features and performance include single chassis, integrates with Transport. 3-motor drive, heavy duty 4-pole • NEW HEADPHONE MDNITOR OUTPUT motors, wow and flutter less than 0.2 % , JACK (on rear of Pre-Amp) to monitor direct SEND FOR NEW BOOK "A ll A bout Stereo," by John Conly, Music Editor of Atlantic Monthly, na tional authority. Shows anyone, nOll expert or expert, how to get greatest 1 use and pleasure wi th today's new, SOUND DIVISION easy-to-install, easy-to-play stereo com ~~ ponents. Ask your Bell dealer, or mail Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc. 25 ¢ (no stamps) for copy. Columbus 7, Ohio • In Canada: Thonipson Products Ltd., St. Catharines, Ontario from the world's' largest manufacturer of el'eetronic eqQipment, in ·kit lorml ' HEAT~ H , Now, for' lh~ ' first thne, 'availaUl to you ready to plug in for your immediate el,ljoyment! Heatll,flfil,:l;.; m pe;rtormanc~, first in qual gOne, into th~ designil g; boilding and test ity, first in dependability, has always ing of these exciting new fully wired units. endeavored to .J;>:rtp.g YQU "more of the ' Just /;is all build-it-YQPrself Heath elec best"'£rom t Jile leader." tromc equipment hasi!ways reflected the From the exciting early days of the highest existing standards of quality and Heath Company down to this very an dependability, so do the new completely nouncement, H~th units have constantly as$embled Heath uqits mean top-notch been designed and engineered to make performance, pleasing appearance and available to you in kit form the latest and long lasting service as well. the finest electronic equipment developed FQr the new fully Lpired, completely as- ' by sgienpe h:~9ry of t~e Heath C9 tt;l. ~ $f}mbled uni~ re, i , identiea,lt0 the pany in th dlof"electrohics is a s'fr01'Y fa,mo'fis Heathbuild- > ursel£equipment of continual leadership directed at serv ... factory assembledifor those who pre ingyou. fer this new convenience ... in Hi-Fi Now, }ully in line with that mstoric Stereo, marine, amateqr, test and general role, Heath proudly presents a brand new electronic equipment. advance for your greater enjoyment ... The seven Heath units shown on the taking a bdld new ,step that is a worthy facing page, for example, reflect every companion to the many oth.erprecedents exactingly high standard of 'tra<;litional set throughout the years. Heath perfonnance, whether you choose For the very:fi:rst time, selected items to put them ~ogether : iYourself . . . or to ., of Heat h, edtl!tiJ,?me-q;t can now be obta,inooy pIll'&, in andl?l~ y . not only in the regular build-it-yottrself A new Heath special brochure is avail kit form, but in compZetely as"sembled, fully able for your con:venience, showing just wired units, ready to be plugged in and which units in the Heathline can cun-ehtly enjoyed' the very ,;moment you remove be obtained in the dr,amatic new fully them from the shipping carton! wired, completely assemb1ed form. Use the All of the dependable Heath engineer: convenient coupon to send for your free , ing know-hoi", all of the top quality ma copy, or see your nearest Heath dealer. terials, and .. 81il of t'b.e rigi(ll: standru.:ds of Xhere is a wide ran fine Heath elec ultimate petiormance that characterize tronic equipment now'i il1eady for your im Heath build-it-yourself equipment hav~ mediate use. h ere is really professional 'performance! Wired Professional· Rated 55 wall Amplifier Comp arison reveals that th e fully wi red WW·7 A brings .you unprecedented per form ance at the lowest cos t obtainable anywhere in the field! Improve d design and advance d techniques give this amplifier unit dependabi lity, durability and top· notch performance characteristics. Heath wired model (WW-7A), $94.50 Heathkit build -it -y ourself model (W-7 A) $59.95 our finest-ever stereo amplifier is now fully wil'ed! Wired Hi·Fi Rated 25/25 wall Stereo Amplifier excellent for medium power usage Wired Hi·Fi Rated 14/14 wall Stereo Amplifier Reflecting the latest advances in the art and sc ience of designing and building a stereo amp lifier-preamplifier Thi s is a rea lly' good bu y in the medium power class, combination, the new WAA -50 provides just about eve ry prov iding 14 walts in each ste reo channel, or 28 walts quality feature you ca n possibly wan t. You have com for monophonic use. 'Ad eq uate input laciliiies fo, tape plete co ntrol ove r se lection of stereo or monophonic recorder, television , etc. , as we ll as a system of ve rsa tile sources to be played ove r either channel individually or corttrols that give you fingertip comman d of every func· both channels at th e same time. You can play back di tion. Stereo, stereo reve rse, and comp lete monophonic for sharp, selective FM tuning rect from tape recorder heads . Special outlet provides operation are provided for by this sens itive, depend· facilities for hooking in a third speaker. There is an able instrument, now avai la ble comp letely assembled. Wired "Special" High Fidelity FM Tuner additional input for use with a monophonic magnetic Heath wired model (WSA·2) $99.95 This is not only a highly precise complete ly assemb led cartridge and all inputs (except tapehead ) have leve l ' Heathkit build ·it·yourself model (S A·2 ) ... $54.95 FM tuning unit th at wi ll bring in wi th clarity and con trols to enab le you to maintain the balance th at you sharpness the programs yo u se lect ; it is also a mag personally may prefer. All in all, you have avai lab le five nificent visual addition to th e decor of you r home. switch se lec ted in puts for each channe l. Cleanly designed in th e contemporary manner, it wi ll Healh wired model (WAA-50), , .. $139.95 fit unobtrusively into yo ur design scheme whi le serv Heathkit build ·it·yourself model (A A-50) $79.95 ing functionally to bring you the kind o'f FM reception yo u have always dreamed of. /I features such highly desirable advantages as automatic frequency cont rol (AFC ) to do away with an noy ing station "drift," ny wheel tuning for precision an d multiplex adapter output jack. Heath wired model (WFM-4 ). . ... $62.95 Healhkit build-il·yourself model (FM-4). $:39.95 Wired Utility·Rated .3/3 wall Stereo Amplifier ster eo enjoYTrlren t at low cost If 'yo u' re just "breaking in" to stereo 'recep tion, this eco -nomical ye t depe nda ble completely wired amp lifier wi ll, provide you with the power you need for average home. lis- tening enjoyment. Each channe l has two inputs, allowing ' y'o u to accom mod ate crystal or ceramic cartridge record players, tuner, television, tape reco rd er, etc. Hand y, easy to-read con trols enable yo u to se le ct monophonic, stereo or stereo reverse as you decid e, the ultimate in broadcast enjoyment! Heath wired model (WS A-3).. $55.75 Healhkit build-il-you rseJ f model (S A-3).. S29~95 Wired "Deluxe" AM-FM Stereo Tuner You can ti sten to AM alone ... you can listen to FM atone ... or yo u can enjoy the finest of broadcast mu sic by tuning simultaneously into AM and FM stereo! Th is magnificent fully wired tuning instru· really superb monop'honic performance ment enables yo u to tune effortlessly an d precisely with its flywheel drive and its large, easy-to-read, Wired Hi·Fi·Rated 14·wall Amplifier edge-lighted, slide-ru le type dial. FM drift is com For ri ch fully enjoyable monophonic performance the fully as pletely etiminated by the automa tic frequency co n sembled WEA-3 represents one of. th e finest amplifier units yo u trol (AFC ) feature, and an ~cc urate tuning me ter .ca n obtai n any\';here. Provides yo u with separate bass and treble provides you with the mea ns of insuring tuning tone con trols, inputs for magnetic or crystal phono and tuner perfection when you zero in on either or both ban,ds. operations and full range. low noise, distortion- free reprod uction. Hand some ly de signed, with cle an lines th at wi ll Miniature tubes are used througho ut. seem right at home wherever yo u place it! Heath wired model (W EA -3) . S52.95 Heath wired model (WPT-I), , , $154.50 H ~ athkit bu i,d-it.yourself modet (E A·3) .. S29.95 Heathkit build·it-yourself model (PT-I) $89.95 g~ee CataQog Over 150 items of (0~de~i"g f)"gt~uCHO"g stereo. marine, Fill out the order blank below, giving us your name and adaress in the space provided, amateur and test at the right. All prices F.O.B. Benton Har bor. Mich. A 20% deposit is required on all equipment are C .O.D. orders. Prices and speCifications subject to change without notice. Dealer described in the and export prices slightly higher. complete Heathkit Catalog . Quantity Item Model No. Price HEATH COMPANY BENTON HARBOR 40, MtCH. D Send new free brochure showing Heath wired units D Send latest free catalog sho wi ng the full H eat~k it line 1 Name ______~ ______ Address ______ Ship via: D Parcel Post 0 Express 0 C.O. D . 0 Best Way City______,.- ______Zone__ State ______IS THE PERFECT MEMORY FOR YOUR HOME MUSIC SYSTEM Viking neatly combines its famous 85 tape deck with the superb RA 72 recording amplifiers to give you a stereo unit unequalled for performance and quality. And now, the "STEREO-COMPACT" guarantees against accidental erasure of your pre-recorded tapes through the unique Viking "Erase-Protek" system. . The "STE REO-COMPACT" enables you to make stereo tapes from records ... AM/ FM broadcasts ... and live program material with recording fidelity to satisfy the most demanding and simplicity of operation to delight even a beginner. The "STEREO-COMPACT" is furnished in natural, brushed aluminum or fashionable brushed gold. AVAILABLE IN TWO MODELS: Best of all, the Viking "STEREO-COMPACT" is yours at a STEREO-COMPACT ESQ-half-track erase and record surprisingly low price. Get complete information ... visit ing heads and short-gap quarter-track play models. your authorized Viking dealer or write Viking STEREO-COMPACT RMQ-Quarter-track recording of Minneapolis. ' Audiophile Net $297.50 model with exclusive wide-gap recording head and short 'gap play heads. Both models pJay% and/ or y. track stereo tapes. H-+-tI...... ,....'P'r ng OF MINNEAPOLIS, INC. 9600 Aldrich Avenue So., Minneapolis 20, Minnesota No need to hesitate, you can afford Thorens famous quality. You can have music as it's meant to be heard. You can relax with Thorens unique one year guarantee. There's a Thorens model that fits handily into any budget. Whether you know a lot or a little about "The greatest beauty of . high-fidelity equipment, you'll particularly enjoy the courteous and knowledgeable way a Thorens franchised dealer earns your confidence. Each Thorens dealer is carefully selected for Thorens famous .quality. • • knowledge, ability and integrity. They'll make . buying your Thorens almost as much fun as owning it. Shop around this page for a few of the outstanding features and then stop in you can afford it! and see all of th~m for yourself. O . S Guaranteed for one full year. Sold only through carefully selected franchised dealers. HOR.ENS MATCHLESS! SWISS MADE PRODUCTS TD·124. All four speeds: Plays any record. Easy·to· MUSIC BOXES· HI-FI COMPONENTS use lighted strobe sets SPRING-POWERED SHAVERS· LIGHTERS exact speed for best musical New Hyde Park, N. Y. reproduction. Completely silent. Many more exclusive features . .. only $99.95 net. MORE ECONOMICAL! TD·134. The finest 4·speed manual turntable you can buy. Includes tone arm. Elimination of semi· automatic feature saves you another $15. You can 'llso save up to $30 on the tone arm. Look at TD·134 . .. only $59.95 net. MARVELOUS! TD·184. Includes tone arm and simple dialing system TD·134 that lets you select records and start turntable. .t'T'I. .. " " ., ...... "-' All 4 speeds. Save $20 on turntable, up to $30 on tone arm. Look at TD·184 •.• only $75.00 net. MOST ECONOMICAL! TDK·IOl. You can assemble this Thorens turntable yourself. The superb quality of the components makes all your work worthwhile. Look at Thorens TDK·101 I J- ... only $47.50 net. SEPTEMBER 1960 21 just 100king ••. at the best In new hi-fi components • Fairchild simplifies the mounting of its new Model 440 turnta ble by p lacing the entire assembly on a slide channel. Either a wa lnut board or an unfinished board is ava il able. The Model 440 operates either at 33 !1:) or 45 rpm, the speed change being accom .gd plished by pulling up a speed-control '" E.... -" .2 t: Kllob. A belt drive filters vibration and lhe speed is ci a im ed to be co nstant with in ± l 'h% . Each LUJ'Iltable is tested for a 24-hour rlln a nd a graph of ii'S behavior during the test is furnished to the purchase r. Price: 1.'C,9 ,96 without base or mounling board. (Fai rchild R ecording Equipment Corp., 10-40 45th Avenue, Long Island City I , N. Y.) • Fisher's rapidly proliferating line of h igh fidelity tuners counts as ilS newest member the I'M-50, featuring a novel type of ba r-type tuning' indicator which ma y a lso serve as reco rding level meter when lapi ng 011' the air. A red warning band signals when overloading occurs. T his J71V£- onl y tuner has a sensitivity of 1.3 J.Lv fo r 20 db of quieting, four IF stages, of which the last two also serve as limiters. The remainder of the circuit consists of a wide-band ratio detector. The IF bandwidth is 200 kc at the 6 db points, and distortion is rated at less than 0.8% at 100% modulation. Operating featu res include a local-dis tant sw itch to avoid overloading in loca tions close to strong transmitters, as well as a sq uelch circuit to suppress int-crstation noise. Dimensions: J51/sx71;,1x8 o/g inches . Price: $ 129.50. ($134.50 in the Far West.) --- (Fi sher Radio Corp., 2 1-2 1 44th Drive, Long lsland City 1, N. Y.) • Grado continues to champion the lise of wood as tone-arm llIIaterial b ecause of its inherently non-resollant nature. The new " Laboratory Series" wooden tone arm is tested [or [reqll2ncy response within 22 HiFi/STEREO " incomparable ~ ••• by SHURE HI-FI PHONO CARTRIDGES Tiny though it is, the cartridge can make or break a stereo into usable electrical impulses ... without adding or subtract system. For this breath-takingly precise miniaturized electric ing a whit from what the recording engineer created. Know generator (that's really what it is) carries the full burden of ing this keeps Shure quality standards inflexible. translating the miles-long undulating stereo record groove Shure Brothers, Inc., 222 Hartrey Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. select the unit equal to your music system from the premi~r family of stereo sound reproducers STUDIO DYNETIC Integrated arm and cartridge. $8950 Cannot scratch records. STANDARD MaD CUSTOM M7D PROFESSIONAL M3D LABORATORY STANDARD A superb blend of Widely acclaimed; Overwhelming choice Individually calibrated, quality and economy. moderately priced. of the critics. limited quantity. . PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENT TONE ARM 50 $2400 $45°0 Model M3LS For any quality cartridge $2995 $16 $7500 ••. stereo or mono. . SHURE PERFORMANCE depends on a SHURE replacement STYLUS / . . . LooK for "Precision Manufactured by Shure" SEPTEMBER 1960 23 ± 1 db between 8 and 1000 cycles, mean ing that i t is free of low-frequency reso Lafayette 50-WATT nances in the audible range. Complete Stereo Phono System Other fea tures are very small rear over hang (o nly 2 inches) a nd overall length COMPONENTS (11 YI inches) whi.le m aintaining a track Lafayette LA-2SOA SO-Watt Ampl ifier ______99.50 ing error of less than 1 degree. " Garrard RC 210 4-Speed Record Changer ______44.50 New Pickering 3BOC Diamond Stereo Cartridge 29.85 Lafayette Wood Changer Base .______3.95 2 Lafayette SK-S8 Famous Free Edge 12" Co- axial Speakers @ 29.S0 each ______59.00 Regular Catalog Price ------...2JG;aft COMPLETE STEREO SYSTEM 'lyOU SAVE $42.301194.50 $5_00 DOWN The balance of the arm is adjustable YOUR GUARANTEED BEST both vertically and laterall y and the car STEREO SYSTEM BUY! tridge shell is instan tly interchangeable Add a new dimension of music with all the exc ite ment and reali sm o-f a live without need of re-balancing the arm_ con cert. Th e new lafayette l A-25 0A 50-watt Stereo am plifier forr.1s the Since contact lugs are provided in the heart of this ou tstand ing stereo hi-fi mu sic system - the features, versa i·' tility and advanced circui t ry of th is uni t are seco nd to non e. Th e fam ou s shell , no soldel'ing is required for car Garrard RC 210 intermi x 4-speed autom atic rec ord change r with manual or automatic opera tion is suppl ied with your choi ce of st ereo cart ridges tridge installation. Price: ,$3 9.50. (Grado -the new Pi ck~ r i n g 380C (.7 Mill diamond stereo car.trldge or the Shure Laboratories, Inc., 4614 Seventh Avenue, M7D (. 7 Mil) dia mond st ereo ca rtridge. The l afayette wood base , cut for the RC 210, is supplied in yo ur choice of finis he s. The se components Brooklyn 20, N. Y.) are coupled wi th the 2 famous free -edge l afa yette SK-58 12" coa xi al speak ers. Sys tem supplied with plugs, cab les and easy-to-follow Instructions . • Harman-Kardon augments its low (OPTIONAL) LAFAYETTE Shpg. wt. , 67 Ib s. ELlPTOFlEX SERIES HS-103WX Hi-Fi Ste reo Ph ono Syste m with cho ice of cartridge, and mahog . priced line with a new stereo AM/ FM any, wa lnut or blonde change r base (pl ease sp ecify) 5.00 Down Net 194.50 ~~'~~--. . tuner named the "Aria." A new ly de- ~ HS-104WX Sam e as HS-103 plus 2 La fayette El iptof lex Seriees Bookshelf En .:. closures (please specify f inish). Shpg. wt., 143 Ibs. 10.00 Down Net 257.50 veloped front end featuring low-noise cir HS -105WX Same as HS -103 except speake rs furnish ed are the new la cuitry and wideband IF stages 1-educe dis fa ye tte SK-180 10" 3-way speake rs. Shpg. wt., 67 Ibs. 5.00 Down Net 198.50 HS-106WX Sam e as HS-105 plu s 2 La fayette Eli ptoflex Series Booksh elf En tortion below the level customary in this ....,.. ~I-- closures (pl ease specify fin ish). Shpg. wt., 143 Ibs. 10.00 Down Net 261 .50 .. ~ .... price class. The FM specifications cl aim ~_'--':A.~"...., HS -107WX Same as HS -103 plus' Lafa ye tte IT-50 FM-AM ·stereo tuner. Shpg . '2.5 /lv. sensitivity for 20 db quieting, a cap Finished on 4 Sides wt.·, 85 Ibs 10.00 Down ...... Net 309.50 ture ratio of 7 db, 240 kc bandwidth at the 6 db points, 0.4 megacycles d iscrim inator KT-500A FM-AM STEREO TUNER KIT separation (peak-to-peak), ± 5 kc maxi KT-500A LT-50A mum drift, and distortion lower than 1% $5.00 DOWN IN KIT FORM 74.50 COMPLETELY WIRED 124.50 (as measured by IHFM standards). The fJ:equency response is within ± 0.75 db from 30 to 15,000 cycles, incl uding stand 1\ !!!__ --~~~j • Multiplex Output for New Stereo FM • Armstrong Circuit with ... Dual Limiters and Foster-Seeley Discriminator .Extreme Sensitiv arcl 75 micro-second de-emphasis. The ity and Wide Frequency R~sponse • Easy·To·Assemble Kit Form. h um level is 60 db below 100% modula Separ ate FM and AM tun ing se ctions, each with Its ma gi c eye. FM: auto tion. The high impedance output is 1.5 matic frequency control, 2 mi crovolts sensitivity for 30 db quieting, f re quency response 20-20 ,000 cp s ± '/2 db, full 200 kc band width. AM : effi v at 100% modulation_ Defeatable AFG is cient broadband circuitry,. bu ilt-in antenna. Two printed circu it boards Made in U.S.A. make wiring simple. 13J;"x10:J,8x4y,". Shpg. wt., 22 Ibs. provided. KT-600A PROFESSIONAL STEREO $5.00 DOWN! CONTROL CENTER KT-SOOA 7950 LA-SOOA 3 , ....,...... -:- ...... c;:1 IN KIT FORM. COMPLETELY WIRED 1 4.50 - • Response 5·40,000 cps ± 1 db. • Precise "Null" Balancing System • Unique Stereo and Monaural Control Features • Con centric Input Level Controis • Easy·To·Assemble Kit Form. T he AM section features a low-noise Sensitivity 2.2 mv for 1 volt ou t. Dual low impedance " plate follower" outputs 1500 ohm s. less than .03 % 1M distortion; less than .1% har high-gain pentagrid converter, wideband monic distortion . Hum and noi se 80 db below 2 volts. 14xlO% x4 Y, " . Shpg . IF and quick-action AVG. The sensitivity Made in U.S.A. wt. , 16 Ibs. , is 120 microvolts per meter, the selectivity 'f f ·f.' Lafayette Radio, Dept. HMI-6, ::, 8 kc bandwidth at the 6 db points. Har R P.O. Box 190 monic distortion is 1 % and the hum level .• Jamaica 31, N. Y. , is 45 db below 80% modulation. ! The NEW : . , The tube and diode complement is as : 1961 Name ______. ___ _~ ______.. ______.. ______.. ______: fo llows: 2-6AUG, 1-6GY5, l -EFl84, I-GBAG, I -GBE6, 2- I N87, 2-IN542, I-OA202, I-EZ80 Lafayette Electronics Address ______.______i I rectifier. Power consumption: 30 watts_ : Catalog No. 610 City ---______.. _ -, ______Zone ______State ______! Dimensions: 131%6 x 12 Y1 x 4Ys inches_ ~-- _____ .;.. ____. --- ~ ---_-_------.------______.. 1 Brushed copper fin ish . Weight: 11 Ibs_ C?&>,T..A..F..A.. "Y'ETTE NEW VORK 13, N. V. BRONX 58, N. Y. NEWARK 2, N. J. aL.... :R...A.. D X <> Price: $89.95_ (Harman -Kardon, I nc., \,yest LOCATIONS I JAMAICA 33, NEW YORK PLAINFIELD, N. J. PARAMUS, N. J. BOSTON 10, MASS. bury, New York.) 24 HiFi/S T E R E O Marti.n ~ookspan RATES T~E BASIC REPERTOIRE Item 22 of the "First Fifty" DEBUSSY'S luerin , [ A l:::,. Argenta; the Suisse Romande: A l:::,. Reiner; the Chicago Symph. Iberia, Cigues, Rondes de Printemps, ony: Superbly controlled excitement; performed with surpassing rightness. .fin est separately recorded Iberia. ikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Maurice Ravel, Emmanuel to achieve sotnething' different-an e[ect of "eality-what Chabrier and Georg-es Bizet can hardly be reg-arded some' imbeciles call imtJressianism, a term that is utterly N as castanet-clicking- sombrero wearers; yet the bes t misapplied, especially by the critics." If by l'eality Debussy known '~Sp a nish" music in symphonic literatme was com meant an experience with which he was familiar at first posed by these thoroug-hly un-Spanish g-entlemen and others hand, then I be'ria would have been completely without like them. It bespeaks the virulent nature of Spanish' folk Iberian fl avor, for Debussy had spent only a few hours on music tradition that the intoxicating- rhythms and aban Spanish soil some years before when he had crossed the doned fl amboya nce of the idiom pollinate4 the musical border into San Sebastian to attend a bullfight. No, the cultures of nations all across the face of Europe. Neverthe "eality of Spain as Debussy knew it came to him the same less, the truth is tha t the "Spanish" elements in Rimsky's way it has come to the res t of us who have never been there CatJ'riccia Est){l.gnol or R avel's Rapsadie EsjJagnale are no -from books, pictures and music. And yet no less an au more than superficial g-rafting-s upon a musical aesthetic thority than Manuel de Falla, Spain's most renowned com which remains esse ntially the composer's own. poser, has written that Debussy's was "better and truer" The one non-Spaniard who did manag-e to captme truly Spanish music than that of many Spanish contemporaries. the essence of a Spanish musical atmosphere when he set Ibe1'ia, in Fall;t's view, is a superlative example of a com out to do so was Claude Debussy. Iberia, the second of poser utilizing " the fundamental elem,ents of popular music, Debussy's three Images fa'r o.'rchestra, is the most notable instead of following the usual method of employing- authen example. Debussy worked on the three Images for six years, tic folk songs." It is only when the implications of folk betwee n 1905 and 1911. A letter to his publisher, Durand, music are absurbed into a composer's bloodstream and per indicates that the Images were intended originally for two meate his own melodic expression that he is ready to create pianos. But as the material took shape and Debussy's imag- artistic material of his own. It is this quality which lends ination took wing-, he realized that the two-piano medium distinction to the Bohemian music of Dvorak and Smetana, would be inadequate. Then the Images gradually took or· chestral form and Debussy flavored each of them with the the Russian music of Moussorg-sky, the American music of popular music of three countries. Gigues and Randes de Copland-and the Spanish music of Debussy's Ibb ·ia. Printemps, the first and third, evoke British and French Falla was quite explicit in his description of what he folksong, while Ibe'ria, the centerpiece of the trilogy, is iru found in Debussy's score: bued with Spanish color and mood. "Echoes from the villag-es, a kind of sevillana-the generic Describing his Images Debussy once wrote: "I am trying theme of the work-which seems to floa t in a cl ear atmos- SEPTEi\fnER ]960 19 phere,of scintillating light; the intoxicating spell of Anda sound, though relatively early London stereo, is clean as lusian nights, the festive gaiety of a people dancing to the a whistle and has plenty of depth. The mono version gives joyous strains of a banda of guitars and bandurrias ... all splendid balance and sharp defimtIon. this whirls in the air, approaches and recedes, and our Munch's performance with the Boston Symphony Orches imagination is continually kept awake and dazzled by the tra is on a level slightly below the atmospherically sensi power of an intensely expressive and richly varied music." tive one of Argenta, and the Spanish conductor's reading If Falla's enthusiasm for Iberia was rhapsodic, it was by has more sparkle and less surface glitter than Munch's. no means an appreciation unanimously shared. Two of the Here, too, the engineers have captured a fine orchestral leading French critics of the time,' Gaston Carraud and sonority, big and ringing, but not so clearly defined as in Pierre Lalo, both of whom had ardently championed De the London issue_ ' bussy in the "Pelleas" days, found Iblh'ia a thorough fail Bernstein's recent Columbia recording with the New ure and both critics did not hesitate to' say so in print. But York Philharmonic seems to combine elements of both Ar another who rallied to the defense of iberia was Maurice genta's and Munch's performances. Bernstein is more poetic RaveL "You were quite well able to understand," Ravel and evocative in the Parfums de La nuit section than Munch, wrote, "you who yielded yourself up without effort to the more extrovertedly riotous in the final section than Argenta. vivid charm and exquisite freshness of the Rondes de Prin Unfortunately, Bernstein does not get as good recorde<;l. temps; yoil who were moved to tears by that dazzling Iberia sound as his two rivals, and the Philharmonic does not , al,ld its intensely disturbing Parfums de La nuit, by all this function as smoothly here as do the two other orchestras. novel, delicate harmonic beauty, this profound musical sen Of the versions 'which present Iberia along with other sitiveness; you, who are only a writer or a painter. So too coupled material, Reiner's with the Chicago Symphony Or was I, and so were Messrs. Igor Str~vinsky, Florent Schmitt, chestra (RCA Victor LSC/LM 2222) finds the greatest favor Roger Ducasse, Albert Roussel, and a host. of young com with me for its firmly controlled excitement and careful posers whose productions are not unworthy of notice. But exploitation of the many colors of Debussy's orchestral pal the onlY,musicians, the only people with real sensibility, are ette. Next to Argenta's, this is the version I'd most recom M. Gaston Carraud, to whom we owe three songs and a mend. Brilliant performances of Ravel's Valses Nobles et symphonic poem, M. Camille Mauclair, who has become Sentimentales and Alborada del Gracioso come with it. known for his literary and pictorial works, and M. Pierre Three other Iberia recordings couple the music with De Lalo, who has not produced anything at alL" bussy's orchestral masterpiece, La Mer. These are recordings by Paray and the Detroit Symphony (Mercury SR 90010/MG Lme, of course, has been on the side of Debussy and his 50101), Rosenthal and the Paris Opera Orchestra (West supporters, for Iberia is today regarded not only as a minster WST 14020/XWN 18770) and Toscanini and the .' flavorful evocation of Spanish feeling, but also as a master NBC Symphony Orchestra (RCA Victor LM 1883). Tosca piece of orchestral coloration. It is a tightly organized,bril nini and Paray take Debussy very literally and their per liantlyeffective symphonic staple and-with La Mer arid the formances of Iberia seem strangely inhibited; Rosenthal Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun-one of Debussy's brings more imagination to his performance but the Paris greatest achievements in the realm' of' orchestral music. Opera Orchestra is no virtuoso organization and West For our purposes we shall consider two categories of minster's recording, in the stereo version, i~ harsh-sounding. Iberia recordings: (1) those which are part of an integral There remains one more recording of Debussy's Iberia recording of all three of the orchestral Images; and (2) to discuss, the one by Stokowski with the French National those which' couple Iberia with other, non-related music. Orchestra on Capitol (P/SP 8463). This disc is a. virtual I still remember the thrill with which I received a two one-performance catalog of the best and worst of Stokowski. record 78-rpm Victor recording of Pierre Monteux and He twists and turns virtually out of shape many of the the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in the early 1940's phrases in the opening section; and though he creates an which presented the first recordings eyer made of the other aura of almost, palpable mistiness in the Parfums de La nuit two Images, Gigues and Rondes' de Printemps. The music section, he then gets carried aw~y with the exciting last was virtually unknown to all but specialists, and that re movement and turns it into a rather vulgar display. This cording well may have established the music in the orches· Iberia is a fascinating one, but hardly one for every taste. tral repertoire. Today, the lavish extravagance of the long In sum then, Argenta's, both mono and stereo, is the un playing era affords us no fewer than four integral record questioned leader of this particular field, and Reiner's again ings of all three Images, and a fifth, a re-make by Monteux either mono or stereo, is the recommendation for those to and the San Francisco Symphony from about 1950-com whom Gigues and Rondes de Printemps may be' at best plete with Iberia this time-was recently withdrawn by minor ,.attractions. RCA Victor. The conductors of the four complete Images Martin Bookspan recordings are Argenta (London CM 9210) ,Bernstein (Co lumbia ML 5419), Munch (RCA Victor LM 2282) and Edu· ard van Beinum (Epic LC 3147) and all but Beinum's exist in stereo versions as well-London CS 6013, Columbia MS . 6097 a,nd RCA Victor LSC 2282, respectively. The BASIC REPERTOIRE Discography Of the four I have no hesitation in stating my preference Since the inception of this series, the discography fQr the first selections in the Basic Repertoire-usually seen for Argenta's. The lamented Spanish maestro, whose sud in this space-has grown to full-column proportions. den tragic death in a freak auto 'mishap at the age of 44 To prevent it fro~ encroaching on the space normally a couple of years ago robbed us of a brilliant and irre alloted to Martin Bookspan's analyses it now appears placeable talent, gives us an Iberia performance of surpass only every third month. Next complete ,listing will ing rightness and penetration. The Suisse Romande Or appear in the Basic Repertoire for November, 1960. chestra plays brilliantly for Argenta and the recorded 20 HiFi/STEREO AN UNPRECEDENTED RECORDING!! ON AUDIO FIDELITY RECORDSMl/ . OTHER NEW · RELEASES ON AUDIO FIDELITY RECORDS • • • PICTURES AT BRAH~lS AN EXHIBITION SYMPHONY ~IUSSORGSKY-RAVEL No.4 In E Minor, Op. 98 wzthid~ ~(i/jlalkJtaib ~nrhid ~ ~d(i/jlaIkJtaib w.~~,,~ 1 FIR ST COMPONENT PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION •••. MOUS· BRAHMS SYMPHONY #4 IN E MINOR-OP. · MANDOl/NO ! , , . SORGSKY - RAVEL . . . Ravel's orchestra· 98 .. • The definitive recording-artistically rendition, great arrangements tion of the "Pictures" is probably the most and technically - of Brahm's Fourth. This · sound by DICK DIA make this the greatest ·brilliant orchestral tour-de-force in the lit inspired reading by Alfred Wallenstein, cap recording by a mandolin virtuoso that has erature. For the first time it has been done tured with perfect faithfulness, is an out ever been created!!! Popular Italian favor full justice in this breath-taking FIRST COM standing addition to Audio Fidelity's great ites performed in true, SCintillating Italiart PONENT SERIES release_ FCS 50004 FIRST COMPONENT SERIES_ FCS 50001 style_ Selections include the popular Sicil Han Tarantella, Tango of the Roses, Carnival THE AUDIO FIDELITY 1st COMPONENT STEREO SERIES of Venice, Santa lucia, Non Dimenticare; FCS50,OOO FCS STEREO TEST RECORD FCS50,008 MARCHES FROM OPERAS and Tra Veglia e Sono. FCS50,002 SYMPH.oI'jY #6, PATHETIQUE FCS 50,009 RUSSIAN MASTERPIECES AFLP 1923/AFSD 592l FCS50,003 ·SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE FCS50,Ol0 SWAN LAKE: SLEEPING BEAUTY FCS50,005 BOLERO, Railel: CARMEN SUITE FCS50,Oll POPULAR OVERTURES FCS.50,006 ROMEO & JULIET: NUTCRACKER SUITE FCS50,012 OVERTURE! FCS50,007 MARCHES FOR CHILDREN FCS50,OI3'STRAUSS WALTZES SEPTEMBER 1960 Says Larry Zide in • Jerrold Electronics offers a new kind of hideaway antenna to replace the rabbit·ear indoor dipole. The new "Jer· rold Receptor" slides over the power cord of the tuner and inductively picks up signals through the house wiring. about the Intended principally for TV, it works .. equall y well for F iVI since the frequency DUAL-1006 bands are adjacent and a certain alllount of tuning can be accomplished by sliding combination the unit along the power corel. Price: turntable!changer 5.95. (Jerrold Electronics Corporation, 2222 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.) • Monarch introduces a compl ete stereo receiver, Model STA-24.5, featuring ~~ .. compares favorably dual amplifiers (22Y2 watts per channel) and tuners for AM and FM. Friction·type with the best manual dual tone controls, rumble and scralch filters are among the operatiJlg fea lUres tables in all respects. included. FM sensitivity is rated at 1.9 p.v for 20 db of quieting. Dimensions: Rumble, both lateral and ver 17y,jx6Y2xI5 inches. Price: $2 19.95. (Mon· arch Il1lernalional Inc., 7035 Laurel Can· tical, was exceptionally low ... It has, further~ yon Bl vd ., lorth Hollywood, Calif.) an arm that tracks exceptionally well at track • Movie, a new name in high fidelity, ing forces equal to those of fine transcrip is off to a notable start with a handsomely styled Slereo tape recorder of Danish man· tion arms. If you desire ... automatic (changer) ufacture. Within its surprisingly compact and portable case, this machine accommo· features ... and also wish the finest turntable da tes recording and playback amplifiers for both channels (no accessories needed arm performance, then the Dual is as close for stereo recording). The p layback out· put of 3 watts per channel suffices to drive to this ideal as can be had. ~~ efficient external speakers at room volume. The unit also features separate VU me· ters for each channel, monitor facilities and two staggered erase heads to erase the Write for complete reprints of this and other reviews from such publications as Audio, Electronics full width of the tape. Exact and fast World, Popular Electronics and Hi Fi Systems. Better yet, visit your authorized United Audio dealer and learn for yourself why the Dual·l006 is so widely acclaimed as being in a class by itself. editing is facilitated by a specia l "cue" OPERATING FEATURES OF THE DUAL·l006: Fully automatic changer operation. Unrestricted position on the tape transport controls. single play, manual or automatic. Free·floating tonearm tracks and trips at as low as 1'12 grams Three·motor drive assures gentle tape • Tracking torce varies less than .5g from first to tenth record. Foolproof record indexing princi· handling and constant tension. The mao pie intermixes all size records. Elevator·action changer spindle functions without pusher arms or stabilizers. Built·in stylus force gauge. Four speeds: 16, 33,45, 78. Rumble·free precision motor chine stands 18 inches high and takes up • ACitomatic drive wheel disengagement • Multi·purpose stereo/mono switch • Price: $79.95 a table area of only 61/2 x 16 inches. Weight: 4·5 lbs. Price: $645.00. (Movic Company, Inc., 12432 Santa Monica Blvd., united audio Los Angeles 25, California) PRODUCTS OF DISTINCTION • Shure recognizes the special traCking .12-14 West 18th St., New York 11, N. Y. problems of a phono cartridge in a record changer with its new Model M8D, de· signed to function at the higher tracking ~~ IF YOU ARE EQUIPPED pressure encountered in many changers. ~ cO ~O1\ 1\ TO PLAY BACK STEREO TAPE The new cartridge tracks at 5-8 grams and .~ YOU CAN NOW RECORD THE therefore was given a lower compliance ~ ~~ ~ SECOND CHANNEL WITH A CLARITY (3.0x I0- The New F ,ISHER XP-2 Free-Piston Three-Speaker System • The highest-quality compact speaker available at moderate as 10 watts! Each unit has two eight-inch free-piston woofers cost is the new FISHER XP-2! Beautiful to see-a wonder and one five-inch tweeter. The, overall frequency response is to hear, the XP-2 performs magnificently in any size room. 35 to 15,000 cps. The hermetically-sealed enclosure 'is con And it is also ideal where space is at a premium. Utilizing structed with interlocking joints, completely free of nails the unsurpassed design of the revolutionary XP-1 speaker and screws, and is entirely filled with high-density Acousti system, the new XP-2 boasts an even m01'e compact book Glas for complete freedom from panel resonance. Size: 22" shelf-type enclosure! Featuring high compliance plus high wide, 12 " high, 11 ~" deep. Unstained Bi1'ch, $79.50 efficiency, the XP-2 can be used with amplifiers rated as low Mahogany, Walnut and Che1'ry',' $84.50 THE FISHER Xp-t Free-Piston Three-Way Speaker System • If you are ready for the best, you are ready for the FISHER XP-1, world's most efficient compact speaker sys tem! For any amplifier from ten to sixty watts! Frequency response: 30 to 18,000 cps. Unstained Birch, $124.50; Mahogany, Wttlnllt or Cbe1'rY, $129.50 WRITE TODAY FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. SEE US AT THE NEW YORK SHOW FISHER RADIO CORPORATION. 21·37 44th DRIVE • LONG ISLAND CITY I, N. Y. Export: Morhan Exporting Corp., 458 Broadway, New York 13, N. Y.• Available in Canada through Canadian-Marconi SEPTEMBER 1960 29 save on everything in ity are, unfortunately, strictly freeloaders. Most likely, these are honest people. It simply does not occur to them that tuning in a listener-supported station without paying their share is basically dishonest. They are so steeped in the popular notion that the other guy should pick up the I·FI check (especially for "non-essentials" like culture) that they fa il to see the moral problem involved. see the best values in the Californians may be proud that this form of mOTal atrophy is less prevalent in either San ' Francisco or Los Angeles than in New York, where the proportion of freeloaders is much larger. Possibly 1961 some inference may be drawn from this about the difference between California and New York in the character and the level of personal civilization among their AlllEO educated strata, to whom Pacifica's pro grams are primarily addressed. Pacifica Foundation has no money of its own. It merely acts as the nominal CATALOG owner of stations which are in effect oper ated in partnership with tbe listeners. Un less the New York listeners come out of 444 value-packed pages hiding and assume their financial share of send for it see what's NEW in Featuring: Stereo Music Systems Stereo Amplifiers & Tuners Speakers & Enclosures 1:- 00 a0 o.lll==o~ot.l fa Changers & Turntables the bargain, WBAI seems doomed. The Cartridges. & Pickups products and wealthy contributors now keeping the sta Tape Recorders &. Accessories values tion alive with sizeable donations cannot Stereo Records & Tape 100 000 1 , , available continue to do so indefinitely. The balance Hi-Fi Cabinetry olJly from sheet will ultimately show whether or not ALLIED EXCLUSIVES: Allied the discriminating listener's sense of re Knight@ Stereo systems and sponsibility matches his taste and intelli components-equal to the very ~ i;;;f finest in design, quality and gence. This will reveal a significant facet performance, yet far lower in cost. about the intellectual elite of America's ) KNIGHT hi-fi components are la rgest city. exclusive ALLIED products. The second of WEAl's difficulties is knighf-kifs@-build your Qwn at big savings. It's easy, it's fun to more ominous. The Federal Communica assemble your own stereo hi-fi tions Commission is holding up the re components and complete systems. newal of WBAl's broadcasting license. No You get absolutely professional world's ) performance and appearance. largest selection explanation has been given except that the KNIGHT-KITS are an exclusive management, financing, and program con ALLIED product. of money-saving hi-fi cabinetry tent of the station are being investigated. Big Buying Advantages: You get Meanwhile WBAI's current fund drive everything in hi-fi from ALLIED fast-at money-saving prices. alld future planning are severely handi 15-day trial on systems and FOR EVERYTHING IN HI-Fl ••• capped. By washing their hands in offi ) components. Satisfaction FOR EVERYTHING IN ELECTRONICS •.• guaranteed or your money back. cious innocence and then firmly sitting on _GET THE ALLIED CATALOG! _ • • them, the FCC is throttling one of our ONLY $5 DOWN {or less} on culturally most promising mediums of orders up to $200; up to r~::~~D~O~D~P~:~J ... I electronic communications. 24 months to pay. I 100 N. Western Ave., Chicago 80, III. I One surmises that the investigation of program content may have something to 0 Send FREE 1961 ALLIED Catalog I I do with Pacifica's methods of news report ALLIED RADIO age. For instance, Pacifica took its tape I Name I America's Stereo Hi-Fi Center recorders to hearings of Congressional in I Address 1 vestigative committees and broadcast the OUR 40TH YEAR ·1 1 word-by-word proceedings, revealing the 1 City Zone__ State__ I irrelevance and peevish vindictiveness of L______.J . the h earing and publicizing the grimly 30 HiFi/STEREO ANNOUNCING! Two Great New Tuners! 11661' 2 2· • It took Fisher to improve on Fisher! Our twenty three years of leadership in high fidelity research are reflected in this most superlative of all tuners -the new FISHER 202-R! With new AutoTune, plus-IF muti~g, a Fisher exclusive, for automatic interstation noise suppression. 6 IF stages! Golden Cascode front-end. Sensitivity, 1 microvolt for 20 db of quieting. Capture ratio of only 1.5 db, by far WITH SENSATIONAL AUTO TUNE the lowest evet· achieved! Assures optimum FM re • New and exclusive with FISHER! For ception in all locations. Eight front panel controls, the first time-FISHER AutoTune makes including a four-position AM switch, for maxi. mum flexibility and convenience of operation! precise tuning automatic! Complete with front-panel indicator light. $329.50 11661' • Within its price range, the new FISHER 100-R has no equal. Delivering the same high-quality performance that distinguishes all FISHER tuners, the 100-R will meet the requirements bf the most exacting audio enthusiast! Sensitivity, 1.6 micro volts for 20 db of quieting. Separate FM and AM 'Level Controls. Amazing AM section delivers sig nal comparable to FM quality.' Two-position AM OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE 100-R Bandwidth Switch. Precision-aligned AM ferrite • Cascode front-end. Remarkably high sensitivity. Three antenna. Five outputs: two amplifier, two recorder, IF stages on FM. Completely independent FM and AM and one multiplex. To judge this outstanding value circuits for stereo or monophonic reception. Dual.display -see it, play it, at your dealer's today! Micro-Ray Tuning Indicator. Highly sensitive AM ferrite $199.50 antenna. Multiplex and recorder facilities. WRITE TODAY FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. SEE US AT THE NEW YORK SHOW' FISHER RADIO CORPORATION. 21·37 44th DRIVE. LONG ISLAND CITY I, N. Y., Export: Morhan Exporting Corp., 458l1roadway, New York 13, N. Y•• Available in Canada through Canadian,Marconi SEPTEMBER 1960 31 hilarious spectacle of some witnesses mak. ing monkeys out of the congressmen. The legislators, needless to say, probably regard the public exposure of their ineptitude as flo«, ~HO(;()' un-American. It is not too far fetched to suspect some connection between the healthy irreverence of Pacifica's handling !I 'Iou ~~ t~ BEST! of political news and the delay in the renewal of its license. Freedom of speech Stereo 70-$99.95 kit, $129.95 assembled, including cover may be constitutionally guaranteed, but a broadcasting license is not. Ineverence in polities is, of course, The DYNAKIT STEREO 70 is in a class by itself among high mainly a matter of the spirit. And it would quality stereo power amplifiers, and no others cap. approach be news indeed if spiritual considerations its unique combination of quality, reliability, simplicity and held much persuasive power over the FCC sheer listening pleasure for the discriminating audio buyer. or any other branch of government. It is perhaps more likely that established commercial broadcasting interests are viewing the Pacifica experiment with nota BEST 'IN EVERY WAY ble lack of enthusiasm. And we know from recent newspaper accounts that the Whether you purchase a kit, or pre * Finest Performance FCC is sometimes suspiciously sensitive to fer a factory wired and tested 35 watts continuous (80 watts peak) each channel the wishes of the broadcasting industry. STEREO 70, you can be sure per at less than 1 % distortion. Frequency response ±O.S db from 10 cps to 40 KC. Power response within 1 db In this respect, a new leaf was presum formance specifications will be met of 35 watts without exceeding 1 % distortion. Hum or exc,eeded in all respects, The basic and noise more than 90 db below 35 watts (below ably turl1ed over when FCC Chairman audibility) due to choke filtered power supply. Supe· Doerfer tendered his resignation. Now DYNAKIT amplifier circuit, utiliz rior square wave performance at any test frequency ing DYNACO's patented output demonstrates its outstanding transient response and seems a good time to discover what sort unconditional stability under any load. Perfect results of writing the fresh page will bear under transformers (worth one-half the are obtained with any dynamic or electrostatic loud· cost of the kit) and other top qual speaker. 1.3 volt sensitivity enables use with any Chairman Ford. ity components, yield , an amplifier . preamplifier. Close' tolerance components provide accurate stereo balance. It rarely happens that the interests of of uncompromised perfOI:mance. the serious FM and music listener become a motive for political action, But here we The two 35 watt amplifiers provide * Mo'st Conservative Operation sufficient power for any need, in a have a real " Federal case" with signifi· Output tubes operated at anly 65% af capacity and compact, attractive package which filter capacitors at less than 85% af rated voltage. cance extending far beyo nd the range of you can assemble in one enjoyable Highly efficient operation allows cooJer running. Tra WBAl's transmitter. Listener-supported ditional DYNAKIT d esign makes possible a one.ye·ar evening. DYNAKIT's heavy duty guarantee, unique in the kit field, and seldom found radio is far too important to be lost pre-assembled etched circuits save On the most expensive amplifiers. In the words of One reviewer: through silence. We urge our readers to you more than 213 of the effort, and express whatever interest they may have provide an added measure of relia . ",This amplifier's components are operated more con bility for years to come. Detailed servatively than those in any other commercial amplifier in the matter to FCC Chairman Ford. In we have tested . .. Its power and distortion rafings are step-by-step instructions and large complefely conservative. Its listening qualify is unsur pictorial diagrams enable toe kit passed. " -H.H. lab Report, High Fidelity Magazine, December 1959, builder to construct this amplifier with complete confidence even without previous experience. * Highest Qualitr Components Matched El34 output tubes, XXXP etched circuit It is not necessary to spend 'a lot of boards, highest quality plastic molded capacitors money to have the best sound avail and all pre mium grade resistors assure utnfost reli ability. Critical' components ore pre-assembled on the able. DYNAKITS are designed to etched circuit board. Heavy plated 18 gouge bright be the finest and to be used by ,those nickel steel chassis for unporalleled structural rigidity. The cover, which is included, is finished in abrasion· who are not satisfied with less than resistant charcoal brown baked vinyl. the best. The ultimate economy lies . in sustained performance of equip this election yeal', it would be good tp ,ment whose quality makes changes * Patented Dynaco Circuit know, among other things, just what will needless. We.invite you to visit your The DYNACO-developed pentode-triode phase.in. be the future of listener-supported radio high fidelity dealer and compar.e the verter-driver and advonced-desig'1 feedback output stage min imize the number of phase-shifting stages, in the United States. As a vital commun'i DYNAKITS with the most ~xpen providing improved overload and stability charac cations medium in the al'ts and in public teristics by virtue of its implicit simplicity. Fewer stages sive alternatives .. Send us a postcard affairs, the concept of unbeholden broad for complete specifications. mean lower distortion. Exclus ive Dyna Siaset elim inates need for critical adiustments. castirig appears singulal'ly in keeping with out national 'ideals of individual inde DYNACO, INC., 3916 POWELTON AVENUE, PHILA. 4, PA. pendence, of paying the piper and taking :- CABLE ADDRESS: DYNACO, PHILA. your choice. The Editors 32 HiFi/STEREO ... .~ 0® custom matched microphones take guesswork out of stereo recording For living, vibrant stereo reproduction of words and music, dynamically matched microphones are the vital· key to fidelity. Electro-Voice custom matching means Now everyone can enjoy microphones are specifically engineered to equal each other in frequency response, easier, better stereo polar pattern and overall sensitivity. These characteristics take the guesswork out of stereo recording - make microphone placement easier, give more uniform recordings with £-V recording quality, offer. better stereo separation, create natural sound reproduc tion, yield professional results and reduce "trial and error" time. Not only are matched microphones ..• they matched but their smooth response, wide range, high sensitivity, ruggedness at no extra charge and reliability are the same basic features which have made E-V professional microphones· the choice of critical recording studios, radio and television net works and leading independent stations. There is no finer choice than Electro Voice .•. no finer microphone buy for the money. Model 623 ihe illustrated Model 664 Model 636 Dynamic Nondirectional Model 630 microphones are Dynamic Cardioid Oynamic Nondirectional "Modern Design . • • Dynamic Nondirectional twin· packed for " Best for Noise Control" "Widest Range ... Slim Style" Budget Priced" ."Rugged •• • Reliable" your recording List $85.00 each list $72.50 each List $57.00 list $52.50 each convenience ... at no extra charge For compl(!te information write Dept. 90-F, Commercial Sound Division, ELECTRO-VOICE, INC. BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN bettqr products for better sound SEPTEMBER 1960 33 3-Way Speaker System HFS3 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Systems HFS5 and HFS1 100W Stereo Power Amplifier HF89 70W Stereo Power Amplifier HF87 28W Stereo Power Amplifier HF86 Stereo Integrated Amplifier AF4 tt HWD, 24", 121f2" , lOlf2". Unfinished birch. Kit • Exclusive advanced systematized engineering FM Tuner HFT90: Prewired, preal igned , tempera $47.50. Wired $56.50. Walnut or mahogany. • Lastest and finest quality parts ture-compensated " front end " is drift-free. Pre Kit $59.50 • . Wired $69.50. • Exclusive "Beginner-Tested" easy step-by- wired exclusive precis ion eye-tronic® traveli 19 step instructions tuning indicator. Sen sitivity: 1. S uv for 20 db HFSI Bookshelf Speaker System compl ete with • Exclusive TRIPLE quality control quieting; 2.5 uv for 30 db qUi eting, full limiting factory-built cabinet. Jensen 8" woofer, match • Exclusive LIFETIME guarantee at nominal cost f rom 25 uv. IF bandwidth 260 kc at 6 db points. in g Jen sen com press ion-driver expon ential horn Both cathode followe r & FM -multipl ex stereo IN STOCK - Compare, then take home any EICO outputs, prevent ob sole sc en ce. Very low di stor t weeter. Smooth cl ean ba ss; crisp ex tend ed equipment - right "off the shelf"- from 1500 tion. "One of the best buys in high fidelity kits." highs. 70-12.000 cps range . 8 ohm s. HWD: 23" neighborhood EICO dealers throughout the U_S. - AUDIOCRAFT. Kit $39 .9S * . Wired $65.95* . x 11" x 9". Kit $39.95. Wired $47 .95. and Canada . Cover $3.95. *Les s cov er, F.E.T. incl. HFS2 Omni-Oirectional Speaker System (not iIIus.) HF81 Stereo Amplifier-Preamplifier selects, HWD, 36", lSlf4", 11112". "Fine for stereo" - amplifies, controls any stereo source & feeds it AM Tuner HFT94: Matches HFT 90. Selec ts "hi-fi" MODERN HI-FI. Co mpletely f.acto ry- built. Maho g thru self-contained dual 14W amplifiers to a pair wide (20-9000 cps @ - 3 db) or wea k-s tation any or walnut $139.95. Blond $144 _95. of speakers. Provides 2aW monophonically. narrow (20-S000 cps @ - 3 db) bandpa ss_ Tun ed RF sta ge for hi gh se lec tivity & sensitivity. Pre New Stereo Automatic Changer jPlayer, Jam·proof Ganged level controls, separate balance control, ci sion eye-tronic® tuning. "One of the best 4-speed, all record sizes, automatic chang er independent bass and treble controls for each available." - HI -FI SYSTEMS_ Kit $39 .95. Wired and auto/ manual player. New extremely smooth , channel. Identical Williamson-type, Dush-pull low di storti on moi sture-proof stereo crystal EL84 power amplifiers. "Excellent" - SATURDAY $65 .95 . In cl. cov er & F.E.T. REVIEW. "Outstanding _ • _ extremely versatile." New FM / AM Tuner HFT92 combines reno wned cartridge designed integrally with tonearm to EICO HFT90 FM Tuner with exc ell ent AM tuning eliminate mid-range resonances . Constant 4 lf2 - ELECTRON ICS WORLD _ Kit $69.95. Wired grams stylus force is optimum to prevent groov e $109.95. Incl. cover. f ac ilities . Kit $59_95. Wired $94.95. Incl. cov er & F_E_T. f lutter di stortion. No hum , turntable attractIOns, HF85 Stereo Preamplifier: Complete master acoustic feedback, center-hole enlargement. stereo preamplifier-control unit, self-powered. New AF-4 Economy Stereo Integrated Amplifier Only 103/4" x 13" . Model 10070: 0.7 mil dia Distortion borders on unmeasurable. Level, bass, provid es clea n 4W pe r chann el or 8W total out mond , 3 mil sapphire dual styli, $59.75_ & treble controls independent for each channel put. Kit $38.95 . Wired $64_95 . In cl. cov er & F.LT_ 1007S: 0.7 mil,3 mil sapphire, $49.7S . Incl. FET. or ganged for both channels. Inputs for phono, HF12 Mono Integrated Al1\iIlifier (not illus.): Com tape head, mike, AM , FM, & FM-multiplex. One pl ete " front end " fa cilities & true hi-fi perform t Shown in optional Furniture Wood Cabinet each auxiliary A & B input in each channel. ance . 12W continuou s, 2SW peak. Kit $34.95. WE71, Unfinished Birch, $9.95; Walnut or "Extreme flexibility •• _ a bargain." - HI-FI Wired $57.95 . In cl. cov er. Mahogany, $13.95. REVIEW. Kit $39.95. Wired $64.95. Incl. cover. New HFS3 3-Way Speaker System Semi-Kit com ttShown in optional Furniture Wood Cabinet New HF89 100-Watt Stereo Power Amplifier: plete with fa ctory-built 3/4" veneered plywood (4 WE70: Unfini shed Birch, $8.95 ; Walnut or Dual SOW highest quality power amplifiers. 200W sid es) cabin et. Bellows -suspension , full-inch ex Mahogany, $12.50. peak power output. Uses superlative ultra-linear cursion 12" woofer (22 cps res.) 8" mid-range connected output transformer"s for undistorted speaker with hi gh internal dampin g cone for )------1I EICO , 33-00 N. Blvd., l.I.C. 1, N. Y. rlrl-9 I response across the entire audio range at full smooth re spon se, 3-1f2" cone twee ter_ 2 lf4 cu. ft. I Show me how to SAVE 50% on easy-to-build , power, assuring utmost clarity on full orchestra ducted-port en clo sure. Sy stem Q of '12 for , top-quality Hi-Fi. Send FREE ca talog, Stereo Hi-Fi J & organ. 60 db channel separation. 1M distortion smooth es t frequ ency & bes t tran sient re spon se. I Guide plus name of neighborhood EICO dealer. , 0.5% at lOOW; harmonic distortion less than 1 % 32-14,000 cp s clean, use ful re spon se. 16 ohms , , from 20-20.000 CDS within 1 db of 100W. Kit impedan ce. HWD : 26 112" , 137/ 8 ", 143/8" . Un I Name ...... I $99.50. Wired '139.50 finished birch. Kit $72.50. Wired $84.50. 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Wired $74.95. re sp. 45-1 4,000 cps clea n, useful res p. 16 ohm s. @ 1960 by EICO , 33-00 N. Blvd., l. I. C. I, N. Y. 34 HiFijSTEREO ~ood, · Glu.e, an.d Gen.iu.s .. I I 0/ fiiftra. di un!'i If@ alld 6;9 femar/wUe il1Mnollent@ a@toM by a membef by Henri Temianka 0/ t&e fittljallilli © Ilatfet OMEWHAT over fourteen years ago, in early 1946, a ders. In my first months with the fabulo~s "Paganini" Strad, remarkable business transaction was consummated in I spent many a fitful night. S the New York office of Emil Herrmann, the prorni. My dreams were .peopled with burglars, ars(.. nists, and nellt violin dealer. It involved the sale-at a cost of several con men. Gradually I learned to live with my new responsi. hundred thousand dollars-of four Stradivaris that had be· bility. And every day, as I looked with renewed wonder at longed to Nicolo Paganini, the almost legendary violin vir· this rerparkable wooden box, I became more and more fas· tuoso of the early nineteenth century. cinated b y the image of the man who had created it more The instruments included the "Paganini" Strad of 1727, than two centuries ago: this mysterious figure, this genius the se lf·same violin with 'which Paganini had be,vitched his whose creation had come to affect my life so deeply: An· audiences from one end of Eurnpe to the other; an early tonius Stradivarius. "Vho was he? How had he l'ived? violin masterpiece made by Stradivarius in 1680; the cele· Strad i v~i .us was eighty·three years old when he cteated the brated viola of 17 31 for which Hector Berlioz had been com· "Paganini" Strad. He retained his creative powers until the missioned to write Harold in italy; and a cello made by very end. Shortly before his death he completed ~ hree more Stradivarius when he was 92 years old, the year before he violins, . proudly inscribed by the master himself with the died in 1737. After Paganini's death, the four' instruments words: "Made at the age of 93." had been scattered across the globe, changi ng hancls many Did Stradivarius have a secret? Strange legends have been times during the ensuing ce ntury. Now, more than one told about the varnish he used, lhe "filler" he applied in hundred years after Paganini's death, the four noble instru· treating the wood. These "secrets," the legends say, Stradi· ments were reunited. varius took with him to the gTave. This, however, is highly These incomparable instruments were bought for the use improbable. Stradivarius had five chi-ldren, two of whom, of four musicians, of whom I was fortunate enough to be Francesco and Om abo no, followed in their father's footsteps. one. T he group determined to name itself the Paga'nini Their violins, until the master's death, bore the label "sub Quartet, in honor of the celebrated composer who h'1d once disciplina 'Antonii Stradivari." They learned their craft ow ned . the four Stradivaris. And although the Paganini from him and worked in his shop until his death. I t"is un· Quartet was to have more than its share of tragedy-two of likely that Stradivarius would have withheld any secrets the origin al members have since died-the fo ur Stradiva ris from his own sons under these circumstances. have remained together, inseparable even in death. The simple truth is that no man can wi ll his genius to The responsibility of caring for a fragile instrument sev· another. Blobs of paint arranged by Van Gogh or Rem· eral times more valuable than a Rolls Royce (and com· brandt turn out differently than blobs of paint arranged by 0' pletely irreplaceable, of course) weighs heavy on one's shaul· many thousand lesser painters. Ever since the days of SEPTEMBER 1960 35 .. Stradivarius, violinmakers all over the world have pried into Ius secrets and methods. Precision instruments have ' been used to measure the thickness of the wood he used in his violins. '1"his thickn'ess, it was found, varied from less than one-tenth o( an inch to perhaps one-sixth of an inch , toward the center. Yet, such was the scientific precision of the mind that had conceived these frail instruments that for centuries they have withstood a string tension equivaLent to more than sixty pounds. Now, usi ng similar woods, Stra divarius' imitators build what they hope are duplicates. But are they? Not at' all. For one thing, no two chunks of wood are ever identic;il in grain, character, or age . .If the master could look over the shouldel; of one· of his imitators, he might cry out: "No, you don't understand, this particu lar pie'ce of wood must be treated differently." . . Above all, no one has ever been able to imitate Stradi varius' marvelous varnish. This varr~ish, it must be clearly understood, is not solely for the purpose of beautifying or preservi ng the instrument. It has an enormous influence on the tone, and more than anything 'else determines its char aC,teristics. If Stradivarius had any secret to his method of making varnish, it was the secret of infinite patience: For to make and to· apply a pure oil varnish must be a' labor of love. Stradivarius brought infinite love' a~d infinite c'are to his creations. In one of his two surviving letters, the master complains of the difficulty of getting the varnish to dry, adding: "Without the strong heat of the sun, the vioJin can not reach a state of perfection." His descendants, and the ensuing generations, would not wait for the agonizingly slow drying process of a pure oil varnish. They turned to a]cohol based varnishes, thus allowing a much faster and more eco nomical drying time. One may question whether the appearance of a Stradi varius instrument was as beguiling on the day it was made as it is today_ For let us not forget that even today Stradi varius has a partner of surpassing genius: Time. This part ner is rarely given his proper due. What we gaze at today in ecstasy is a mellowed instrument, with the exquisite im perfection of varnish that has been' rubbed every day for 250 years_ There is little doubt, therefQre, that when the Stradivarius instruments first emerged from his shop, they must have had an appearance of excessive bri1liance and perfection, like those of the bes t contemporary rilaster. A major reason why it is so difficult to imitate Stradivarius is that Stradivarius never imitated himself_ He experimented ceaselessly to produce ever-greater instruments. And at the very end, he reverted to _tl1e simplicity of his 'first manner, the manner of his youth, thus closing the vast circle of his creative life. Simplicity is 'the final phase of complexity. Antonio Stradivari in the prime of youth (ca. 1675) ANYONE who has been present when a priceless Stradi vari has been taken apart in the repair shop of a master violin-maker, and who has s~en the incredibly fragil'e pieces lying separately on the table-the spruce top, the maple back - and then has watched all the pieces being put together again with only a little glue will no longer wonder that i~ the scant three centuries since Stradivarius created his mas terpieces, more than half have vanished from the earth. Of the estimated 1100 instruments made by Stradivarius, only about 500 survive today. This includes a small number of violas, celli, and guitars. Man's crimes, follies, and failings have taken their toll in every.form: the ravages of war, plane 36 HiFi/STEREO Jacques Thibaud (1880-1953) ...... • t ' :: I • • " ~ - - I ~ Nathan Milstein Mischa Elman content oE the inside air. For a Eull month he kept the in jured "Red Diamond" inside this tank. During the first two days and nights, Weisshaar never went ,to bee\. The problem was how to dry the bloated spruce top and 'maple back with such scientific precision that they would again match with the same miraculous perfection that Stradivarius had brought to the original creation. This problem was almost insolvable because the co-efficient of shrinkage of spruce and maple are different. It required the patience oE Job to nurse the criticall y injured violin back to health, but the "R ed Diamond" was saved and continues to take its place among the proud crea tions of Antonius Stradivarius. Other glamorous names for Strads have been borrowed from their original owners. ·Thus there is the "Duke of Al cantara," the "Duke of Cambridge," the "King Maximil lian." No Stradavari owner is ever without one or more certificates. A Strad without papers is like a dog without ,- a pedigree. These certificates are issued by famous dealers Bronsilaw Huberman (1882-1947) such as Herrmann, Caressa, Hart, and Lachmann. But the most highly prized of all is the Hill certificate. The confi dence it inspires is magical, and it is the first thing a prospec- tive bu yer asks for. - . Sometimes not all the parts of a violin are authentic. A few Strads have false heads or "scrolls," as they are called. The original scrolls presumably were des troyed under cir ~umst a nces which must remain a mystery forever. Although the scroll is purely ornamental and has nothing to do with the tone oE the instrument, the violin expert or collector who owns such a fiddle goes about like a haunted man. The instrument is spoken of as if it had some fearful blight, the mange, or maybe hoof-and-mouth disease. The owner will roam the earth and poke his nose into fiddle shops until he discovers a genuine Strad scroll, a rernnant of another violin that had been destroyed. . The design and sweep of a Stradivarius scroll are instantly recogllizabte by the practiced eye. Let us be clear about it: Collectors don't buy Strads simply for their tone. They SEPTEMBER 1960 89 cherish them as objects of art, simil ar to prized paintings, the eq uals, in the eyes of th eir owners, of any Titian or R embrandt. I have seen collectors look [or hours at a Strad they intended to buy, and never ask to hear it. ~. ". SOMETIMES more than just the scroll may be missing t he whole top, known as the "bell y," for instance. The (a mous "Bass of Spain" cello was a case in point, but with a specia1 twist. For it was the discarded belly that was first dis covered roasting in the sun, cracked and damaged in a shop window in Madrid. An enthusiast famed in the violin trade of a century ago, Luigi Tarisio, journeyed on foot (rom Paris to Madrid, bought the belly for a few dollars, and then spent months tracki ng down the remainder of the ' vanished instrument. Expert hands glued the original belly back to the cello. Today the " Bass of Spain" resides in San Jose, California, the proud possession of a prominent city official who rarely' lets the instrument out of his sight. Strange though it may seem, only a player of great skill can take advantage of a Stradivari's exquisite poss·ibilities, and even he cannot do justice to it if h e has been accus tomed to playing an ordinary instrument. A Strad needs to be coaxed and cajoled. It wants to be treated like a beau tiful woman. It has infinite nuances, and it gives the player a feeling of depth without limit. But to get the best out of a Strad may take a year of hard work. and experimenting. And because a Strad is extremely sensitive to changes of weather and t limate, it can turn into an instrument o( tor ture [or the traveling concert artist. Almost every Stradivari surviving in the world today is accounted for, whether it be in Europe, the United States, or As ia. Nonetheless, thousands of h ope.fuls continue to . dream that the old fiddle inherited from a great-grandfather might turn out to be a genuine Stradivari worth a fortune. Rarely does a week go by that I fail to receive some anxious Stradivari letters in the mail. Sometimes, when J give them the sad news, they say: "But it is so old." And I answer: "Yes, but everything that is old is not necessaril y good." The most pathetic character I ever .·met ·';Vas ·a ma n who h eld an enormous knotted haFldkerchief ~p to my face. "I have a genuine Stradivari here,'.' he said. "Not in that handkerchie{," i said, "there couldn't be." But he nodded vigorously, and was 'down on his. hands and knees untying the handkerchief. Inside it were perhaps one hundred pieces of wood, smashed fragmems of what had been a violin. "You see," he said triumphantly, "I told you." Of all the people with "Strads" whom I had beell forced to disappoint in the course of the years, none had seemed so pitiful. "Yes," I said, "perhaps it was a Strad." And yet, after all these years, I go on answering the in quiries that pour in from people everywhere. Because, in my heart, I am just as hopeful as they are. Because, some' - day, somewhere, the miracle may happen. A conductor ~nd concert violinist of broadly diversified interests, Henri Temianka has appeared as soloist with almost every major orchestra. He has also been lecturer and guest speaker at dozens of universities and symphonic events, and hqs produced a series of TV movies on music. In addition to his contribution to HrFr/STE RE o REVlEW, his published works have appeared in many ·na.tionaL m.agazines., including Holiday and Esquire. Next sp ring, he will appear at Carnegie Hall during the course of an eastern tour with !tis own Little Sym.phony. 40 HiFi/STEREO a forum for dispensing the "directional" higher-pitched instru m ents. Doesn 't the Better Business Bureau 1 SOUND with the most common-and have anything to say about this kind of often the most unique misrepresen tation? and the W. M. ~ay s problems of stereo hi fi Albuquerque, N. M. Q·UERY by J. Gordon Holt · The Better Business Bureau knows B etter than to say anything about this Business, because the speaker manu/ac turers speak w : . by DAVID HALL r . \ "SVMPHONV MUST BE LIKE THE S a SAID Gust;:!,· Mahler to J ean Sibelius ill the (aU oE ! 1907 .during' a st symphony- although H aydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Sc hu of a carnival in the distance- carousel, country band, shoot· bert had all done the same on occasion-it was the way he ing gallery, grou p singing, all mixed up in a splendid jum used his popular material. Moments o f high drama or ex ble. "Do yo u hear it?" :Mahler cried excitedly. "That is quisite lyricism would be suddenly interrupted b y a vulgar polyphony, and that's where I got it from! Even as a small dance tune complete with squeaking E- fl at cl arinets and child in the woods of Iglau it impressed itself upon me and thumping bass drum with cymbals attached. Indeed, one moved me so strangely." can think of only one other major com poser who did some Another aspect o f Mahler's melodic language stands at what the same thing in his so natas a nd symp honies- the the op posite pole from his now plaintive, now militan t, now America n, Charles Ives (1874-1 954) , the score of whose parodistic use of folklore elements. As eaTly as in the finale T hird Symphony (o n camp-rneeting h~ mn tunes) Mahler of his First Symphony, we find the beginnings of a highl y saw during the las t year of his life when he was M usical personal lyrical manner : fl owing, flex ible, intense. I t reaches Director of the New York Philharmonic Soc iety. T his work its fIrst great fulfillment in the magnificen t "love adagio" would have come to performance then, in 1911 , rather than that closes the T hird Symphony. T he beau tiful slow move· 43 years later, had Mahler's d eath not intervened. 'N here ment of the Fourth Sy mpho ny, the K indel·totenliedeT so ng· the Ives so natas and sym phoni es make free use of hymn cycle, the tender Ildagietto of the Fifth Symphony- all show tunes, se ntimental so ngs, patrioti c marches a nd barn dance a continual development, enrichment and refinement o f fi~dl e airs, Mahler draws instead on his chirdhood11lemories Mahler's perso nal, lyric, and n on-folkloristic manner. T he of Moravia: Austrian and H ungaria n-Slavon ic dance tunes, Five Songs from Ruckert, Das Lied von del" ETCle, the first the marches and b ugle calls heard at the military barracks and last movemen ts of the N inth Sy mphony and the slow near Jihlava, the call o f the cuckoo, the coachman's post movement of the uncompleted Tenth represe nt the ze ni th horn, the ecclesiastical chorale. T he uninhibited Ives had of Mahler's achievement as a master of lyrical expression no h e-s itation when it came to jux taposing hi s themes simul in terms of orchestral sonority .. t.ike Wagner in Tristan und taneously in unrelated keys and rhythms. But Mahler, we ll Iso lde, he virtually burst the bounds of tonality as it was rooted in the gTeat traditio ns of E uropean musical culture, known iri his clay, and from the late Mahler slow move drew the line at this point; so that instead of a J ames ments to the early " free-tonal" works of Alban Berg (viz. J oycean com iJl"ession of simultaneous experience it la Ives, T hree Pieces for Orches tra- completed three years after we have something rather like a T homas Wolfe pa noramic Mahler's death) is but a step. effect, well spread in time scale and ample in so nori ty. :Mahler has been ca lled a "song-symphonist," and under standably so, in that the first four symphonies and the so ngs IN common with I ves, Mahler fo und the melodies of his written d uring the same period ~. re so closely interwoyen. boyhood charged with emotional significa nce. Hearing an T he Liedel" eines fahTenden Gesellen and the First Sym organ grinder under his hotel window in New York he ex pho ny are cut from the same cloth, as are individ ual move claimed "Such a lovely barrel org·a n-took me straight back ments of the Second, Third and Fourth sy mphonies and to my ch ildhood . .. . " T hen there wa,<; the wa lk during Mahler's song se ttings from the German folk poetry anthol which Mahler and his companio n suddenl y heard the so unds ogy, Des Kna·ben W uncled wl"n ("Th€: Youth's lVl agic SEPTEMBER 1960 43 Horn"). Part of the second and fourth "Wayfare~" songs ances can be found when he is freed from the inhibitions ,crop up in the first and third movements' of the D Major imposed 'by the impedimenta of symphonic form. Symphony, and the Second Symphony draws, upon the Mahier was truly a master technician in every aspect of "WundeThoTn" Liedel' for its third and fourth movements, orchestral and vocal composition. However, there is no as does the fifth movement of Symphony No.3 and the finale reason to suppose that his remarkable mastery of orchestral of Symphony No.4. The latter two instances are themati color, contrapuntal texture, and overall form came easily. cally inter-related, as the finale of the G Major Symphony The choral-orchestral cantata, Das klagende Lied, the Lieder was originally intended as a seventh movement for the eines tahrenden Gesellen and the First Symphony date in 6-part Third Symphony. Both of these delightful songs their original versions from 1880, 1885, and 1888 respec evoke, in terms of Austrian musical imagery, scenes analo tively, Howeyer, they did not reach publication until gous to the "fish fry .in heaven" scene of Marc Connelly'S 1897-99, by which time the composer-now a thoroughly drama, GTe en PastuTes_ The Kin'deTtotenliedeT and the seasoned orchestra conductor-had thoroughly revised, their RUckert Songs, both dating from the period 1901-04, show instrumentation, though he qid preserve the basic musical a less direct relationship tQ the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh conception in each instance. symphonies composed during the same -period, but the kin ship in mood between these songs and the Adagietto of the the early works, we are chiefly aware of sheer orchestral Fifth is obvious at first hearing. Amusing, too, is Mahler's I.N mastery for maximum dramatic effect and of Mahler's use quotation of the satirical WundeThorn song, Lob ,des hohen of forthright, clearcut themes (marches, fanfares, birdcalls, Ventandes ("In Praise of Intellect"), as paFt of the fina!e dance tunes, declamations) that ideally fit his style of in of the Fifth with its immensely complex fug~l textures, How strumentation. Striking instances in point are the off-stage ever, ' in Das Lied von del' ETde and, the, Ninth Symphony; brass choirs in Das klagende Lied and , the Resun'ection their community is more one of ti'agic resignation rather than direct thematic content. Symphony, the spectral col legno effects (playing with the As for Mahler's songs generally, it can be said that the ,wood of the violin bow) in the funeral march of the First Liede7: r;ines fahrenden Gesellen, the "Wunderhoi:n" set Symphony, the eight horns blaring out the march tune that tings, KindeTtotenliedeT, Five RUckert Songs, and Das Lied opens the gigantic Third Symphony, and, in the Fourth von del' Erde are all acknowledged as masterpieces, even Synlphony, the eerie effect of the deliberately mis-tuned by those who have strong reservations about Mahler as a solo violin (a full tone higher than usual) representing the symphonist. These were conceived as songs with oTcheslTa, figure of death leading an amiable dance. as opposed to the piano accompaniment favored by Schu Though Mahler's orchestral technique derives from Wag bert, Schumann, Brahms,_and Wolf, and without question, ner by way of Berli0z, his use of it in relation to his special Mahler's handling of his instrumental textures is never less type of thematic material is far removed froni the rich than masterly, whether it be with the chamber sized gro~ p organ-like blending favored by Wagner and most of the for We?' hat das Liedlein eTdacht of the "Wunderhom" series other romantics of the 1870's, From almost the very first, or the formidable forces used in the opening of Das Lied Mahler steers away frOIl! Wagnerian density of harmonic texture in his orchestra and anticipates the clarity of musical von deT Erde, There is a decided element of truth in ~he observatIon that Mahler's most spontaneous musical utter- line favored ' by such diverse twentieth century' com posers as Stravinsky, Bart6k, Copland, and Shostakovich. The huge size of Mahler's orchestra is governed less by mere consideration of massive sonority than by the urge to use the ensemble like the pipe ranks of a fine baroque organ-Mahler plays off strings, woodwinds', brass, and even percussion one against the other. Where the strings .bad been king since the days of Haydn and Mozart, we find in the music of Mahler more independence for the winds than ever before. If he was not able to create the rhythmic revo lution in the percussion department that Stravinsky did two years after his death with Le SacTe clu tJ1'intemt)s iri 191 3, Mahler surely showed more than any composer before him what an augmented percussion department in the orchestra could do to seize and retain the attention -of an audience. , The first movement of the Resunection Symphony offers a remarkable display of Mahler's orchestral virtuosity wedded to his special type of thematic material. We have here decla mation (the ferocious opening) , lyrical song, march, chorale, and fanfare. In, ~his intensely dramatic movement, almost Eugene O~ 'mandy made , the first major Mahler symphony recording in 1935-the , "Resurrection" on 11 RCA Victor 78s with the Minneapolis Symphony, soloists and chorus. 44 HiFi/STEREO (mono) . Maureen Forrester, Richard Lewis with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fr itz Rein e r cOAd . RCA Victor LSC 6087 (stereo) 2 12"; lM 6087 (mono) . Bruno 'Walter conducted the world premiere of this deeply poignant song symphony shortly after Mahler's death, and listed above is the second of two great recordings he has made of the work (the fit:st was in 1936). It remains to be seen whether the forthcoming third Walter recording, on Columbia, done in New York especially for stereo, will measure up to the earlier and seemingly incomparable achievement. ''''e have yet to hear a tenOl cope successfully with the hysterically bit ter first song of tbe cycle; but Kathleen Ferrier throughout the Walter perform ance was a t the summit of her artistry (she was dead of cancer 18 months after). For all RCA Victor's gorgeous stereo Dimitri Mitropoulos made a sensational American debut in Boston with the Mahler First Symphony sound and the loving care in performance in 1936. Four years later he recorded it on Columbia 78s in MinneapoJis. expended by R einer and his soloists, the end result is no competition for Walter and Ferrier. The 8-year-old sound of the London set is still good, too. SYMPHONY NO.9 IN D MAJOR (1909- 10). london Symphony Orchestra , Leopold Ludwig condo Everest 3050-2 (stereo) 2 12"; 6050-2 (mono) . Vienna Symphony Orches tra, Jascha Horenstein condo Vox VBX 116 3 12" (with Kindertotenlieder & First Sym phony) (mono). T he first and last movements of this symphonic swan s9ng ate among the most complex and cunningly woven in all Mah ler. They are also his most eloqueritly ex pressive in purely orchestral vein. No de Fritz Reiner fin itive recording of this remarkable work -A relatively new Mahler yet exists, and Columbia missed a chance convert among veteran to provide one on the occasion of the Di conductors. His RCA mitri Mitropoulos perfOl"mance at the Victor recorded N. Y_ Philharmonic Mahler Festival this performances are brilliant. past season. W hat we have is a finely idio matic reading by Jascha Horenstein in a so-so recording and with a reasonably good orchestra_ Everest's stereo sound is superb, but Leopold Ludwig is a bit stand offish with the in tense emotionalism of the end movements, though he does a fine job of unravelling the complexities of the savage Rondo Bw-ieske third movement. SYMPHONY NO. 10 (unfinished) (1910). The Cleveland Orchestra, George Sze ll condo Epic BC 1024 (stereo); lC 3568 (mono). A lengthy slow movement (Andante Adagio) and a brief Allegretto moderato Bruno Walter listens to a playback from his Columbia recording of the Resurrection Symphony. Allegl"o non troppo were found among Mahler's sketches for a 5-movement Tenth Symphony, and in sufficiently finished con dition to warrant working out in full score -a task that was undertaken by Ernst KIenek in 1924. Mahler's marginal notes betray a profoundly disturbed state of mind and fear of imminent death; but the music of the Tenth Symphony Adagio as given to us by KIenek shows the ailing composer in fullest command of his cre ative and 'musical powers. T he result is emotionally harrowing, yet altogether mov ing and deeply satisfying. Slight a nd of small conseq uence is the brief 'and shad owy Alleg·retto. The Epic recording Jascha Horensteillr (stereo BC 1024; mono LC 3568) could n't is a first-rate be better. D. H. Mahler stylist. SEPTEMBER 1960 (Continued tTom page 45) technique to handle his more personal thematic concep episodes that use cowbells to symboliie the isolation of the tions. It is interesting to note here that Mahler, being an individual from the rest of humanity (Symphonies Nos. 6 orchestra conductor and thus learning every day about what and 7) and a giant hammer to represent the blows of F~te coulJ or could not produce a proper effect, constantly re (finale of Symphony No.6). The marches and the fanfares vised details of his scores, even after publication. Even now, are lhere all right and ware the strains of rustic Liindler there remains the problem of printing;... definitive "critical dances; but the harmonic flavor is no longer fresh and OUJ- edition" of his symphonies. A glance a~ the multitude of markings .and footnotes Ma111er put into his scores gives us what amounts to a graphic picture of Mal~ler the conductor. "Note to the con ductor," reads a notation appended to the famous col legno effect at the end of the slow movement of the First Sym phony, "No mistake! To be bowed with the wood of the bow." In the Second Sympl!ony, every small t<;:mpo fluctu ation is spelled out exactly.. The . percussion· players are lold just what kind of sticks to us!'! 'at any ' given moment; the brasses needed offstage in the. finale are cued as to just when they may' leave ·the . main orchestra ' and when they may come back. Typical is the remark found just before a sudden climax in the first movement, "A momentary pause here and then suddenly-forward!" If the Eighth Symphony with its two massive vocal move ments represents the peak of Mahler's achievement as a musical technician, it is Das Lied von der E,.de, the Ninth Symphony, and the slow movement of the unfinished Tenth that find him emerging in final and transcendent command of a wholly person;;tl mU3ical speech. Here Mahler uses themes essentially divorced from the early folksong associa tions (though he occasionally harks back to them in iso lated episodes as in the Ninth Symphony middle move ments and the first-movement fanfares) . I NTERESTING though the thematic roots, fantastic instru: mentation and polyphonic technique of Mahler's music, {is acceptance by today's audiences after almost a generation of grudging or indifferent !"esponse is due primarily to their dmmatic impact-a dramatic impact peculiarly relevant to the world of our own time and place. Creative artists, it seems, have an uncanny gift for uncon Gustav Mahler and Bruno Walter stroll scious prophecy, and like Cassandra of ancient Troy, this through Prague, 1908 very gift for prophecy may lead to their being despised and rejected in their own day. When The T1"ial , the terrifying doorsy. The tortured chromatic element is omnipresent, novel by Franz Kafka (like Mahler, a Czech-born Jew by and with it, enormous polyphonic complexity. For the non birth and German by culture) , was published in its original devotee, these three middle-period Mahler symphonies are German in 1925-and even when it came out in English tough nuts to crack, despite the stunning effectiveness of translation in 1937-few readers could accept it as anything individual movements-the lyrical Adagietto of the Fifth, more than a macabre fantasy. Since then, the unascribed the fiercely resolute opening march movement of the Sixth, denunciation, trial, and execution of The T1"ial's central the shadowy first "Night Music" and eerie scherzo of the character have become all too true and horrifying a part of Seventh_ What is hard to take is the murky, turbulent a reality that has been shared via newspaper pages through density of much of. the rest, coupled with a curious lack of out the free world. vitality to the themes themselves-the funeral march that So too . with Gustav Mahler. The complacent and seem begins the Fifth Symphony, for example. One admires the ingly well-ordered world of 1880-1910 had little understand sheer technical ingenuity displayed ir. Mahler's Fifth, Sixth, ing for such a hyper-se:lsitive, fiercely dynamic fa.natic. If and Seventh symphonies, but senses more struggle than the brill.iance of his performances as a conductor made it surging urgency and inspiration, even in the intensely per worth putting up with his eccentr ~ c ways in ~he opera house sonal Sixth (the so-called Tmgic Symphony). Those who and concert hall, that was . no reason to accept his megalo can tackle these symphonies with unalloyed pleasure from maniacal symphonies with their budget-breaking orchestras, beginning to end should also enjoy the contrapuntal acro their death-haunted funeral marches, vulgar dance tunes, batics 01 Max Reger. and blaring fanfares. The fact that Mahler undertook repeated revisions of Mahler the man wa:; clearly out of tune with his times. the Fifth Symphony (especially of the on;hestration) sur~ ly Most of his contemporaries, ~ecure with their belief in the reflect~ the struggle he was having during the first five years status quo, could hardly be expected to understand the of the new century in evolving a new and more refined anxieties, the preoccupation with death that made Mahler 48 HiFijSTEREO a driven man, a seeker after "belongingness" through works up to 'this time a VISIOn of Faustian man 'wrestling Nature, through love or through the hereafter. with the problems of existence and the universe. Just as Marx, Nietzsche, Ibsen, and others had been calling the Wagner's "Ring" operas were conceived as cosmic drama values of the status quo into question for a gener. ,tion and for the theater, so Mahler sought to transfer its locale to the more; but for the powers-that-were in Franz-Josef's Austro concert hall, expanding the concept of symphony to encom Hungarian Empire, the resulting revolutionary ferment may pass a self-sufficient "drama" taking up an entire evening. .have been tolerable among the student element, but would Hence there would be no need to confine length of perform never do among His Majesty's civil servant~ in the arts and ance to the usual 40 minutes, nor to stick to the conventional professions. Mahler himself may have adhered to the neces four-movement pattern. Thus we find six, mo~emen~s in 'the sary conformity-and he was certainly no meddler in politics Third Symphony, but only two big movements in the Eighth -but even ' so, something about his music ' (could it have Symphony, Numbers One, Four, Six, and Nine, however, been those insidious marching tunes?) breathed the very do confine themselves to the customary four sections: essence of the restlessness and anxiety that served also as the breeding ground for such as Sigmund Freud, and Frai1Z , THE world of the last M~hler works, Das Lied von der Kafka. It was Mahler's colleague, Richard Strauss, who qnce Erde, the Ninth Symphony, and the sketches for the Tenth likened the marches in the first movement 0' the Third Sym (two movements were put. into plavable shape by Ernst phony to a workers' May Day, parade switlging down tl~e , Krenek in 1924) is a quite different one from the boundless Vienna Prater. Yet nothing could have been farther from cosmos evoked in the works that went before. His' health Mahler's own mind. ' shattered, his dreams of an artistic utopia under his direc Together with the restlessness and'tension generated by tion at the Vienna Court Opera come to nought, and grief Mahler's music is always the element of aspintion after stricke~ over the loss of his elder daugh~er, Mahler's sym faith, But he ·is a seeker, hardly ever a finder; and the fail phonism came to eI!1brace an inner world-on'e of grief and ure io find brings with it episodes of savage bitterness and heartsickness, one that bespeaks an acute sense of the vanity parody, expressed more often than not in the language of of the things of this life. and yet one that has ro"Om in it for . the village band and dance music remembered by Mahler , gentle humor (as in the third movemento£ Das Lied von from his childhood. Oddly enough, in the first four sym· der Erde). Only in the drunkard song of "Das Lied".and phonies, the' seeker after faith does' reach the boal of his in the Rondo Burleske of the Ninth Symphony does savage aspirat~on. It is witnessed in the blazing resolve toward new mockery come to the fore. Whether the final. pages of Das worlds to conquer at the close of the First Symphony, in the Lied von der Erde, of the Ninth, and ofthe'slow movement massive Resurrection fresco of the C Minor, in the soaring of the Tenth can be said to evoke resigned acceptance:of the love music that concludes the Symphony No.3, and in the end on Mahler's part or an evocation of sheer dissolution, delectably naive "Wunderhorn" song of heavenly joys that it is all but imRossible to say. But there is n!l blinking the ends the Four'th. Despite all terrors,' Breughelesque visions, fact that the inner psychological states portrayed by Mahler and death images, the will to live and believe in some form in his last works would do credit to the most imaginative of ultimate salvation triumphs at the end of each one of psychoanalyst. Mahler's young disciple. Arnold Schoenberg, these symphonies. . may have penetrated deeper into the human ps~·die with The three succeeding symphonies, Nos. 5, 6 and 7, have his Five Pieces for Orchestra and Pierrot Lunaire, but he been spoken of as Mahler's battle to break through to a was no match f9r Mahler when it came ~o combining psycho new development in ,his musical technique. They also seem logical portraYll.l with sustained lyrical eloquence. The first, to reflect an intensification of Mahler's battle against Giant second and last songs of Das Lied von der Erde, and the tur Despair in his' seeking for faith. Indeed, in the hammer bulent first and seraphic last movements of the Ninth Sym blows of the immense Sixth Symphony finale, Despair does phony, to say nothing of the amazing and emotionally har win out. There is a "return to life" in the Se-enth; while rowing slow movement of the Tenth, are the most striking in the "Symphony of a Thousand" (Symphony No. 8), we instances in point~ , encounter what amounts to an attempt to gain faith by sheer For the audiences of Mahler's own day, and perhaps even fQrce of will. The gargantuan performing forces alone seem for those between the two world wars, his musical message to indicate this. The first movement, a massive polyphoniC was too strong a dose of bitter medicine. In the world of his setting of the medieval hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus ("Come day, Mahler was profoundly alone when it came to achiev Holy Ghost, Creator Blest") , is in its text.a joyously affirma ing lI. genuine communication of his symphonic,world. But tive paean of praise to the Godhead, but in Mahler's music today. what were once Mahler's private anxieties and aspIra it emerges rather as an anguished plea, more in keeping with tions, publicly and unashamedly displayed in his songs lI.n.d the "Venite" movement of Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms symphonies, now find us an ,echo in the experiences of many (1933), The words are noble and the music is brave, but hundreds of thousands. They are those for whom the cir the act is one of striving rather than of unquestioning faith. cumstances of WlI.r, of over-developed technology and u'nder In the oratorio-like treatment of .the final scene from Part developed humll.nity, and of possible nuclear ,extinction, Two of Goethe's Faust, whose finale hymns the redemption have posed the hard-core questions of faith in human des of mankind through the "Eternal Feminine," Mahler is tiny that Mahler as a solitary individual tried to answer. more successful; indeed, the tonal landscape painting of the Now that his problems have, in a sense, become common introduction is exquisite, butstill' one cannot escape the to all of us, his music has begun to find a home throl,lghout sense that Mahler hanried to capture his objective by main the world. The music of the composer-conductor who once force rather than under the impulse of white-hot inspiration. cailed himself "thrice homeless" as Bohemian, Austrian, and "Symphony must ' be like the world"" was lYfahler's view Jew, has found its place in the world heritage of art that after completing his Eighth Symphony; and froni the dra expresses the most intense, and profound experience oE maticviewpoi~t, it is clear that he sought to create in his Western Man. ' D. R.' SEPTEMBER 1960 49 Inst~llation ' of· • • • I A LADY WHO KNEW WHAT SHE WANTED MRS, Gertrude Gomberg would ha,rdlY ' consider herself Eddie Adler's help, after careful listening sessions. an advocate for women's rights. But in planning and Although Mrs. Gomberg liked the sound of the two KLB: _supervising the installation of a stereo home m usic system, systems, she did not choose to use them in their normal she has invaded a traditionally male preserve-and with role as " bookcase" units, and decided to house them in teak outstanding results. Both sonically and decoratively, Mrs. cabinets to complement the rest of her living room decor. Gomberg's stereo system is one of the bes t we have seen, Herman Friedman, a custom ~ab in e tmaker in 'White Plains, Eddie Adler, of the White Plains branch- of New York's produced the handsome cabinets shown in the accompany Audio Exchange, admits that he had to dispense less than ing photographs. Swedish teak with carefull y matched the usual amount of audio advice in Mrs. Gomberg's case. graining' was used t;bTQughout, and the speaker enclosures, In line with his store's policy, h e handled the installation designed to resemble enci:tables, were given black formica as well as the sale of equipment, but Mrs. Gomberg's eyes tops for optimum durability and appearance. and ears made the important decisions about the compo The system's sonic Tesults are impressive, being full nents and decorative scheme for her stereo system. bodied and virtually distortion less at all listening levels, As a daughter-in-law of Isaac Gomberg, fgrmer .flutist with the proper speaker. sepat;ation for truly effective stere<;>. for the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan A pair of ' '''harfedales in an upstairs music room provide Opera Orchestra, a cousin of the Philha·J;.IDon,tc's current accompaniment for Mrs. Gomberg when she decides to first oboist, Harold Gomberg, and an accompl.ished pianist tackle a concerto 9n her piano. in her own right, Mrs. Gomberg had a firm idea of what she wanted from a stereo system. T0 pia)' 'her records, she chose a R ek-O-Kut N-33H turntable toge t!~er wit!1 an ESL Gyro-Balance ann and a Shure M3D stereo cartridge. For a tuner, she selected the Fisher FM-IOO, more than sensi tive enough to receive all of New York's FM programming in her home in nearby Hillsdale, New Jersey. Her choice of control unit was the Fisher 400-C, and a Dynakit Dual 70 was her selection to power a pair of KLH Model Four speaker systems in her living room. Several Wharfedale 8FSj AL's are used as extension speakers in other parts of the house. The evaluation and ultimate choices were made with Mrs. Gomberg and Eddie Adler are shown here by the custom-made control console. The power amplifier is housed in an upstai rs closet. 50 STEREO CARTRIDGE SIMULTEST .. Part II I LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE FOURTEEN MOST · POPULAR STEREO 'CARTRIDGES UYING cartridges is something like buying turnips: What the Curves Tell B outward shape and other obvious design elements tell On the graphs, the total frequency range is represented on you nothing about the flavor. And cartridges definitely have the horizontal scale. Cartridge output in terms of an arbi an individual tonal flavor which they impart to the music. trary reference level of zero db is represented on the vertical Experienced turnip buyers, however, are in the habit of scale. 1£ the upper curve stays close to the zero db line with conducting squeeze tests' prior to purchase to discover weak out sharp deviations, it is .a sign of good frequency response. spots. This still won't tell them anything about the taste, A gentle, hilly contour of the frequency-response curve ·is but it assures them that nothing is rotten. quite all right. Sharp peaks or tall humps, however, particu, Similar logic applies to stereo cartridges. Our tests, as we larly in the range around 10,000 cycles (marked "10 kc" on explained in the first part of tbis report, cannot express the the graph) may indicate harshness and unnatural tOllal tonal individuality or musical merit of a cartridge. But they coloration. can reveal suspicious "soft spots" in performance. The lower curve indicates channel separation. It shows Each cartridge is assessed by two curves. The first shows · how much of the left channel .leaks into the right channel, the overall frequency response. The second shows the and vice versa. The higher the curve, the more left-right channel-to-channel separation at ~arious frequencies. leakage and the more watered down will be the stereo effect. Since the details of the test procedure were explained in The lower the curve, the greater the stereo separation. the first part of this report, we confine ourselves here largely Since left-right leakage is a problem only in the region to presenting pictorial results for the cartridges not covered above iooo cycles, the separation curve is not plotted below last month. that point. Also, keep in mind' that no cartridge maintains This type of data has not been generally available in the a great deal of separation ill the higher frequeticies. As a past, since only a few cartridge manufacturers publish per matter of fact, most stereo discs provide no separation above formance curves for their products. In conducting these 12,000 cycles. So don't be alarmed if you see the separation laboratory tests, we hope to give our readers a broader curves climbing up toward the high side of tht; graph. As basis for comparison than provided by hitherto published long as they stay at reasonably low values (-15 db or bet information. ter) up to 10 kc, you have little to worry about. In the welter of claims and opinions, such graphs are help To emphasize the meaningfUl part of the separation curve, ful as one of the few objec·tive factors in total cartridge we have shaded part of the graph in gray. Where the curve performance. Practiced and prudent interpretation of such enters the dark gray area, it is of marginal significance. It is curves can be highly revealing to a person capable of re the white area that really counts.· But for very exacting lating technical data to the actual experience ·of sound. But requirements, . performance in the light gray area should be let us emphasize that these measurements do not and cannot taken into consideration. The gray shading similarly indi I tell the whole story. Ultimately, the only meaningful evalua cates limited significance for the extremes of the frequency tion of a cartridge is by the educated and discriminating ear. response curve. Most of the music lies in the white area. I SEPTEMBER ]960 51 FAIRCHILD SM-1 G.E. VR-227 GRADO CUSTOM GRADO MASTER PICKERING 380A PtICKERING 380C SHURE M3D SHURE M7D WEATHERS 501-0 The frequency response and separation curves on pages 53 and 54 show the electrical characteristics of the various cartridges. But since a car tridge contains mov ing parts, it is equally important to investigate its mechanical behavior. This is best done by so-cal led "square-wave" tests, in which the cartridge 1s made to trace a gear-tooth groove pattern on a test record , and its electrical output is then 'displayed on the oscilloscope. A square wave, like a frictionless bearing, however, is nothing but a fond abstraction of the engineering mind, an ideal unattainable in prac tice. Because of inertia and resonance of its moving parts, no cartridge produces an accurate gear-tooth trace. But the 'photographs of the various scope traces give some clue to the magnitude of random motion induced by this rigorous test. It might be noted, inciden tally, that it is extremely difficult to cut a 'square wave into a record, and hence the signal source itself is somewhat flawed. Even a perfect cartridge would not produce a really "square" 'wave from the record employed in this test. HOW THE TESTS WERE MADE preamp adjusted so as to flatten the response Curve of the test disc. The sweep trace was then displayed on an To perform the tests evaluated in this article a EICO 460 oscilloscope. variety of mono and stereo test records were thorough In addition, we employed the Folkways FPX100 test ly investigated. Our findings as to frequency response record that includes a 10qO cycle square wave. In this and cross talk (sometimes shown as "channel-to test the output of the two channels was again combined channel" separation) were 'made using the RCA Victor and fed through a voltage am~lifier into the oscilloscope. stereophonic test discs 12-5-71 and 12-5-73. These two Each test cartridge was mounted in its own tone arm records provided 28 check points in the frequency range shell-the arm being the Audio Empire model 98. It of 30 to 20,000 cycles_ The tolerances of the measure features quick interchange of shells and may be easily ments depended entjrely upon the discs but were dynamically balanced within 15 seconds. Each cartridge within ±1.0 db: of a flat r.esponse curve. was played at 3 grams stylus pressure-except the Since we were aware that several cartridge manu Pickering 380C (4 grams). Shure M7D (4 grams) and facturers employ a sweep frequency test record as a Weathers C501D (2 grams). The three-speed turntable quality control check we also u~ed the Pacific Trans was the Lafayette PK-245 with a constant speed hys ducer 102M test disc. This record sweeps 20 times per teresis motor. Voltage output levels and db measure second over the frequency range between.7,O and 10,000 ments were made with the aid of a Hewlett-Packard cycles. Sweep frequency oscillograms (where used in 400D'vacuum-tube voltmeter_ the story) were obtained by combining both the left and The "Response-Crosstalk" graphs show the average right channels and feeding them into a Dynaco stereo of the two channels. 52 HiFi/STEREO Fairchild SM-1: Fairchild, long known for their m oving ";1, coil cartridges, makes a new departure with this des ign, .10 which op erates through rotary motions of the magnets, a , principle which seems to res ult in uncommonly good chan :- n el sep arat'i(im. 0 , ~ .. ' ~ - I0 - I, ·1 ~/ l! - -2'I-- f- Fairchild General Electric VR-227: T h is cartridge is a lineal de-' V I--!- SM·l sce ndant of . Generttl Electric's variable r eluctance cartridge , ; V which was a famous pioneering design in the early days of 0 II III I high fidelity. 'W orki'Flg on the moving·iron principle, the 20 100 II ., , WN . 10 , Grado " Custom" and "Master" : These moving coil 0 ...... " .~ ,...--r- cartridges are virtually identical, except that the "Custom" m_ , ii\ . e .'" has somewhat higher output and lower moving mass, the 0 latter resulting in ex t e nd ~ d higll·frequency response. Jifh Care is taken by the manufacturer to ba lance both chan ' r--r- G, E. -2or-- r- VR·227 I/\rtfl nels poth in frequency ch aracteristic and outpu t level. Note I-~ ~ that our curves reveal a striking difference in' chan nel sepa , ~ ;N, ration between the "Custom" and the " Master" models. ->0 II III I 20 10 0 IKe. 10Ke. 2OKC, FR EaUENCY-CPS • I, .., , ~, 0 0 , . iI ~': , /"" '. ~l-- 0 i- 0 , -- r- , h ~ 0 0 1"1 ' r--r- Gra do 15 - - Grado Master Cust om "\AI -20 - I-- I--f- , .~ , ,,,tV) .. - >0 II III I IIIIII I' "'~ 20 100 IKe. laKe. 2OKC. 100 , IKe. 10Ke. ZOt +, 1, & *' +I 0 , \%. 0 ..... , r--1'"'- A~' \ P ickering. 380A and 380C: This moving-iron cartridge 10 ' is rather u nusual in its ' outward appearance due to its "V \ 15 guard" stylus assembly, which caps the front end and a.llows M. for instant stylus change. People with record collections - 20 1 dating a long time back may be interested that a stylus for -2 ' I--f- Pickering ffi 380A 78-rpm discs is availab le. (The same is true of the D ynaco ->0 r I--I-- Stereodyne). As may be surmised from the frequency re I IJ ",i0 sponse, the'; cartridge has a rounded "smooth" sound, wi thout " 40 IIIII I II 10Ke. 20t -2() 380-C -~~20~~~~~~~~~~~~,tcKCC. --~~~~~~~~ FREQUENCY-CPS 5 I) "0 J.t11¥ 5 !. Shure M7D and M3D: Outwardly and inwardly, the 0 p J\lI7D very much resembles its "professional" brother, the r I- 5 - -- M3D, except that it is manu'factured presumably under less 0 rigid conditions of inspection and quality control. Its per formance, as evidenced by our test results, closely resembles 5:--t-- Shure that of the M3D, except that there seems to be about 3 db -2() r-r- M30 . AS' y~ less separation in the midrange. 5 llWl I , '0 !CO IKe. 101 Weathers SOl-D: As a ceramic cartridge, the Weathers 501-D is highly insensitive to magnetically induced hum and may be recommended where hum problems persist. 1 5 10 ~ 0 5 ~ 5 0 .dt. 0 t-r- _ V 11 r--- 5 -- J!, - ::::" 'M 5 10 11 . ~ 10 15:-- " ~ I h \1 ~ Shure 15r--r- Weathers ~ 1-1-' -20 - M70 501-0 r- I i ' -20 r--r- 5 i ~ 5 -~ ,.." J JJU .'l'i1t 20 II III !CO II Trial by Jury After completing the measurements, a number of editorial The only trend apparent was that our musical staff tended colleagues were rounded up [or a "listening jury." vVe toward the cartridges notable for sweetness of string tone played Eor them a clangorous excerpt from the new Victor and full'-bodied bass (e.g. Dynaco Stereodyne and both recording of Prokofiev's A lexandeT Nevsky, in which the Shure models) while the technical staff leaned toward less combined forces of chorus and full orchestra on an inside warm and somewhat brighter-sol1nc:Jing cartridges, such as part of the disc really give a pickup a workout. After the the Fairchild and both Audio Empire models. This once identical passage was played successively with all the car more bears out the old axiom that, if possible, a choice of tridges under test, we asked for subjective reactions. a cartridge should be based on " in-person" listening to a If the jury failed to reach any verdict, it proved conclu, variety of cartridges playing the kind of music you are likely sively that each person seemed to know what he liked. The to play in your home. R eputable high fidelity showrooms vagaries of individual taste were dramatized by the fact that will gladly put the bcilities for such comparison at your one and the same cartridge might be lavishly praised and disposal. bitterly condemned by about an equal number of people . .54 HiFijSTEREO RE-TEST OF THE PACO SA-40 N TESTING audio equipment, it sometimes happens Harmonic distortion figures were also markedly improved. that the unit under test is not truly representative of Whereas our earlier tests indicated 2% harmonic distortion I its type. We usually test only one "individual" of a at 1000 cps at 16 watts output, the new distortion figure at given model and assume that our findings hold true for all 1000 cps at 20 watts output was qnly 0.47 % . This meets the similar units. manufacturer's claim of 0.5%, and is lower than the other This procedure seems fair because, after all, it exactly three units covered in the previous report. At both 50 anel parallels the situation in which the audiophile find.; him· 10,000 cps, harmonic distortion was 1.5 % at 20 watts output. self. He, too, buys only one unit-and the one he buys is Frequency response was from 20 to 33,000 cps ± 1 db at the one that's got to perform for him. H e does not have the an output level of one watt. Tone control action was up to opportunity of picking his particular amplifier from a whole the manufacturer's specifications, providing 15 ' db boost stack of them in the manufacturer's warehouse. He trusts and cut at 50 and 10,000 cps. the manufacturer's quality control and inspection procedure In re~' ard to the equalization circuits, in the previous to assure that close tolerances are maintained to assure the report it was erroneously stated that one network provided uniformity of production. Consequently, we feel .that we equalization for both RIAA records and 3%-ips tapes and ca n best serve the needs of our readers by placing ourselves that another served for botl} EUR records and 7 Y2-ips tapes. under the same limitations and limiting ourselves to one In actuality, the equalization circl:.'its are linked to the input sample of each type. selector switch and provide different equalization curves for When evaluating kits, however, this procedure has cer tape and disc. tain pitfalls. The manufacturer has no control over who It was previously reported that the drop-off below 50 cps ever buys and assembles the kit and cannot rightly be held in the RIAA equalization curve was introduced to act as a responsible for shortcomings attributable to faulty assem built-in rumble filter. The manufacturer, 11Owever, states bly. And it is also questionable whether he is responsible for that the drop-off is to compensate for tone-arm resonance faulty tubes guaranteed by the tube manufacturer. the thought being that if the tone-arm caused an increase in A combination of both these accidental sn<:res tripped output from the cartridge ~, t low frequencies, the drop-off us up in our article, "Stereo Kit Foursome," in the June, in equalization would datten out the overall response. 1960 issue. Our lab engineer tested all kits as he found This argument, however, would not be good if a person them and reported that the P ACO SA-40 didn't seem to used a tone arm that did not resonate. meet its claimed specifications. Later investigation revealed, The equalization for 7 Y2-ips ta?es was within Q db of the however, that the output stage of the SA-40 had not been NAB curve between 100 and 7,500 cps, but fell off somewhat correctly balanced by our technician who built the kit and beyond -these frequencie. (-7 db at 50 cps and +4 db at that one of the output tubes was faulty. Consequently, the 15,000 cps). When playing back tapes with the SA-40, it SA-40 was not performing' under normal conditions at the might be a good idea to use ~he lone controls to cut the ti me of the tesl. treble slightl.y and to add a little bass. In fairness 0 to our reader; and to the manufacturer, we 1M distortion was not rechecked since the previous test re-tested the amplifier after correcting these defects. The re had been quite good in this respect (1.1 % at full output) . sults of the re-testing show the SA-40 to be capable of much All in all, we were very pleased with the SA-40 after we better performance °than our original tests suggested. re-tested it. It would have been an in justice to P ACO and As might be expected, the greatest difference was in power to our readers to allow the results of the previous test to go output. Instead of a maximum of 16 watts, as was measured ~namended. While we did not hesitate at the time to call previously, power was 20 watts with no visual clipping. a spade a spade on the basis of the original tests, it is a hap This output level meets the manufacturer's claims for the pier task to report that the previous test of the SA-40 was SA-40. The full-rated output of 20 watts was available from not typical of the unit. The results of the re-testing prove 45 to 22,000·cps, and was down only I db at 35 cps. the SA-40 an excellent performer within its price range. 5 - z 24 I- a: Harmonic distortion at full o I Vl3 output (20 watts) for the Ci PACO SA-40 is plotted here o ~ 2 at frequencies between :Ii a: J,..kloo 50 and 10,000 cps. < j...o :I: I ~ ~ ""t-- -I-- 50 100 200 500 IKC. 2KC. 5KC. 10Ke. FREQUENCY IN CYCLES PER SECOND S E PTE M B B-R 1960 55 REV,ERBERATION FEATU.RED BVN W STEREO CONSOLES The benefits, however, are debatable by Herbert Reid ISTENERS, new to stereo often remark in surprise ing on how far the reverberation control is advanced. L that "it makes the rooni seem larger-it pushes out If a~ything is amiss here, it is not the principle introduced the walls." Even in the smallest of rooms, the music sounds by Zenith and Philco; but its present execution. Listening spacious and more natural than in mono. tests made it sadly evident that in this potentially fine enter The explanation for this is that the acoustic perspective prise the currents have gone awry. The Zenith and Philco originally surrounding the orchestra in the concert hall is consoles, as such, sound quite pleasant at moderate ,volume wrapped up in the recording albng .with the actual sound. levels. But as soon as the "Reverbaphonic" echo is switched The 700,000 cubic feet of the typical concert hall seem to be in, the sound degenerates and becomes strangely denatured. pouring into the 3,000 cubic feet of the average living room, Moreover, if the added reverberation 'exceeds a bare mini- stretching its aural perspective beyond its walls. . mum, individual instruments get lost in a big, fuzzy blur. It is this space effect, as distinguished from mere left/right Timbre and transients, the real quality factors in high fidel directionality, that makes stereo reproduction of music so ity, are, submerged. The stereo ' effect, instead of being convincing in the acoustic environs .of the. home::. enhanced, becomes swamped by the echo. Evidently prompted by such consideiations, two promi Part of this is because optimum stereo requires a certain nent makers of "package" radio-phonographs, Philco and ratio of direct-to-reflected sound. When this ratio is radi Zenith, have recently equipped some of their stereo consoles cally altered by too much artificial reverberation, the result with a' device to make the apparent space even bigger. By no longer sounds natural. adding discretionary quantities of reverberation, the listener More serious difficulty arises from the fact that the rever is able to surround his music with variable amounts of imag- beration is derived from a mixture of both channels, and inary but effective space. ' consequently obscures the directionality of stereo.. It would Under the euphonious trade names of "Reyerbaphonic have been better to insert a separate reverberator in each Sound" and "Reverba-Tone," Philco and Zenith .offer es of the two channels. sentially identical methods of sound enhancement, the only The most serious drawback, the falsified tone color, seems difference being that Zenith has a continuously variable to be caused by distortion generated in the delay line. In reverberation control while Philco's operates as a step-type the present design, the delay line consists of two coiled metal . control with four settings and an "off" position. springs suspended between ferrite transducers. The time Either of these controls enables the listener to expand his taken by the sound to travel through the springs constitutes acoustic habi~at to _he dimensions of a cathedral with (ljt the basic time delay (about ,30-40 thousands of a second) eraUy) a twist of the wrist. which can be multiplied up to 2 seconds' by letting the sound Suppose you find the recorded sound of a chorus too shuttle back and krth repeatedly. "tight." A flick . of the reverberation control loosens it up The tro~ble is that the metallic springs themselves intro immediately. Such second-guessing of the record makers duce spurious resonance peaks. Despite some evident effort can be a lot of fun. The listener is in control over aspects to smooth out such resonances, the springs still exhibit some of sound that hitherto were ~rrey.ocably fixed at the studio. of the non-linear qui~ks inherent in mechanical vibration There is, of course, the danger' of exaggerating the effect. over a wide frequency range. As a result,harmpnic and in But let it be hopefully . assumed ' that a musically sensitive termodulation distortion are unavoidable. audiophile" \\-ould be able to use a control of this type with Moreover, the reverberators operate principally in the discretion and to good advantage. frequency range betwe~n 300 and 4000 cycles. Hence their The device e~ployed by Philco and Zenith is essentially amplified output introduces a iarge mid-range peak in the an "echo chamber" effect, familiar in its more 'virulent overall response.' . manifestations from the hollow bellow of the juke box. Both Possibly an all·electronic, full-range, low-distortion delay channels are mixed and fed into ' a delay line, ,producing line could overcome these difficulties at some future' time. staggered echos lagging up to two seconds behind the direct Zenith and Philco deserve credit for a potentially valuable . sound. The whole sequence of artificial ech~es, neatly or- innovation, but until the reverbatory units employed reach dered in waning strength, is then piped back into the left an audio quality consistent with high fidelity standards, the and right channers, respectively: The apparent size of the merit of including them in an audio system remains doubt resultant i~aginary "space" can be made to vary, depend- ful at best. 56 HiFijSTEREO • POWEn POLITICS How many watts do you really need? by HANS FANTEL • , , o2 I a: I g en o ~. . . jl . , '--.-.:=~' , ,i' 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 OUTPUT POWER-WATTS Typical distortion curve of an amplifier honestly rate d at 2% distortion at 10 watts. Distortion rises very rapidly if output is pushed beyond this limit. RD ACTON'S admonition that "Power corrupts" extra watts? The key to the problem is "power reserve." may hold true in J?olitics. Not so in audio, where Certain passages in music are like steep hurdles to the am I:power often produces purity, however at a price. plifier: the crash of a kettledrum, a chord struck fortissimo The higher 'the wattage of an amplifier, the more you on the piano, the deep bass of the bull fiddles, or the swell are likely to pay. for it. If you have an all-out attitude to- ing sonorities of the full orchestra. At those moments, the ward sound equipment, or if money is no object, this won't power content in the music jumps tremendously. worry you. But if you are like most of us, you wonder at Consider, for example, what happens to a IO-watt ampli what point the conflict of cost vs. power in an amplifier is fier. It may be comfortably idling along through a mezzo . resolved in terms of optimum dollar value. Or, to put it fOl't e string passage, singing sweetly. Suddenly the score plainly, how many watts do you really need? calls for trumpets and drum in fff. What happens if there First let's clear the air of popular misconceptions. A lot is not a sufficient power margin? The music sounds just as of watts does n't necessarily mean a lot of sound. A IOO-watt loud, but the weak-muscled amplifier breaks up into dis amplifier, for example, doesn't play ten times as loud as a tortion."At the climax, the sound becomes harsh. IO-watt amplifier, since the human ear does not translate the This may last only a mOl;nent. f:>.s soori as the loud pas power output of a sound system into a directly proportional sage subsides, ~he little amplifi a...... 5 o::> o 20 100 IKe. 10Ke. 20KC. FREQUENCY-CPS A good 20·watt amplifier delivers full power over nearly the whole frequency spectrum (within specified di stortion limits). 25 (f) t- 1- ~ 20 1= I- I:;: !... ~ - I LI" ~ ~ ffi 15 I" I~ 3t Ij l ~ o \) a.. 10 I ~ t- II ::> .." a.. t- 5 J ::> o I ~ o 20 100 IKe. IOKC. 20KC. FREQUENCY-CPS The amplifier represented by this power response curve may also be rated nominally at 20 watts be cause it de livers this output at 1000 cycles. However, it seriously lacks power in the low range, as shown by steep curve slope . that yo ur amplifi er is rated at 20 watts. Ideally, it should the electrical energy fronl the amplifie r into sou ne!. Speakers p ut out a maximum of twe nty clean, undistorted watts in bass reflex ba ffl es or other enclosures with some kind of throughout its frequency range_ In practice, however, many vent usuall y operate at meclium efficiency in co nverting elec amplifiers skimp on lows. A 20-watt· job might put out its trical wa ttage to actual sound. Otbers, notably the "infinite rated power in the mid-range around 1000 cycles, but when baffle" and "acoustic suspension" designs (such as the vari it gets down to a really low note, such as 30 cycles, it might ous AR and KLH models) now popular among bookshel[ not be able to manage more than 5 watts withou t distorting speaker sys tems, are generally low in effic iency; co nsequently, all over the place. Not tha t such extreme discrepancies are they require more power from the amplifier for a given typical, but in many low- and medium-wa ttage amplifiers, it amount of volume. is likely that a di ff~r e n ce exists to some degree betwee n the To say that booksh elf speakers aTe "inefficient" is not to rated 1000-cps ou tput and actual power in the low bass. disparage them. In tonal range and overall quality, an in In effect, this deprives the m usic of power in the range effici en t speaker may well be equal or superior to an efficient where it is most need ed. T he amplifier is unable to take speaker. , "'hen we say a speaker is ineffi cient, we mean that the low bass in its stride ax-d is driven beyond its distortion it requires extra power from the amplifier that feeds it. point by the amplitude of the heavy bass. Not only does the It may seem paradoxical that huge speaker systems require bass lose its natural depth and solidity, but the overall sound less power than do man y of the small, bookshelf-type speak texture becomes cramped and unclear. ers. You might think of it this way : Nature never gives yo u H ere again the solution to the problem is ample power something for nothing. T l!e "acoustic suspension" type of reserve. An amplifier with a 50-wa tt rating has more watts bookshelf speaker saves a lot of space in comparison to a big "left over" at the low end than an amplifier with a 30-watt corner horn sys tem. You have got to "make up" this saving rating, even thoug'h it may not furnish the full rated out somewhere-in terms of the greater wattage consu nlption. put in the bass. Some manufacturers provide so-called T he power requirement of a low-efficiency speaker might "power response" curves as p art of their specifi cations, which be stated as 15 clean watts. U nfortunately, this d oesn't mean tell you exactly how much power the amplifier delivers at that an y I5-watt amplifier will do. T here is a slight hitch any given frequency within speci fi ed distortion li[11its. about the word "clean." R emember that a I5-watt ampli-' Now we come to the consideration of speaker effi ciency, fi er doesn't necessarily deliver 15 undistorted wa tts through on which all power reqnirements are based. Certain speak out the whole range. T his is where th e "maTgin" comes in. ers, particularly those in horn enclosures, are highly effi cient If you use a low-effi ciency speaker, an amplifier with a norni in converting the electrical output from the amplifier into nal rating of about 20 watts per channel may be considered acoustic energy. Such speakers convert up to 50 per != ent of adequate. But more power[ul amplifie rs will probably yield 58 HiFi / ST EREO "POWER BUDGET" PLANNING CHART for average-size rooms Recommended Watts Li~tening Room Loudspeakers [ Per Channel - "LIVE" ACOUSTICS little sound absorption. Tile or linoleum floor~ High-efficiency 5 no rugs, small curtain Medium-efficiency 10 area, smooth walls. Low-efficiency 15 I AVERAGE ACOUSTICS Curtains and some carpets. High-efficiency 10 some but not much uphol Medium-efficiency 15 stered furniture. Low-efficiency 20 "DEAD" ACOUSTICS Extremely sound absorption. Wall-to-wall carpet, heavy High-efficiency 15 draperies and curtains, Medium-efficiency 25 stuffed chairs, couches, Low-efficiency 50 ~ pillows, and wall hangings. For rooms greater than 30 f eet in length or width, increase t he recommended wattage by 20-50 percent. noticeable improvement in effective bass projection and the more sou nd (hence more watts) in to the room. If, on the ability to rid e ou t orchestral storms. other hand, you live in a "modern" uncluttered interior ' '''hat, then, about the owners of more rnodest equipmen,t, with plenty o f blank wall space, the sound will be multiplied rated between 10 and 20 watts per channel? If they employ by reflection with a res ultant saving in watts. T he differ horn-type speakers, such as some of the larg'er Electro-Voice ence in power requirement between the two types of decor models or the British Lowther Acoustic, they have no prob may be as much as 50 perce nt. lem whatever. Horn speakers require so iittle power that I-laving consid ered the various factors in vol ve el , you can ten or fifteen watts leave an ample power margin-compa- . now plan your "power b udget" from the ta ble above. rable to what you might gain by feed ing' 50 watts to an " in You must remember that your musical taste and perso nal effic ient" acoustic suspension speaker. A vented enclosure of listen ing habits also enter the picture. T o shake your walls the bass-reflex type, though less effici ent than horn speakers, with Wagnerian thunder at concert volume naturally re still allows a comfortable power reserve from smallish ampli quires more wattage than to give a convincing accou nt of fiers. Some bookshelf models feature vented enclosures, chamber music or a modern jazz combo. Bu t most likely thereby gaining effici ency. Altec Lansing, ] ense n, Norelco, you want yo ur sys tem to be able to handle all ki nds of music, R-], and University all make loudspeakers that are easil y including' tlle most mass ive orchestrations at full volume. driven by low-power ampli fi ers. The power figures in the cllart above are based on that The current popularity of integrated stereo receivers assumption . (tuner-amplifi er combinatio ns) with modes t powet ratings . Suppose the cbart tells you that you need 15 watts for your has recently stimulated bookshelf speaker manufa cturers to particular requiremen ts. For stereo, this should be inter improve the effici ency of even the non-vented sys tems by preted as 15 watts per cha nnel. You may ask why ea.ch of means of improved magnet design s. T he Fisher XP-l, for ' the two cha nnels should carry the full required wattage example, requires only 10 clean watts for adeq uate opera rather than just hal£ of it. The reason again lies in loud tion and the new Acoustic R esearch AR -2a does very well speaker effici ency and the indirect relation of power to loud with 15. To fi ll extremely larg'e rooms with full-throated ness. The requ isite amoun t of power m ust h e deli vered to so und, however, wo uld require added wattage. ea.ch speaker to drive it effectively, even though the overall This brings us to the effect of environmental [actors on loudness is not doubled by employing two speakers. power req uirements. Oddly enough, your home decorating If you can afford a more powerful ampli fi er, yo u may scheme affects the wattage needed. Rugs, p illows, uphol gain the marginal to nal improvement so important to the stered furniture, and heavy d raperies swallow up a lot of perfectionist. Bu t the data in the chart represe nt an accept so und. To make up for this a bsorption, yo u need to pump able co n junction of cos t and quality. SEPTEMBER 1 96 0 59 ... 60 HiFi/STEREO A.ccording to legend, the Siena Piano is partly fashioned ,afwood from I{ing Solomon's Temple. It now faces extinction due to gradual deterioration. by KEN and NOEL GILMORE OR the past seven years, an Israeli piano technician ful history has the power to affect an instrument's sound, named Avner Carmi has been in the United States on the Siena Piano should have a voice like no other. The Fwhat he considers a holy mission. His quest: to per earliest legend of its sounding board begins in 70 A.D. suade a reluctant world to accept what is to him one of the when the Roman legions of Titiis razed di.e temple at Jeru gI:eatest musical treasures of all ages. The object of his en salem, and, as was the custom of the day, carted everything thusiasm is the Siena Piano, an ornately carved and decorated of value back to Rome. This event is recorded, a.mong antique instrumen~ which Carmi ' believes is the spiritual other places, on the Arch of Titus which still stands in descendant of the Harp of David, and per~1aps an actual, Rome. On the arch is a re'lief which shows the treasure physical legacy dating from BibHcal times. According to from Solomon's Temple being hauled away by Roman sol legend, the sounding board' oh:he iJiano C\)lues from wood diers to the Eternal City. which was once part of Solomon's temple in J erusalem. Included in the prizes of war, according to the legend, Carmi also believes that 13 years ago his remarkable in were two wooden temple pillars known as Jachin and Boaz strument fulfilled the anCient propl~ecy that Israel would which had stood on either side of the temple's front en be free when King David's Harp once again played in the trance. They were taken to Rome and used in the construc land. Says Carmi: "On November 30, 1947, the day when tion of a pagan temple. Centuries later, the temple was the United Nations was deciding whether a new Israel ~as destroyed and the pillars wert! given to the city of Siena, to be or not to be ... I stood at the piano, surrounded by, then preparing to build a Cluistian church. The pillars my dear ones, giving the piano a last touch. At last I laid remained in Siena until the las t decade of the 18th ce ntury down my tools and announced, 'It is done, it is ready.' And when an earthquake destroyed the building. ' The historic behold! At that moment the air was filled with the glorious pillars were splintered too badly to be used again. decision of the. United Nations, and the Harp of King David In the church on' the day of the earthql\ake was an aging was heard again!" piano maker-Sebastino Marchisio of Turi,n-wh9 had been One of the piano's primary claims to fame is the fact that looking for a piece of wood suitable for a piano sounding its sounding board is reputed to have come from Solomon's board he had in mind. IVlarchisio was unhurt in the col Temple. This, indeed, would make it an instrument beyond lapse of the church, and he was attracted by the sight and price. But in addition to its possible value as an' irreplace smell ·of the clear, splilltered· wQod. After cutting. into the able historic artifact, it is also an instrument of unques· fract~red beam, he decided that this was the wood he had tioned musical worth. Carmi feels that his j:eint;athated been seeking. Since the pillars were of no further use in the Harp of David has a tone fully as swe.et and magical as that church, he was given permissi0TI to cut a sounding board of the original instrument with which the shepherd boy out of one of them. , ,' drove the evil spirit' from King ·Saul. . In fact, Carmi fre Although Marchisio planned, designed, and started the quently cites the exclamation of a celebrated pianist who spoke of the sound produced by the Siena Piano as being "the voice of God." Although the Siena Piano's mai1l: t;laim to fame is its Modern critics- while hesitating to go quite this far legendary sounding board, it is, in addition, a striking have judged it a fine, even magnificent, jnstrument. There example of early 19th Century It~lian wood carving. is no denying that it is a remarkable instrument with a unique, singing tone, similar to both piano and harpsi chord. The late Heitor Villa·Lobos said: "I love the Im mortal Piano, its sound and its story equally." The famous Fren'ch piano teacher, Lazare Levy, on first playing the Siena Piano, turned to Carmi ' and said, "Carmi, I think the entire piano industry is on the wrong track." Critic David Randolph agrees with Carmi that the piano has tire remark able ability to ·sound like a h arpsichord at times, and at - other times to suggest a lute, harp, or guitar. Carmi holds that the Siena Piano has the unique quality of adapting itself to whatever music is played upon it. But f!1ost critics agree that it is best playing Mozart or Scarlatti, or perhaps the modern French impressionists, such as Debussy. T HE instrument's tone-like the tone of any piano-is determined by its sounding board. And certainly, if a color- ·eo SEPTEMBER 1960 somewhat beside the point. It is fascinating to speculate about the piano's rich and varied h istory, but in the final analysis; one fact remains: The Siena Piano is a remarkable old instrument. It has a unique tonal quality that is felt py many to be of exceptional interest and musical worth. Its predilection for attracting stories, true or not, only serves to make it more fascinating. As fantastic as the legend of the piano's origin may be, -this is but one aspect of its incredible history. Its modern career is every bit as spectacular as the ancient legend. And inextricably intertwined with it is the 20th century life of Avner Carmi: its owner, friend, protector, and champion. According to Carmi his. entire life has been deeply in fluenced by the Siena Piano. It was even responsible for Especially fine is' the carved area above the his having' been born in Israel. 'fhe story began in the' lat ancient instrument's keyboard. ter part of the 19th century, when pianist Mattis Yanowsky, Carmi's grandfather, played in Rome for King Umberto. piano, the job of completing it passed to his sons, and even After the concert, Umberto told Yanowsky that he owned tually to his grandsons. Frantic activity alternated with long a unique aad wonderful instrument whose sounding board periods of neglect, but finally the finishing touches were ).was reputed to have been made from the wood of Solo added by Nicodemo Ferri, Marchisio's great grandson. Ferri, mon's temple. So wonderful was the tone of the piano, one of Italy's foremost sculptors and wood carvers, and his said the King, that it had become known as the Harp of cousin, Carlo Bartalozzi, decorated th.e piano with over David. Many, he related, felt that the piano had become twenty laughing, dancing, playing cherubs and a sc?re of imbued with the spirit of the ancient namesake. other designs, including harps, pipes, faces, lions, and other Yanowsky, a refugee from Czarist Russia, was at the time figures. The beautifully carved piano remained one of uncertain about where to settle. His wife and four children Siena's most treasured possessions until 1868, when it was had been slain in a pogrom in Kiev. Only he and one son given to ,King Umberto of Italy as a wedding present. had managed to escape. As a devout Jew who felt a power ful, traditional tie with the Holy Land, he was inspired by I T is difficult, of course, to separate the tightly woven web the story of David's Harp and decided to take Us son and of myth and miracle surrounding the piano's origin. A Mid settle in Palestine. The son grew up and married, and had dle East expert at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art a son of his own, Avner Carmi. Young Carmi was enchanted has said, for example, that while it is most unlikely that with his grandfather'S story of the wonderful Harp of David, wood from Solomon's temple made its way to a Sienese and vowed that some day he would see it. church, and thence into a piano, there is certainly no de As the boy grew to manhood, he planned a visit to Rome nying the possibility that it could have happened. to look for the piano. But World War I interfered, and As for the stories of the pillars, Jachin and Boaz, practi when he finally got to Italy, he was unable to see King Vic cally all Biblical scholars agree that they were made of tor Emmanuel, who had succeeded Umberto to the throne. brass, as related in the F:irst Book of Kings. Yet there were For the next five 'years he worked in Berlin, mastering the surely wooden pillars .in the building, and one of them may craft of the piano technician. On his return to Israel, once have survived the fires that destroyed the temple on at least again he stopped in Rome for another try at seeing the two occasions. There is no way, either, of knowing whether piano. Again he failed to get an audience with the King. Titus' legions elected to carry away woocfen pillars along Returning to Palestine, Carmi started to raise a family. with their other loot in 70 A.D. Even the story of old Mar Soon, he began to win some measure of fame as, a piano chisio and the splintered pillars inhabits that dim realm technician, tuning pianos for such musical greats as Artur be'tween history and legend. Rubinstein, Artur Schnabel, Alfred Cortot, and ~thers . . Such considerations do not bother Carmi, however. "My In 1928, Carmi went to Rome again. This time he car wife and I believe," he says. "We believe everything." ried a letter from Gustave Lyon, president of France's fa As far as the Carmis are concerned, the piario is the spir mous Pleyel Piano Company, who had become his friend. itual descendent of the Harp of David, and 'it 'has played its Lyon's letter was to the manager of the Pleyel agency in p'art in the ancient prophecy of israel's freedom. They also Rome, who promised to find out what he could about the believe it is the literal descendent of those times. - piano. A few days later he reported to Carmi that he had Recently Carmi was asked, "What if, by some modern been in touch with every piano tuner who worked in the method such as Carbon 14 dating, it was proved that the palace. None had seen an instrument such as Carmi de wood of the sounding board is, not ftom the time of Solo. scribed. But Carmi's faith 'in his grandfather's story re mon's temple?" mained unshaken. "I don't want to know," he said, and that was that. In 1934 he went to Rome again-this time to buy parts Sorting fact from legend may, indeed, in this case be for his now-flourishing piano business. W'hile there he met 62 HiFijSTEREO SHERWOOD· S~3000 DI FM/MX STEREO TUNER The FM tuner that has everything . . . 0.95Jlv sensitivity, Interchannel Hush noise muting system, " Acro·Beam" tuning eye, cascode bal anced input, automatic fre9uency control , "local· distant" switch .. . now brings you the only . ~ FM TUNER with "CORRECTI VE" INVERSE FEEDBACK Every high fidel ity amplifier today ihcorl!orates "corrective" inverse feedback for lower distor· tion and improv~d respo~se . Now, ' Sherwood brings the same performance benefits to the S·3000 ill FM Tuner ; these include reduction of distortion due to overmodulation by the FM sta· tion and better quality long·distance reception. READY FOR FM STEREO Stereo via FM multiplex broadcasting is just around the corner. The S·3OO0 ill contains chassis space and all control facilities to plug in ~ stereo multiplex adapter. Other 'features include f1ywheeJ.tuning, plus 7" expanded slide· rule tuning scale, cathode-follower output, and front pane l output level control. Sherwood Electronic Laboratories, Inc., 4300 N. California Ave., Chicago 18, III. (*) Oth er fin e Sherwood Tuners : • . S·20oo n AM·FM T~ner $145.50 S-22oo AM-FM MX Stereo Tuner $179.50 .. fOR COMPLETE TECHNICAL DETAILS WRITE DEPT:- li'F-9 SEPTE M BER 1960 63 piano, but it had been takel; to the .palace at Monza, which explained why servants in the Rome palace had not seen it. Just as Carmi got this news, Italy entered World War II, and he barely managed to escape before the borders were closed by the totalitarian regime. During the war, the paths of Car~i and the piano he had been seeking most of his life began to cross in a series of breath-taking coincidences. Carmi enlisted in a transport unit of the British Eighth Army. One aay in 194~, his unit, with the aid of a mine sweeper, found an old piano buried in the desert sand. It was obviously of an Italian make and had probably been confiscated by the Germans in Italy, brought to North Africa, then abandoned after the Ger man defeat at EI Alamein. Carmi, the only one in his unit who knew anything about pianos, dug it out and found that it had been coated on the outside with plaster. The inside ''''f'f''''''~'' /"~~<7/"-7:/". ~.i"/"" ~. ' ~ "r~ / L'.A ':.::- . was so cloggeq with sand that even though he could open the lid and get to the keyboard, he could get no sound from Carmi's initial due that the Siena Piano mIght s·till the instrument. As for the' plaster, he surmised tha't it had ·exist were these 1868 photographs found in the archives been applied in an effort to. protect the piano's wood from of the city of Siena. the climate. He saw it carted away and, in the press of a friend who suggested 'that he try to see the King on one circumstances, forgot about it. of his trips outside the palace. Victor Emmanuel, it seems, Then in 1943, his wife ran across a strange plastered piano was so particular about the fish he ate that he appeared at 'in a ju~k market in Tel Aviv. The owner told her tl-ia t it Rome's fish market every Friday to select them himself. had arrived with other wrecked pianos from the British Early the next Friday, Carmi was at the fish market. As salvage depot. Through a series of adventures- during soon as he spotted the King, he ran toward him and began which the plastered piano narrowly missed being destroyed to pour out his story. The King'.s bodyguards were under -it finally came to rest at the Carmi workshop shortly after standably alarmed when someone, in the hean of the mo the war. A plasterer drove up with it in a truck and wanted ment, cried, "Assassin!" The guards pounced on Carmi and to know if Carmi could repair it. He had come upon it by dragged him off to the local police headquarters. He re accident, and was struck by the fact that it was covered with mained there until the officials got in touch with Schnabel a coating of plaster. Never having seen a piano which so who vouched for his character and his story of the piano. clearly showed evidence of his tracie, he decided to have it On the same visit, Carmi met a Professor Leonardo who repaired. Carmi told him it' would cost a fortune just to pro;nised to find out anything he could about ·the piano. remove the plaster. Again, there was disappointing news when Leonardo re But the plasterer didn't want it rel?oved. In fact, he ported that none of the palace servants remembered ever meant to add more plaster to refine the job and then dec having seen such an instrumen.t. orate it with pictures of birds and angels. He left a deposit, but before Carmi could stal:t on the job, the plasterer changed his mind. He decided to abandon the piano and I twas 1939 before Carmi stumbled across his first tangi. came back to the shop demanding the return of his deposit. ble clue. In an encyclopedia he found a reference to a H e pounded on the piano with his fist to emphasize his piano fitting the description passed down from his grand demands, Carmi returned the money, and after the plas father. According to the account, the instrument had been terer had left, Carmi's young daughters made a startling dis given to King Umberto as a wedding present by the city of covery. A piece of the plaster had been dislodged by the Siena. pounding. One of the children picked it up and found tha~ Although Italy in 1939 wits on the verge of war, Carmi it was an intaglio of a 9rved figure. Frantically, Carmi was now too hot on the trail to hesitate. He went to Siena began to look for the' place from which' the plaster had and talked 'to an aging priest, organist at the Cathedral, fallen. In Carmi's words, "There in the wood that now who again related the legend of S010mon's temple. And in stood revealed was a beautiful little cherub beating a small the archives of the city, Carmi found an official account of drum-as if to summon -the whole world arounc! the piano. the gift including several photographs of the piano and its "Strai~htway I pulled from my pocket the' picture of the carvings, and its history. The piano, he found, had been King's piano and compared the carved figure thar had been built by the Marchisio family and decorated by the eminent hidden. Then I cried joyously, 'That's the boy . .. This is sculptors, Ferri and Bartalozzi. In Siena, the piano had the King's piano. The Harp of King David.' " been taken to the Cathedral once a year for use in celebrat With 24 gallons of aceto~e and months of labor, the ing the annual wine festival. It was exhibited at J:he Paris Carmis managed to soak, chip, and scrape the plaster from Exposition in 1867 where it created a sensation. Upon the the elaborately decorated case. But this was just the first marriage of Umberto, the Siena city fathers, casting around problem. . Piano parts were so scarce in 1945 that Carmi for a suitable gift, decided that · only one thing was fine could find none with which to repair his prize. It had been' enough-the Siena Piano. stripped of its readily acce&sible parts. The bridges and ri'bs When Carmi arrived back in Rome after his trip to Siena, were missing. There were nO strings, no .action. The sound the trail had grown hot. Leonardo had managed to get an ing board-to Carmi, the board qf sacred wood-was split audience with Victor Emmanuel himself, and had asked ting and crumbling. "Had this been an ordinary piano, I about the piano. The King said there was indeed such' a .would SImply have replaceq the old sounding board with 64 HiFi/STEREO CH. 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DEPENDABILITY .. ~ Many thousands of audiophiles ali over the country now using -the 602 report completely trouble-free performance. This functionally versatile unit has been approved by Under writers Laborat~ries and may be-used in custom installations' with complete confidence. Simply connect speakers and record changer for a complete, flexible stereo system. Play AM or FM broadcasts alol,1e or simultaneously for stereocasts. Pilot's exclusive Stereo-Plus Curtain-of-Sound center channel signal allows you to add a third speaker to eliminate the "hole-in-the-middle." The Pilot 602 stereo receiver cosh only_ $249.50. Write today for full specifications. t'ilfl!1; RADIO CORPORATION, 37-08 36TH STREET, LONG ISL~ND CITY 1, NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 1960 65 a new one. But in the case of the Siena, to remove its sound· ing board would have leEt nothing but its case and its his· tory. The sounding .board had to be retained and repaired at all costs." It took Carmi .more months to restore the piece of spruce that, according to legend. was more than two thousand years old. He then calculated and designed the layout of strings on the sounding board; he mounted. braced. and stretched them-a delicate job with the fragile. board. Need· ing an action, be took PaFts frem twelve old pianos in his sh0p-pianos he had ·bought to repair and sell to get . bis business going again aEter the war. · Thus the action was part French, part Italian. part German. Carmi felt that tbis makeshift arrangement would at least do the job until something better came along. In trhe meantime it would 'Ser-ve as a symbol of the international chara: ter of rhe piano. The reconstruction' work was marred ' by many mishaps: '-At one'point, when Carmi slightly miscalculated. the four bridges; the sounding board split badly when the strings wel'e-tighHi~Heci. ~e had to s~a:tt · an , 0¥el:~g:.c~. . . ,Fiaailly. aher three years, he fini shed the demanding job of Testoring the pian9 and, as the new .legeI'ld-reports, the revitalized Harp of David rang out on the day;·that Israel regained its freedom. thus fulfiU '.ng the a ncient prophecy. Today the Siena Piano resides in stately grandeur at the Since Carmi arrived in this country in 1953, his l~romo. home of Avner and Hannah Carmi, shown above. tional efforts on behalf .of the piano have been untiring. T im.e magazine carried the story of the Siena Piano in 1955. Carmi and the piano have appeared on nationwide radio was i n fair shap.e and usable we decided to make a clean and TV-he was o n the Dave Garroway progTam twice. So sweep while we were about it and put in a brand new far, seven records have been made and released," some of action." Altogether, the Sohmer Company 5pent over $2,000 them sellin3 fairly well. and Columbia R ecords has con· and nearly a year on the piano. fi tmed' tha:t plans' to make further recordings are under con· But even this complete restoration, Carmi feels, is only sideration. This year a book written by Carmi and his wife, a brief reprieve. He says the ancient sounding board is crum· Hannah, sets forth the story of the piano in gTeat detail. *" bling beyond repair, in spite of all efforts to save it. AJ· But still, he feels: the world is slow to grasp the impor· though scores of cracks have been meticulously refilled and tance of the profound musical. g'ift he is attempting to be· regl~ed with slivers of ne.w wood, then sanded smooth again. stow upon it, and time is running out. The ancient 'works new ones are still showing up in the ancient spruce. Within of the piano are crumbling almost as rapidly as Carmi can five years, he says, the damage will be ~oo great to repa~r keep them in repair. During' the recording sessions in 1955 and the Harp of David will be lost to the world forever. and 1956, he would scurry into the studio after each take In the meantime, he must see that its delicate, fragile voice and readjust, retune, and putter with the delicate, aging is recorded again and again while there is still time. mechanism before the next take could be made. At one In spite of the lack of ulliversal recognition of the piano's point, where there was a trill in the music, the actions of unique musical qudity, Carmi feels it must come. Probably the two adjacent keys involved could not be balanced to get no other feeling is possible for him, so strong is his personal a smooth sound. Eventually, the head recording engineer, involvement and identification with the piano. "It is like J erry Newman; taped fi ve minutes 'Of steady trill, isolated my fl esh and blood," he says. Perhaps pianist Artur Schnabel the most even·sounding section, and spliced it into tbe _.' . -for WhOUl Carmi once tuned pianos-put it most suc· recording at the appropl'iate spot. cinctly when he said: ~ 'Som e tjm es it happens tha t an ordi· Carmi fiilall y decided to replace the entire action. Since nary man falls in love with the King's daughter, or aJl tlle sounding boa,rd and strings are not built to established . ordinary woman falls in love with the King's son. BUl standards, the entire mechanism had to be adapted by hand Carmi, pianoman extraordinary, has simply fallen in love; and carefully fitted to the am:ient sounding board. Only with the King"s piano." when this operation had been comp le~ed could the record· And altl10ugh Schnabel made this statement many yean ing project be finished. Even then, within a year or two ago, this love affair is, today, more aJive than ever. Carmi began to feel that nothing short .of a complete resto·. ration would put the piano back into usable shape. . Mr. 'Harry J. S.... hmer, president of Sohmer Piano Company, de· cided to help Carmi after he heard the story of the piano: "We felt that it was an interesting and historical piano, and Ken and Noel Gilmore are a husband·and·wife free·lance writing should be res tored. The sounding board needed major reo team who are interested in various phases of the arts and sciences. pairs.' W'e also put in new strings, and although the action Ken has a diverse background, majoring in music composition. i.n college, serving as chief engineer of several radio stations, and, for • Esoteric 3000/04; Counterpoint. 1503. 3005-all recorded under the pro. duction and engineering supervision of Jerry Newman. some years, doing a stint as a news and weather man fu r television c:* The Immortal Piano by. Avner and Hannah Carmi: Crown Publishers, Inc .. New York. 1960. station WDSU·TV in New Orleans, La. 66 HiFijSTEREO I I The performance of the Medallion XII The unique concept of Medallion XII is incomparably smooth and musically cabinetry contributes still another im rich throughout its phenomenal re YOU GET BOTH portant dimension to styling for sound sponse range . . . virtually linear from ... a choice of five distinctive grille 28 to 22,000 cps. This is skillfully ac styles: Contemporary, Colonial, Swed complished by three outstanding loud with the new and ish Modern, French Provincial and speaker components, all beautifully Italian Provincial. Each grille is au integrated within its precisely matched thentically interpreted, meticulously enclosure. Clean bass from the very excitingly different crafted and carefully hand-rubbed in threshold of feeling is reproduced by a variety of glowing fine-furniture fin a special 12 /1 high compliance woofer ishes. Simply "Select-a-Style" to match . . . the vital mid-range by a newly 1W your decor ... snap it on! It's that designed 8 /1 cone speaker ... the very easy! .Should your decorating scheme highest frequencies by the fabulous ever change, only the grille needs to new Sphericon Super Tweeter that ~ be replaced. It's that economical! As actually reaches the supersonic range for placement, the compact Medallion of 40,000 cps! And at your fingertips is so perfectly proportioned' that it is are network controls that assure per MEDALLION XII equally handsome as either highboy or fect tonal balance whatever the acous lowboy ... whether you prefer it di tics of your room. Further, the highly 3-way speaker system . rectly on the floor, or on its matching efficient Medallion achieves ample out sculptured base. Here indeed is per put with any amplifier capable of de formance surpassed only by the Ijvering as little as ten clean watts. featuring the exclusi.ve Medallion paired for stereo! FINlSHES-Walnut, oiled walnut, fruitwood, For a truly exciting visual and aural treat, mahogany. DIMENSIONS - 24" x 17" x 12 ~. d. "Select-a-Sty Ie" visit your University dealer. Or write jor our NET PRICEs-System: $139.95. Grilles: Con latest high fid elity catalog containing the com~ temporary, $9.95; Period, $14.95. Base: $14.95. (Enclosure also available without speakers, snap-on grilles plete Medallion story. Desk D-9, University finished or unfinished, and as a ready-to Loudspeakers, Inc., White Plains, N. Y. assemble kit.) Chair 'rom Herman M iller. A Division oj Ling-AUee Electronics, I nc. SE"P T E M B E R 1960 67 .Be Our Guest ... Wherein the reader is invited to be a Guest Critic of new record releases • Mrs. Robert Beckerdite, our lady Guest Critic, cut her baby camera equipment, movie projectors, gun collec.tion, pedi teeth on a harmonica. A few years later, she was pumping greed pigeons, fi shing gear, and the boat he is \:milcling in o·ut tunes on the parlor organ of her Missouri home and the basement somehow inevitably interfere with the pursuit mastering major and minor chords on the guitar and banjo of her hobby. so she could accompany her father's fiddle at the local square Our male critic is an Illinois attorney. John R. Chapin dance sessions. is the father of four children, which does not deter him She heard her first serious music via her brother's crystal from a deep interest in hi-fi and music. His current rig, his set, and after her graduation· from high school, she paid for fourth complete component system, consists of an Altec piano lessons with the earnings from her first job. Now the 353A integrated stereo amplifier, R ek-O-Kut L34 turntable, mother of four children, she still finds time to sing alto in Audak 16 arm, Fairchild 51\11-1 cartridge, and Briggs-designed the church choir and listen to quantities of music on the home-built sand filled baffles with Wharfedale speakers. The phonograph and FM radio. system is rounded out with ErCO AM and FM tuners and Mrs. Beckerdite finds little spare cash and less space for auxiliary speakers in the kitchen, backyard, recreation room, new hi-fi equipment and records because · Mr. Beckerdite's and upstairs. *** Mrs. ROBERT BECKERDITE __ Guest Reviewers, Sept. 19S0 ... JOHN R. CHAPIN *** ... PROKOFIEV: Suite from The Love For are given a treat in the moving Am leuch be due to whatever it was he received Three Oranges; Scythian Suite, Op. 20. St. tenden Somme1"l7w7·gen. there. We know he studied law in Halle Louis Symphony Orchestra. Ed ouard van Portions of this record actually sound and played the organ in its cathedra l, but Remoortel condo Columbia MS 6132 $5.98 pre-hi-fi, particularly at about midway of 50 of his 74 years were spent in England. Interest: Worthy Side 2. I would recommend a bearing However, the H alle Chamber of Commerce Performance: Great before purchase. Mrs. R .B. (or its equivalent) has developed the Han Recording: Very fine del Festival Orchestra, which makes beau Stereo Directionality: Well-balanced f::" BOATING SONGS AND ALL THAT tifu I music of these Concerti. Stereo Depth: Perfect BILGE. Oscar Brand And The Sea Wolves. If you listen attentively for the fo'rty Elektra EKL-183 $4.98 If there is a better release, on the whole, odd minutes of high Baroque sounds (and of either of these musically related works In terest: Specialty who can, unless you are an avowed card by Prokofiev, I cannot imagine it. The Perfo rman ce: Mostly "bilge" carrying Vivaldian, Bachian, Corell ian, or fifth movement of Three Oranges, "Le Recording: Good Handelian?) you will be doing more than Prince et la Princesse," is sheer enchant All but one song in this varied program Handel ever expected of you. But yo u will ment. The sunrise at the end of the Scy were written by Brand himself. Althougb hear some lovely, orderly, often sweet con thian Suite is truly magnificent. And I can some of the music sounds " borrowed," the trapuntal melodies from olk songs, the only shudder to think what a failure the lyrics are ·'risquely" Os€ar's, and therefore contre-dance, churcb music and marches, often dissonant and polyphonous passages suited to his style. Included are a Calypso whicb seem at times about to break off in Pwkofiev's music might have been in piece, a blues number, one cutie titled into tbe more arduous strains of the stereo were it not for tlie very fine engi The Captain's Daughter, a song about a Water Music or the Royal Firew07·ks. neers at Columbia. The St. Louis Sym bouseboat done in " talking blues" style, This music was written, we are ad phony and its new conductor are in top and still another with background music vised, for the purpose of fill ing in spaces form and give us a spellbinding perform of an unexplainable "western" flavor. The in the program between choral works. All ance. Frankly, I am delighted. Mrs. R.B. background mllsic often looms in the fore twelve concerti of Op. 6 were completed ground. This is favorable considering that in 32 days, and the three on this disc were ... SCHUMANN: Dichterliebe, Op. 48; the well-placed sound effects add to what wbacked out in about a week. Handel in Der Nussbaum; Erstes Griin; Jasminen ever enjoyment the record offers. tended to convey no subjective thoughts; strauch; Der Himmel hat eine Trane geweint; Being co-owner of a 22-foot cruiser does so eacb listener is left on his own, which Kommen und Scheiden; Requiem. C esa re not belp. I leave tbis one to tbose who can is really tbe place to be anyway. Valletti (tenor) with Leo Ta·ubman (piano). take Oscar Brand. Mrs. R .B . I find the disc extremely enjoyable, and RCA Victor LSC 2412 $5.98 might call it MUSIC TO READ THE Interest: Lieder masterpieces ... HANDEL: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, NEW YORK TIMES ADS BY. You sit in Performance: Good Nos. I, 2 and 3. Ha ndel Festiva l Orchestra your favored stereo listening location and Recording: Fair of Halle, Horst-Tanu Margraf condo Epic let the sound waves come around the Stereo Directionality: Unbalanced BC-I074 $5.98 edges· of the newspaper, which tends to in Stereo Depth: Very little In terest: Medium crease the stereo effect. The record surface The register of Valletti's voice is within Performance : G erman Handel is smooth as glass, and as the recording a few c.p.s. of being a baritone. H e seems Recording: Good level is very high, tbe music does not re to strain for of the higher notes, but his Stereo Directionality: Enough quire "fu ll room volume." The music is rich, pleasing voice comes thwugh beau Stereo Depth: Deep continuous and there are no tremendous tifully in the middle and lower range of Ludwig van Beethoven was van instead of crescendos to untrack your stylus. T bis all these lovely songs. von because his father came from tbe low makes for a pleasant experience. ] .R.C. Leo Taubman continues to pwve him countries, but the Germans would ignore self a capable pianist, but through what .this and claim him as a full-blooded Ger ... f::" MARTINO: Double Concerto; must be a fault in the engineering, his man. And George Frederic Handel, claimed Three Frescoes. Czech Ph ilharmonic Orches playing is too often :heard above Valletti's by the British and usually thought of as tra, Karel Seina (Concerto), Ka re i Ance rl voice. Also, there· is noticeable mod ulation an English co mposer, was born not in (Frescoes) conds. Artia ALP(SJ-135 $5.98; - (-oi· · wow)" iIi certain carry-over notes of England, but in Halle, Saxony. Mono ALP 135 $4.98 the piano. . In line with the thinking of many cities Inte rest: Fine contemporary music For a bricE moment ncar the end of in America, the ffalieans bave developed Performan ce: Good side One, however, everyone co ncerned the idea lhat since Handel was born in Recording: Good seems to iron out bis diHi culties, and lI·e lheir city, some el,·lI1 enls of his merit must (Contin/led 0 11 /)(If!, e 90) 68 HiFi j STEREO .. Announcing a recording tape.superior enough to be called Ampex The same exacting engineering skills that made Ampex Even the package is unique! Ampex SIGNATURE the leader in the tape recording field have now,created BlNDING, enclosed with every reel, lets you personalize the world's finest recording tape! Only Ampex could your recordings with distinctive gold lettering on maroon have engineered a tape with so many superior perform and green leatherette bindings. ance characteristics ••• a, tape that truly merits the Irish Recording Tape, too, is a quality Ampex name Ampex. Here are some of the reasons: greater dy product .': . surpassed only by Ampex Recording Tape, namic range, 4, to 8 db wider: lower print-through, superior the world's finest! Hear the proof high frequenCy overload characteristics. now at your Ampex Tape Dealer's. l> ~ 11 AMPEX MAGNETIC TAPE PRODUCTS / ORR INDUSTRIES COMPANY m A Division of The Ampex Corporation,' Opelika, Alabama X SEPTEMBER 196(1 69 achieve optimum stability and responsiveness-the two most sought after qualities in arm design The Empire 98 is at once the most stable and freely the slightest impulse - effortlessly follows the spiral responsive transcription arm ever designed. So pre course of the record groove, favoring neither one wall cisely calculated is the distribution of arm mass, and nor the other, and responding smoothly to the rise the location of pivot points in the center of mass, that and fall of even the most badly warped record.The98 when statically balanced in one plane, the 98 is in will track a record groove at any angle of turntable balance in all planes. tilt- on its side, or even upside down. Even the application of stylus force doesn't disturb You owe it to yourself to see the Empire 98 in action, the arm's stability. An adjustment knob - calibrated and hear how much better any cartridge sounds in an in grams - is dialed to the stylus force desired. Th is arm that permits ! he cartridge to give its best per action tightens a spring coiled around, and secured to formance. Visit your hi-fi dealer today, and ask him the vertical pivot shaft of the arm. This exerts a torque about the Empire 98, 12" $34.50; Empire 98P, 16" , or twisting force on the shaft which, in turn, increases $44.50. the force of the stylus without shiftingthe arm's center TRULY COMPATIBLE MONO-STEREO CARTRIDGE of mass, and without upsetting its dynamic balance. Empire 108 . .. first to achieve high fidelity reproduc Yet, for all the rock'steady stability of the Empire 98, tion from stereo and monophonic records. its lateral and vertical compliance is almost incredible. Both pivot bearings are suspended in precision ball Empire 108 with .7 mil diamond stylus $34.50 races, so finely balanced that the arm responds to Empire 88 with .7 mil diamond stylus $24.50 FREE a "Do·lt-Yourself" st ereo(balance kit actively demonstrates 1075 STE WART AVE •• GARDEN CITY. N . Y . scientific principles of balance-ask your dealer. E XPORT : EMEC. P L A INVIEW, N . V . C A N ADA: ACTIVE RAD I O &: TV LTD •• TORO N TO 2. ONT. 70 HiFi/STE R E O HiN1Ster(-~o Reviewed by MARTIN BOOKSPAN BEST OF THE MONTH ... WARREN DeMOTTE DAVID HALL GEORGE .JELLINEK DAVID RANDOLPH A 6. R ecords reviewed in this section are both Columbia gives Edouard van stereo and monophonic. Versions received fo r review are identified by closed (A) and Remoortel, young Belgian open (6.) triangles respectively. All rec· conductor, a brilliant ords are 331/a rpm and should be played debut with a pairing of with the RIAA amplifier setting or its equivalent. Monophonic recordings (6.) Prokofiev's Scythian Suite and may be played also on stereo equipment i Love for Three Oranges music. with resulting improvement in sound dis " ... Both performances are tribution quality. Stereo recordings (A), however, must not be played on monophonic breathtaking in their swagger phonographs and hi-fi systems. .. and audacity . . . recorded sound of blinding brilliance." • • • (see p. 82) A 6. BACH: Cantata No. 56-lch will den Kreutzstab gerne tragen; Cantata No. 82-lch habe gepug. Mack Harrell (bari A 6. tone ) , with RCA Victor Chorus a nd Orches tra, Robert Shaw condo RCA Victor LSC Artia has a delightful exclusive 2312 $5.98; Mono LM 2312 $4.98 in a first stereo recording by Interest: For Bach fanciers the Prague National Theater Performance : Rich Opera Company of Smetana's Recording: Warm Stereo Directionality: OK rural masterpiece, The B a1"tered Stereo Depth: Good Bride. ". • . . It makes one It is inevitable-and only human-that one think of wild strawberries and be somewhat touched by the phenomenon new mown hay. . . . recorded of reviewing a newly released recording by an artist who has recently d ied. Mack Har sound is crisp and clean . rell's death in January of 1960 deprived voices are uniformly good us of one of the fine artists of our time. topnotch conducting job." Because of my awareness of the emotional overtones inherent in the situation, I made (see p. 84) a conscious effort to judge these perform ances impartially. I am pleased to be able to report that they stand on their A 6. own inerit as exquisite example& of vocal STEREO Ill,u) WOII art, quite apart from any extra-musical Angel's finest tribute to the flWM TI~I SPANiSH 50NQ book considerations. Hugo Wolf centenary is its 1)11 1I nutshel'l I. The compact component has come of age. 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JVlanuf~ct~re.rs and designers of stereophonic components, speakers and the Cra,sby Compatible Stereo FM ' Multiplex System. k.- ..... __...... -..-".. __ .. SEPTEMBER 1960 73 Interest : Stereo spectaculars the edge. Para), docs beaulifull y wilh the instruments is obscured by its fellows. Performa nce: Extrovert impassioned' and lyrical first movement T he interpretation has depth a nd does Recording: Brilliant and the ball scene comes off magnificenLl y not Jack propulsion. The advantage of Stereo Directionality: Much hom every point of view; but from the stereo is evidenced in added spaciousness Stereo Depth: Sufficient Scene al/,x champs on, things start to slide that ye t preserves ilie homogeneity of This is deliberately a "stereo spectacu lar" downhill. '~ ' h ere is the drama in the sav so und produced by the players. W. D. and is therefore something other than can age recitative passages of th is movement? j.. 6. BRAHMS: Symphony No. I in C be h eard in the concert hall. The various "Vhy just an ordin ary snare drum instead of field drum at the end of the lv/arch to M,nor, Op. 68. Berlin Ph ilh armonic Orches members of the orchestra occupy locations t ra , Ka rl Bohm condo Deutsche Grammo cleterm i ned by the sonic effects desi red of the Scaffold? And surely the introduction phon 138113 $6.98; Mono 18613 $5.98 them, while echo chambers and other gim to the "Vilch es' Sabbath co uld have been mickry have been unabashedly employed given a bit more we ight through adoption Interest: Supreme of a slightly slower tempo. The end result Performance: Broad and dignified in achieving sounds not possible in actual Recording: Excellent is a good "Fa.Illf1sliq'lle" that ju t m isses concert. It is a credit to Morton Gould Stereo Directionality: Fine that the result still remains music, and ex greatness. Stereo Depth: First-rate ci ti ng music at ilia t. I suspect that the Mercury recording Bohm gives us a solid, middle-Europea n If the Grofe is not given as taut a per staff had not quite mastered the acoustics performance of Brahms' granitic work. It rormance as the one led by Howard Han of its new Detroit recording envu·onment. ~s a reading of substance and dignity and son on Mercury (SR 90049/MG 50049) The sense of spaciousness is admirable IS superbly well p layed by the orchestra or as lush a one as Onnandy's on Colum greatly to be preferred to the sometimes bia (MS 6003/ML 5286), it nevertheless is too close and hard so und wbich had ~nd beautifully recorded by the engi neers m both the mono and stereo editions. first-rate. T h e pictures are delineated in marred some of M ercu ry's other domestic If I continue ~o prefer Klemperer's An bright colors that have decided impact. orchesti'al recordings-but here a shade T he Beethoven novelty has always been more presence, on timpani especially, gel recording (35 ' ~8 1 ), it is because the a wh ipping boy fQr unthinking critics, who would have been welcome. D. H. se ptuagena rian brings more of hi mself to his re-creation of the music. But I'd rate prop it up as proof that music written for j. 6. BRAHMS: Horn Trio in E-fl at, Op. a special occasion m ust of necessity be this new Bohm version close behind that 40; Violin Sonata No.2 in A Major, Op. 100. of Klemperer. M. B. second-rate. ' ¥hat a waving a ide of profes Joseph Szigeti (violin); M ieczyslaw Horszow sionalism in creativity! ' ¥hy was Aida writ ski (piano); John Barrows (French horn) . j. BRAHMS: Symphony No.4 in E Minor, ten, why the Bach Cantatas, most of the Mercury SR 90210 $5.98 ; Mono MG 50210 Op. 98. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Ra Mozart Concertos? . $4.98 fael Kubelik condo London CS 6170 $5.98 Beethoven wrote this "S)'mphony" to Interest: Romantic chamber music j. BRAHMS: Symphony No.4 in E Minor, , celebrate '¥elIington's victory over Na Performa nce : Authoritative poleon at Vittoria. However, it was com Op. 98. Virtuoso Symphony Orchestra of Recording : Realistic London, Alfred Wallenstein condo Audio posed originally for performance by the Stereo Directionality: Reasonable Fid elity FCS 50,00 I $6.95 Panharmonicon, a mechanical monster that Stereo Depth : Good imitated a full orch estra, and this may (01" Interest: High and mighty T h ese melodius co mpos itions are per may not) have limited Beethoven's de Performa nce: Kubelik -lacking; Wallen fo rmed with rare insight and warmth. mands. Essenti a lly, the music is a battle stein-direct and solid Szigeti is the star of the show, althougb Recording: Kubelik-shallow; Wallenstein between Rule B"ilannia (tbe good guys) lhere is no slighting of either of his col -rich and full and the Duke of Mtrrlbm'ottgl1 Ma,"ch (the leagues. He plays with ilie mastery of Stereo Directionality: Wallenstein better bad guys). There is marching back and Stereo Depth : Wallenstein has it forth, the rattling of musketry, the boom musicianship that always has been his, From the capsule comments above it ing of cannon, and associated high jinks, and h is tone and intonation are rel:!linis should be obvious that Wallenstein 'S edi until all is resolved in God Save TI7e cent of what they were a quarter of a King. Much fun and much stereo, even century ago. There is tenderness and depth ~ i o n of the Sympbony for Audio Fideli ty if not much musical grea tness. But then, in the interpretations, with splendid en IS preferable on all counts to that of Ku who ever claimed greatness for either of semble and stylistic rapport among the belik. T he Kubelik is actually a stereo the highly entertaining compositions on players. The horn tone is vibrant and the re-iss ue of a mono performance that has this record? [1'. D. 1"ecording luminous. W. D. been in London's catalog for severa l years. As a matter of fact, Audio Fidelity's Wal BRAHMS: Cello Sonata No. 2 (see lenstein disc is not a particularly recent j. 6. BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique, BEETHOVEN) Op. 14a. Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Pau l recording eitber; it was made in London Paray condo Mercury SR 90254 $5.98; Mono BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No . 3 (see about two years ago, at the same time as MG 50254 $4.98 FRANCK) AF's other Wallenstein-Virtuoso Symphony recordings. Its release has been held up BRAHMS: In terest: Byronic symphonism j. 6. Piano Quartet No. I un ti I now beca use the cond uctor has re Performance: Good to superb in G Minor, Op_ 25. Ralph Berkowitz (pi Recording: Transparent a no ) and Bel Arte Tri o. Boston BST 1015 portedly been unbappy with the results. Steree Directionality: Excellent $5.95 ; Mono B 215 $4.98 W hy this should be so is difficult to ascer Stereo Depth : Lots tain. T he orcbestral performance is first Interest: Chamber mus ic masterpiece cl ass, the reading is certainly a thoroughly As one who has regarded. Pierre Monteux's Performance: Sensitive solid and musicianly one, and the recorded Recording: Resonant conception of this work as pretty much quali ty is quite good fo r the most part. the ne plus u llm (RCA Victor LSC/LM Stereo Directionality: Sufficient Stereo Depth: Good T he Kubelik recording can be dismissed 2362), I have always had a sneaking fee l quite easi ly, but vValIenstein 's belongs in ing that Paul Paray was the one other In 1862, when he was 29, Brahms made the choice ci rcle along with the stereo French conductor that might be able to his Viennese debut as composer and pi versions by Kl emperer (Angel S 35546), beat him at his own game in Berlioz. I dis ,mist with this Quartet. It was not well Walter (Columbia MS 611 3) and Munch regarded an ancient and long unavail able received by the critics, who thought it (R CA Victor LSC 2297). M. B. Vox re~ord i n? of Pamy's reading, done by gloomy and n.ot stylistica ll y correct. Fortu Pathe III Pans, when it came out 9 years nately, those sty li stic pu rist knew less 6. BRAHMS: Variations and Fugue on a ago because of poor sound; so it was with about the matter than the composer did, Theme of Handel, Op. 24; Variations on a anticipation that I lent an ear to this new and posterity h as accorded the music a Theme of Paganini, Op. 35. Jacob Lateiner (piano). Westminster XWN 18870 $4.98 Mercu ry release in stereo. high opinion, making this one of the most As displayed here, Paray's interpretation popular of Brahms' chamber works. In terest: Major piano Variations has many excellences, as does Mercury's The performance here is a sensitive one. Performance: Competent initial recording in the auaitorium of De T he ensemble is well ba lanced and the Recording: See below troit's Cass Technical High School. Nev fo ne is rich and full. The piano blends These performances were actually recorded ertheless vieu.x mait-re Monteux sti ll has smoothly with the strings and none of the several years ago, bu t they have only re 74 HiFi /S TEREO , the ". tape that cost , , to perfect! Soundcraft Tape with the new FA-4! :~:::::y formula tion. Designed to meet the unlimited challenge of the most exciting new era in recording history! Only years of research ... and the most modern and advanced before ... the full frequency spectrum for perhaps the very tape manufacturing facilities in the world ... could have per- first time! fected this tape! Soundcraft's new FA-4 FORMULATION is .. frequency adjusted to provide the superlative sound repro- Insist on Soundcraft Tape with the new FA-4' FORMULATION duction demanded in this exciting era of new discoveries and before you run another reel through your recorder ... you'll innovations in tape recording. You'll hear "highs" as never never settle for inferior sound reproduction again! · OUNDCRAFT CORP Great Pasture Rd., Danbury, Conn .• Chicago: 28 E. Jackson Blvd. REEVES. S • los Angeles: 342 N. laBrea • Toronto: 700 Weston Rd. SEPTEl\fBER 1960 75 cently been released. Lateiner's playing is voice, including such operas as Peter formance seem a trille dry, Copland makes neat and more restrained than need be. Grimes (London OSA 13.05; mono A 4342), . of the quietly ecstatic conclusion a deeply That he can play with a grander range is magnificent, as are the instrumental moving experience. of emotion and power was demonstrated soloists. Recorded sound-superb. · My only serious reservation about this .. , in a recording of Beethoven's C Minor The Peter Grimes Interludes and Pas disc has to do with the recorded sound; Sonata, Op. Ill, which he long ago made sacaglia on the reverse side of the disc for the reverberation characteristic of Bos· for Columbia (ML 4335) and which has .are taken from the complete recording of ton's Symphony Hall seem to have gotten since suffered deletion from the catalog. the opera. Fine as these performances somewhat out of hand, and this was no Westminster's recording is not representa are, we greatly would have preferred help to the general orchestral presence- tive of its best, and unfortunately, there (and still hope for) a stereo' recording of · violins in particular. Also the traffic noises is a serious blunder in the editing of the the Serenade. D .. H. from · outside the hall are genuinely an fourth variation of the "Handel" that noying during ppp episodes. should have forestalled release of this disc A CHOPIN: Polonaises-C-sharp Minor, I wish I could summon up some degree before correction. W. D. Op. 26, No. I; E-flat Minor, Op. 26, No.2'; of enthusiasm for The Tender Land, writ A Major, Op. 40, No. I; C Minor, Op. 40, ten. a dozen years after Appalachian No.2; F-sharp Minor, Op. 44; A-fl.at, Op. A BRITTEN: Nocturne, Op. 6~for tenor, Spring, but after .repeated hearings, I find 53. Witold Malcuzynski (piano): Angel S · little genuine vitality in it, despite (or 7 obbligato instruments and strings; Pe~er 35728 $5.98 Grimes - Sea Interludes and . Passacaglia. perhaps because of) the familar bucolic Peter Pears with the London Symphony Or Interest: Good Chopin Copland manner. chestra: . Covent. Garden Royal Opera Or Performance: Communicative For Appalachian Spring in a composer's chestra, Benjamin Britten condo London CS Recording: Excellent version (and the best currently available 6179 $5.98 Stereo Directionality: Not needed interpretation on. stereo), this disc is worth Stereo Depth: Good Interest: A new Britten masterpiece acquiring. There is little serious mono Performance: Fabulous Malcuzynski plays these compositions with competition, save from Ormandy and the Recording: Superb flair and freedom. They swing along en· Philadelphia Orchestra in the complete Stereo Directionality: Perfect gagingly and even the very popular A Stereo Depth: First-rate score (ML 5157). D. H . Major and A-Flat sound lively and fresh. Benjamin Britten remains, 15 years after He does not find as much in the music as A DEBUSSY: Nocturnes for Orchestra--: having given. us his magnificent Serenade Rubinstein (Victor LM 6109), but has the Nuages, Fetes, Sirenes: RAVEL: Rapsodie for Tenor, Horn and· Strings (London A advantage of superior recording. W . D. Espagnole. London Symphony Orchestra 53~8), the greatest master of English lyri and BBC Women's Chorus. Leopold Stokow ski condo Capitol SP 8520 $5.98 cal-dramatic composition of the past two A CHOPIN: Sonata No.3 in B Minor, centuries. Op. 58; SCHUMANN: Kinderscenen, Op. Interest: Impressionist masterpieces In this Nocturne, based on poems by 15. Rudolf Firkusny (piano). Capitol SP Performance: · Atmospheric Shelley, Tennyson, Coleridge, Thomas 8526 $5.98 Recordings; Good Middleton, Wordsworth, Wilfred Owen, Stereo DirectiGlnality: Good Interest: Repertoire staples Stereo Depth: 'Fine Keats and Shakespeare, he has given us Performance: Sensitive what might be called a deeply probing Recording: Excellent Stokowski is' a past master in these two sequel to the Serenade. It is a masterpiece Stereo Directionality: Not n.eeded scores-this is his third microgroove reo of the very first order, not to be listened Stereo Depth:. Good cording of the Nocturnes and second of to in merely casual fashion. Firkusny's interpretation of the Schumann the "Rapsodie." To both he brings his un The poets, with the exceptio'n of the canny sensitivity to orchestral timbres and Jacobean, Middleton, may be familiar. suite is tender and poetic. He plays the short pieces with simplicity and sincerity sonorities and he secures typically Stokow Most of the poems are not-at least to 'ski sound from the orchestra. American readers; and for this reason, we and they are movingly effective. In the Chopin Sonata, his playing again is sensi The recorded sound as such is excellent, are thoroughly annoyed at London for nOt and thus another entry is added to the providing complete texts with this record tive and stylish, but it is somewhat lack ing in color and sweep. The long line is growing list of vintage Stokowski discs in ing. Mr. Pears may be a very great .artist, this, his new Golden Age. M. B. but his enunciation is not infallible! sometimes lost in the attention to detail. The tone of the piano is pleasing and the The "Nurslings of immortality" lines DEBUSSY: Petite Suite; Afternoon of a from Keats' Prometheus Unbound set the recordIng is admirable. W. D. . Faun (see RAVI!Lj scene, followed by the grotesque Kraken ~ DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata; LEKEU: Vio of Tennyson (bassoon obbligato) and an A ~ COPLAND: Appalachian Spring Ballet Suite; The Tender Land-Suite from lin Sonata. Arthur Grumiaux '(violin), Ric· eerie poem by COleridge on the nocturnal the Opera. Boston Symphony Orchestra, carda Castagnone (piano). Epic LC 3667$4.98 wandering of Enoch, son of Cain (harp Aaron Copland condo RCA Victor LSC 2401 obbligato). Spellbinding is the setting of $5.98; Mono LM 2401 $4.98 Interest: Gallic gems Middleton's Midnight's bell goes ling, ling, Performance: Stylish in which the solo horn plays an incredi I nterest: For Appalachian Spring Recording: Exc;eUent ble role in delineating the sounds of night Performance: Mostly good C.Iaude. Debussy composed his Violin So -bell, dog, nightingale, owl, raven, crick Recording: Uneven Stereo Directionality: It's there nata in 1916 and it was the last major et, mouse and cat. Then comes a savagely Stereo Depth : A mite cavernous composition he wrote. In 1888, when he dramatic episode from Wordsworth The was eighteen, Guillaume Lekeu began the Prelude (to the French Revolution), in The music of Aaron Copland's 1942 ballet serious study of music with Cesar Franck which solo timpani add to the general at for Martha Graham has deservedly reo as his teacher. That same year, he wrote mosphere of terror and foreboding. Next mained a classic of the American concert a . Cello Sonata, which was soon followed we have a deeply touching war poem by repertoire. It stands as the most eloquent by a piano sonata, and this Violin Sonata. Wilfred Ow~n (English horn obbligato) testimony to Copland's real gifts-those A few years later, at the age of 24, he died. which then gives way to Shelley'S hyp of a sensitive tone poet rather than an This is Grumiaux's second recording of nqtic lines on Sleep and Poetry (flute and epic symphonist. the Debussy Sonata. He plays it with ele clarinet). All the solo instruments join in Copland's conducting of his own music gance, refinement and more flexibility than. the final poem of the cycle, S!1akespeare's may lack the colorful qualities of more before. Riccardo Castagnone, about whom little known .Sonnet No. 43, When Most I virtuosic rivals, but-as in Billy the Kid, the liner notes are strangely and complete Wink, after which all fades away as though Statements and the Third Symphony (all ly uninformative, is an able collaborator. an insubstantial dream. The emotional ef done for Everest)-he does add something They play the Lekeu with romantic fer fect of Britten's music and its wonderfully extra to the total dimension of his work vor, making the most of its Franckian at sinuous and expressive vocal line, remains as it comes to our ears. With Appalachian tractiveness. The recording is clear and with one long after the recording has Spring, this "extra something" is in the well balanced. W. D. come to an end. Peter Pears, for whom realm of rhythmic subtlety and tension of Britten has written all his finest music for phrasing. If the opening pages in this per- DOHNANYI: Five pieces from 76 HiFi/STEREO .. ,. "Ruralia Hunqarica," Op. 32a: Three Pieces, zetti's curving melodies sing under his ba the 1920's. seems to do all that can be Op. 23.: Etudes de Concert, Op. 28: Rhap ton with convincing romantic fervor. Spe done for the score. but that still is not sody in F-Sharp Minor, Op. II, No.2: cial recognition is due to Sanzogno (and much help in a work which basically is Strauss-Dohn6nyi: Schahwalzer from The Mercury) for presenting more of the music second-rate. Gypsy Baron. Erno Dohnanyi (piano). than is customarily given in recorded form. As to the quality of the recorded Everest SDBR 3061 $4.98: Mono LPBR 6061 While the opera is not complete, several sound. it makes a mockery of the legend. $4.98 "traditional" cuts have been restored, in "A high fidelity recording" printed on the Interest: Modern, but romantic cluding some eighty bars of vital ensemble record jacket. This is about as "low fi" a Performance: Authoritative in the "Mad Scene," just before "Spargi reproduction as I've heard in years: it's Recordi ng: Excellent d'arnaro pian to." constricted and tubby, with minimum ac Stereo Directionality: Not needed Renata Scotto is an affecting Lucia, with ceptable frequency range. M. B. Stereo Depth: Good an attractive voice that has an appropri The music of Dohminyi often sounds like ately girlish quality and just the right that of Brahms, and in much of this pro A FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; suggestion of distraught character. . Less BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No.3 in D Minor. gram, the resemblance is marked. Brahms glittering in the external command of the Op. 108. Yehudi Menuhin (violin) and died in 1897, the year that Dohminyi made part than Roberta Peters (RCA Victor). Hephzibah Menuhin (piano). Capitol SG his concert debut, but he was acquainted her Lucia is nevertheless more than credi 7215 $5.98 with the young pianist's compositions and table from the technical point of view. and had expressed his admiration of them. dramatically more convincing. (Callas. on Interest: Brother-sister team Dohminyi had a melodic gift and these Performance: Inspired Angel 3601, is in a dramatic class by her Recording: Excellent piano pieces, which date from before 1910 self. but vocally below form.) Stereo Directionality: Reasonable to 1924, are romantically tuneful, and re Since he first recorded Edgardo in 1952, Stereo Depth: Good flect little of the upheaval that was then Giuseppe di Stefano has lost some of his taking place in music composition. Yet youthful lyricism. The voice has become A FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; these were the years in which Stravinsky, darker. more dramatic. but no less beauti DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata in G Minor. Isaac Bart6k and Schoenberg were creating their ful. His vibrant. impetuous Edgardo is Stern (violin) and Alexander Zakin (piano). revolutionary scores. still the best on records. The luxurious Columbia MS 6139 $5.98 Dohminyi recorded these pieces last tone quality he imparts to Edgardo·s fare Interest: French violin masterpieces January, only weeks before he died. The well overshadows the somewhat casual way Performance: Communicative 82-year-old pianist-composer played them he treats the sixteenth-note values in "rnai Recording: Excellent . with a sweep and energy that belied. his non passarvi, tu 10 dirnentica" and the Stereo Directionality: ReasQnable age. He was a splendid pianist, and he slightly over-expansive tempo the other Stereo Depth: Good retained most of his powers to the end. wise impeccable Sanzogno adopted for the The Franck Sonata is played very well by The playing is forceful and clean, the scene, presumably under the persuasive Stern and Zakin, but the Menuhins seem tone rich, and the phrasing musical. The spell of the same tones. to be especially inspired in their collabora sound of the piano is recorded with ex Ettore Bastianini's dark, menacing bari tion, and their performance of the piece is emplary faithfulness. D. W. tone is most' appropriate to the villainous a really vital experience. Their vibrancy Ashton, a part in which he easily sur carries over into the Brahms, and t~is ren A DONIZETTI: Lucia di Lammermoor passes his present recorded rivals. The dition of the D Minor Sonata is superior (complete with traditional cuts). Renata smaller roles are well handled. Ivo Vinco to the one Yehudi has recorded with Louis Scotto (soprano)-Lucia: Giuseppe di Ste makes a very promising disc debut as a fano (tenor) - Edgardo: Ettore Bastianini Kentner (Capitol GBR 7142). Stern plays (baritone)-Enrico Ashton; Ivo Vinco (bass) smooth-voiced Raimondo. both of his sonatas with a rich, pleasing -Raimondo; Franco Ricciardi (tenor)-Ar There are no spectacular effects to single tone and sensitive musicality, and Zakin turo; Stefania Malagu (mezzo-soprano) out in this recording. But Mercury's stereo is an able partner. Both discs are effectively Alisa. Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala. technique gives us everything we need in engineered. W. D. Milan. Nino Sanzogno condo Mercury SR well·developed, well-balanced and clarified 2-9008 $11.96 sound, which is all a recording should be. GROFI!i: Grand Canyon Suite (see Interest: Basic repertoire· The album production, with notes by Max BEETHOVEN) Performance: First-rate de Schauensee and translation by \Villiam Recording: Excellent Murray. is exemplary. Bene, Mercury. A HANDEL: Concerti Grossi. Op. 6- Stereo Directionality: Natural. effective Now, about that Don Pasquale. .. G. J. No. I in G; No. 2 in F; No. 3 in E Minor. Stereo Depth: Good Handel Festival Orchestra. Halle. Horst-Tanu ~ ENESCO: Symphony No. I in E Margraf condo Epic BC 1074 $5.98 Apart from .being a very popular opera, flat_ Roumanian State Symphony Orchestra. "Lucia" is evidently a brisk-enough seller George Georgescu condo Artia ALP 118 Interest: Of course to warrant the release of three stereo edi $4.98 Performances: Delightful tions in a period of little more than one Recording: Excellent year. No· complaint in this corner, only a Interest: Rather pale Stereo Directionality: Splendid mild observation that, by a strange con Performance: OK Stereo Depth: Good Recording: Not good trast, the same composer's Don Pasquale It is always a pleasure to be able to rec is still awaiting its first stereo treatment. As it happens, this work figured on the ommend a disc without a single reserva When this oversight is corrected, as it first symphony concert I ever attended. tion. The music is among the most de should be soon, let us hope that Donizet The place was Symphony Hall, Boston, lightful ever written. The performances ti's comic masterpiece will receive as good and Enesco himself was appearing as a are done with a loving and a skilled hand. a performance as offered in the present guest conductor of the Boston symphony Despite the fact that the town of Halle. Scala-Ricordi-Mercury undertaking. Orchestra. I have been wishing for a re where this group is located. is the birth This is a very good "Lucia" and since cording of the piece ever since, because place of Handel, there is no "museum" ap· Angel has thought it advisable to remove I was quite taken with it at the time. proach in these performances. They are its 1952 monaural version from circulation, Well, here it is, and a big disappointment suitably robust where need be, but with it has the field pretty much to itself. The it proves to be. Enesco 'was a master vio no sacrifice of finesse. The playing is first carefully prepared, smoothly flowing per linist and teacher, and in his two Rou rate. and the recording is nicely balanced formance testifies that Nino's Sanzogno, manian Rhapsodies he left us a couple of and tonally faithful, with the stereo char the least frequently recorded among Scala's pops concert staples. But he seems un· acteristics wh!)lly at the service of the mu first-line conductors, should be given more comfortable in the symphonic form. The sic. In short, a fine disc. D. R. opportunities. Sanzogno has distinguished organization of the· score is rather diffuse, himself in recent years in the contempo the ideas, not too interesting, and the or LEKEU: Violin Sonata (see DEBUSSY) rary symphonic and operatic repertoire. chestration. not very imaginative. Evidently, however, he has not lost touch Georgescu, who was a guest conductor LlSZT: Battle of the Huns (see MOUS. with the music of the ottocento, for Doni- with the New York Philharmonic during SOR.GSKY) 78 HiFi/STEREO • Plays continuous music. Repeats any passage. Rewinds or turns off automatically! Back spaces! Incomparable listening luxury! Hours and hours of musical enjoyme,nt. without any attention what soever! Or, if you desire. the reel rewinds and recorder shuts itself off automatically. 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Track dialing feature permits record ing up to 4 separate monaural tracks on single roll of tape saving up to 4 to 1 in tape cost. $329.50. WOLLE NS.A.K rr1600" E~O~ Push-To-Talk Back Space Bar, Illuminated HI-FIDELITY TAPE RECORDER switch on micro provides instant "record" and phone permits replay of a word. "play" keys on ASK your WollensaK dealer to demonstrate these exciting new features! precise remote phrase. or musical panel light up control of recorder. passage as desired. when pressed. WOLLENSAK OPTICAL COMPANY · CH ICAGO 16, ILliNOIS SEPTEMBER 1960 79 6. LlSZT·BURMEISTER: Concerto Pathe to Czechoslovakia for awhile, and then Wallenstein, for his part, gives a first· tique: L1SZT.DARVAS: Spanish Rhapsody. when the political climate again became class performance of the "Pictures" also, Istvan Antal (piano) with State Symphony poisoned, he settled in Switzerland. with a real sensitivity to the changing Orchestra, Victor Vaszy cond., Radio Sym The two works of the present disc may moods of the ,varwus ~ections," , -:rhere are phony Orchestra, Gyorgy Lehel condo Par be termed typical of middle and late pe details . of the ·ordiestral. performance-a liament PLI' 124 $1.98 riod Martinu. The Concerto is a nervous, splendid one, incidentally-that are more Interest: Tepid motoric work of great muscularity. It is vividly recorded oy Audio Fidelity engi Performance: Good brilliantly scored and receives a superb neers than by London's in the rival ver Recording: Good performance at the hands of the compos sion: the trilling of the flutes in the middle Parliament reached. far out fot this one. er's countrymen. The Frescoes is one of section of the movement called The Hut The Concerto Pathetique was an impossi three orchestral works which Martinu On Fowl's Legs, for example. On the other bility back in Liszt's own day, with the seems to have worked on all at the same hand, Audio Fidelity's recording had con composer twisting and turning it from time-the other two being his Sixth Sym siderable distortion toward the end of The piano solo to piano with orchestra to two phony, called Fantaisies Symphoniques Great Gate At Kiev, while the London pianos alone to make it playable. This ver which he wrote for Charles Munch (who disc contained the mass of sound with sion, for piano and orchestra, is by Rich has performed it widely and also re beautiful smoothness and clarity. M. B. ard Burmeister, a Liszt pupil. It is a tri corded it on RCA Victor LM 2083), and umph of devotion over wisdom, and the a three-movement score for orchestra A MOZART: Piano c:onc:erto No. 25 in called Parables (which has also been taken C Major (K. 503): Overture to Don Gio work is better left in limbo: It is dull and vanni. Andre Tschaikowsky (piano) with the performers strive in vain to bring it up and championed by Munch). The styles Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner to life. ' of all three are very similar: they are condo RCA Victor LSC 2287 $5.98 Why Gabor Darvas bothered to orches rhapsodic and elegiac in their basic mood Interest: Major Mozart trate Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody is another and the writing is marked by violent dy Performance: Large scale mystery not worth the solying. It is not nainic contrast. It is easy to read extra Recording: Robust particularly effective at best, and played musical significance into these last three Stereo Directionality: Reasonable with orchestra, it loses what little char orchestral scores of Martinu; 1 find in Stereo Depth: Good acter it possesses. W. D. them a kind of autumnal resignation and Reiner takes a big view of the Concerto. spiritual catharsis which are surely the He, has the orchestra play full voice. This ... 6. MARTINO: . Concerto for Two product of a creator who knows that his is very effective in Mozart's later works, String Orchestras, Piano and Timpani: Fres time on earth is rapidly running out. The for which the composer. often expressed coes· of Piero della Fraricesca. Czech Phil Frescoes were recorded for Capitol about the hope that they would be performed harmonic' Orchestra, Karel Sejna (in the a year ago by Kubelik with. the Royal Concerto.) and Karel Ancerl (in the Fres by ensembles with a full complement of Philharmonic Orchestra (G 7159) but An coes) condo Artia ALP S 135 $5.98: MOllO players. Tschaikowsky's performance is re " ALP 135 $4.98 cerl's is the more penetrating, more af fined, yet strong. However, it does not fecting reading and it is recorded stun probe as deeply as Serkin's (Columbia Interest: Important contemporary scores ningly in both mono and stereo editions. ML 5169), Gieseking's (Angel 35215) or Performances: Expert Now, gentlemen of the recording indus Recordings: Excellent Fleisher's (Epic BC 1025; LC 3574). Also, Stereo Directionality: Excellent ..try, let us please have Martinu's First each of these competitive recordings is Stereo Depth: Fine Symphony, preferably with Munch con backed by another concerto, instead of just ducting-I have heard him give a stirring .Bohuslav Martinu, the Czechoslovak com an overture. The latter is performed with performance of this great work-and the due regard for the drama to follow, and poser who died in Switzerland a year ago, Third, with Szell conducting. M . B. achieved international prominence as one if Reiner were to give us an entire Don of the important composers of our time, Giovanni on records, its high quality can ... MOUSSORGSKY.RAVEL: Pictures at and yet performances of his music remain be assured from an extrapolation based an Exhibition. Virtuoso Symphony Orchestra on this rendition of the Overture. The ex rather rare in our concert life. During th~ of London, Alfred Wallenstein condo Audio 20's a:nd 30's Martinu lived in Paris and Fidelity FCS 50,004 $6.95 cellence of Victor'S recording is evident came into contact with many of the lead throughout. W. D. ing musical figures of the time. It was ... MOUSSORGSKY·RAVEL: Pictures at Serge Koussevitzky who introduced the an Exhibition: L1SZT: The Battle of the Huns ... MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat (K. 595); Piano Sonata in A Major music of Martinu to this country with (Symphonic Poem No. (2). Suisse Romande Orchestra, Ernest Ansermet condo London (K. 331) ("Alia Turca"). Wilhelm Backhaus performances of one of his ballet scores CS 6177 $5.98 with The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, in the late 1920's with the Boston Sym Karl B6hm cando London CS 6141 $5.98 phony Orchestra. Toward the end of the Interest: Of course Performance: Both good' Interest: Major Mozart 1930's Martinu devoted himself more and Performance: Direct more to the writing of symphonic music. Recording: See below Stereo Directionality: Good Recording: Bright The present Concerto, as well as a marve Stereo Depth: Both fine Stereo Directionality: Reasonable lous Concerto Grosso for Two Pianos and Stereo Depth: Good String Orchestra (Westminster 18079), are And so two more superlative accounts are Backhaus plays these two works in a man products of that period. Like so many now added to the available discography of ner almost wholly devoid of grace and other composers of his generation, Mar Ravel's orchestration of Moussorgsky's Pic charm. Their absence adds no strength or tinu emigrated to this country when the tures at an Exhibition. Both Ansermet and profundity to the interpretations; it mere spectre of Nazi domination hovered over Wallenstein give dramatic, dynamic per ly lessens their appeal and significance. Europe. Here Koussevitzky came to the aid formances-surprising in Anserfuet's case There is much more poetry, and no less of Martinu in a very practical way: he because his two previous .accounts of the power, in Serkin's B-Hat Concerto reading conducted the premiere of the Concerto music for London Records were more in-. (Columbia ML 5013) or Novaes' A Major Grosso and then played it in many cities 'hibited than this new one. But this one Sonata (Vox PL 9080). The orchestral on tour and also at Tanglewood; he en packs all the fire and vigor one could wish share of the concerto is performed expan gaged Martinu to be visiting teacher of and it is further distinguished by a vir sively, wit? good tone and balance, and composition at Tanglewood during the tuoso performance from his orchestra and relationship between soloist and ensemble 1941 summer session; and he commissioned brilliant reproduction from the engineers. well maintained by the recording. ·W.D. a Symphony from Martinu-his First-on The disc is filled out with a performance behalf of the Koussevitzky Music Founda of one of the most bombastic of the Franz 6. MOZART: String Quartets. Vol. 1- tion. Thus. launched in this country, Mar Liszt symphonic poems, The Battle Of The G Major (K. 80): D Major (K. (55):G Ma tinu proceeded to compose here several Huns. Ansermet is pretty civilized about jor (K. (56): C Major (K. (57): F Major other important scores including chamber the whole thing, and yet I can't help feel (K. (58): B-flat (K. (59); E-flat (K. (60): music and three more symphonies (his F Major (K. 168): F Major (K. (69); C Ma ing that if such a piece is to be done at jor (K. (70); Adagio and Fugue in C Mi Third was written for the Cleveland Or all, it should be done in the wildest man nor (K. 546). Barchet Quartet. Vox Box .VBX chestra). After the war, Martinu returned ner possible. 12 3 12" $6.95 . 80 HUi/STEREO Interest: Early Mozart Performance: Beautiful Stereo Drrectionality: Good Stereo Depth: Good A~irabk CIS the mono reciOrding is th Recording: Admire ble - str~ggs . emerge with· a "box-like'; q~alit; Vox Records and the Barchet Quartet Six si~es of Mozartquiritets may seem to whIch IS ~ot evident in the stereo version:- There IS one place where the hand of have - .plac~d us in their debt for having be q~lte a lot. of listening, but I can report made avaIlable at a bargain price these ~hat It was a Plost pleasant task. Not only the ~ape edi~or shows up. It occurs in, the ' C Mmor Qumtet. During the second move first attempts on Mozart'S part to write IS. Moza~t to be thanked for .the beauty of ment (one minute and fO:rty-six seconds quartets. It goes without saying-that these hIS. mUSIC, but the _follr members of the from t~e start, to be precise), there is a are not overpowering masterpieces. After Gnller Quartet and their associate, Wil- rh~nf'rl'> 1 ...... ___ - _ .. ! _ • . Recording: Dorati close-up; Schippers Rosen's first solo recordings some years of Hugo Wolf, without the same degree of spacious ago were for the now inactive REB label intensity or economy in mood creation. Stereo Directionality: Both good in music by Mozart, Haydn and Debussy. Fischer-Dieskau sings Schoeck's songs Stereo Depth: Angel belter He has reliable technique and a solid with style and understanding, and he is This, the greatest Russian symphony since tone_ His musical manner is forceful, and ably seconded by Margrit Weber. The re Tchaikovsky, has now reached its fifth re to a degree not always advantageous to the cording is also very well engineered. The cording in stereo. Yet its Iyrical·heroic es mainly coloristic -music of this record. His only flaw is contributed by Deutsche sence seems to have evaded every conduc playing is more sensitive to the architec Grammophon, which sacrifices scholarship tor who has essayed it on discs, save for tural requirements of these pieces than to and good sense to self-defeating commer those who conducted the first American their delicate details of sonority_ The pi cialism. No texts or translations_of these performances some 20 years -ago - Serge ano tone is realistically reprf'<\uc:ed. W. D. unfamiliar songs are provided, and the Kous~evitsky and Artur Rodzinski. program notes, in four languages, are ab RAVEL: Raplodie Espagnore (see DE· surdly skimpy. In contrast to this, Angel Dorati brings plenty of strength and BUSSY) rhythmic vitality to his reading, but little provides with its Schubert record a sepa lvricalpassion. The rather dry recorded .A 6 RAVEL: Valses Nobles et Senti rate brochure with full texts and transla sound is no help, either. The stereo re mentales; Le Tombeau de Couperin; DE· tions and scholarly commentary on each issue of the 2Y2-year-old recording by BUSSY: Petite Suite; --Prelude to the After of the songs. W. D. noon of a Faun. Detroit Symphony Orches young Thomas Schippers offers a more tra, Paul Paray condo Mercury SR 90213 SCHUMANN: warm and spacious sound, but as inter ... 6 Dichterliebe-Song $5.98; Mono MG 59213 $4.98 c:ycle. Op. 48; also, Der Nussbaum: Erstes preter he tends to let the lyrical elements griin: Jasminenstrauc:h; Der Himmel hat eine of the. score weaken its essential rhythmic hterest: French pastry Trane geweint; Kommen und Sc:heiden; tautness and monolithic structure. As for Performances: Fine Requiem. Cesare Valletti (tenor), Leo Taub the other stereo disc performances, I find Recordings: Good man (piano). RCA Vietor LSC 2412 $5.98; Stereo Directionality: Good Mono LM 2412 $4.98 Martinon's for RCA Victor on the brittle Stereo Depth: Good and superficial side, while Sargent's Ever Interest: Lieder masterpiec:es est version is just not very interesting Here is one of Paray's best recent record Performance: Clean which leaves -Ormandy and the Philadel ings. The four works are presented in Recording: Good phia Orchestra (Columbia MS 6004; mono clear, straightforward interpretations and Stereo Directionality: OK ML 5260). Despite some thickening of they have been accorded sound to match. Stereo Depth: It's there musical texture and occasionally ill-defined The pieces themselves are classics of the I can't think of another artist from the sound, I find this the only currently avail French symphonic repertoire and belong roster of the Metropolitan Opera who has able recording of Prokofiev's Fifth Sym. in every representative library. M . B. so successfully crossed over into the realm phony that strikes a proper balance be of the art-song as has Valletti. tween the lyrical and the heroic, while _ His singing here reveals a sensitive, ma RITTER: 0 amantissime sponse Jesu (see turing artist at work who produces beau conveying a true sense of its monumental BACH) dimension from a formal standpoint. In tiful, unforced sounds. The more lyrical deed, it is surpassed in this respect by only .A SCHOECK: Vom lager stand ich nit songs, like Ich will meine Seele tauchen, one other recording done in recent years dem Friihlicht auf; Aber ein kleiner golden come off best but the entire enterprise is that I have heard-by Leopold Stokowski er Stern; Friihgesicht; Reisephantasie; Das a noteworthy one, including the piano and the Moscow State Philharmonic done Ende des Festes; Nachruf; Jugendgedenken; playing of Taubman. -M . B. Peregrina II; Auf ein Kind; Dammrung in Russia two years ago, and unfortunately ~enkte sich von oben; Ach, wie sc:hon isf SCHUMANN: Kindersc:enen (see CHO· not available outside the U.S.S.R. D. H . Nacht und Dammerschein; Nachklang; Hore PIN) den Rat; Venezianisches Epigramm; Jetrl .A 6 SMETANA: The Bartered Bride 6 RACHMANINOFr: Piano Concerto rede du! Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bari (complete opera). Dra"homira Tikalova (so No.2 in C Minor, Op. 18; Rhapsody on a tone) and Margrit Weber (piano). Deutsche prano)-Marenka: Ivo Zidek (tenor)-Jenik: Grammophon SlPM 138013 $5.98 Theme by Paganini, Op. 43. Raymond Lew Oldrich Kovar (tenor) - Vasek; Eduard enthal with The Vienna State Opera Orches Haken (bass)-Kecal: Vaclav Bednar (bari tra. Maurice Abravanel condo Westminster Interest: Could be made more appealing tone )-Krusina: Jaromira Dobra (soprano XWN 18884 $4.98 Performance: Sensitive I Recording: Excellent -Ludmila & others with Chorus and Orches I nte rest: Concert favorites Stereo Directionality: Reasonable tra of the Prague National Theater, Zdenek Performance: See text Stereo Depth: Good Chalabala condo Artia AlPO S 82C/l 3 Recording: See text 12" $18.98; Mono AlPO 82C/l $15.98 6 SCHUBERT: Songs, Vol. 3-Dem Un These two melodic compositions make an endlichen; Die Sterne; An die Musik; Weh Interest: Bohemian delight Performance: Authentic: and spirited attractive coupling under any circum mut; Kriegers Ahnung; Der Zwerg; Der Wan derer; Friihlingslaube; Die Taubenpost; An Recording: Good stances. Those here are not the most ad Stereo Directionality: First-rate vantageous. Every now and then the pi Silvia; 1m Friihling; Auf der Bruck. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) and Gerald Stereo Depth: OK anist and the orchestra seem at logger Moore (piano). Angel 35699 $4.98 When Smetana's delightful rural comedy, heads, not technically, but stylistically. The Bartered Bride, is done beyond the Interest: Tops in Lieder Lewenthal does not seem to have the bounds of Czechoslovakia it more often breadth and sweep demanded by the mu Performance: Magnificent Recordi ng : Excellent than not ends up as an animated travel sic and he is emotionally swamped by the postcard; but a good Prague National orchestra. Abravanel is more the romanti The Angel series of Schubert Lieder sung Theater performance is something else cist and his performance is entirely credit by Fischer·Dieskau is one of the most dis again-it makes one think of nothing so able. The recording is more favorable to tinguished recording ventures of our day. much as wild strawberries and new mown the orchestra than to the solo instrument, Each disc has and will have its quota of hay. Fortunately, that's just how things again not in the matter of balance. The great songs and there is no reason to turn out in this first stereo recording of piano tone is not a rich one, while the doubt that the still-young baritone will The Bartered Bride. I just can't think of orchestral tone is. However, certain dy sing them with unfailing artistry and sen any opera in the entire repertoire-not '" namic gradations lead me to believe that sitivity. This third volume is especially even Mozart's "Figaro," Rossini's "Barber" electronic controls have come to Abrava beautiful because there isn't a weak song or Donizetti's Elisir d'amore-better suited nel's assistance on occasion. W. D . ?n the ~rogram and both singer and pian to chase away the blues: The tunes are Ist are m top form. superb, the dances captivating, the charac 6 RAVEL: Gaspard de la Nuit; le Tom The recital of songs by Othmar Schoeck terizations shrewd, and the hal\dling of beau de Couperin. Charles Rosen (piano). promises more than it delivers. The com the orchestra would do credit to a latter Epic LC 3589 $4.98 poser was a Swiss who died in 1957 at day Mozart. Interest: Kaleidoscopic piano pieces the age of 71. Stylistically, his 400-or-so I am not familiar with the singers fea Performance: Energetic songs are in the tradition of the Romantic tured on this recording, but I should guess Recording: Very good Lied. They superficially resemble those that they are young; for they show no 84 HiFi/STEREO ...... a;.;:~.~ 1; ':.),:':": Here's your front row seat to OVER 400 GREAT BROADWAY SHOWS! 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I t~ ______~---~~~ ___ ---_--~ SEPTEMBER 1960 81 Interest: Early Mozart Stereo DiTectionality: Good Ad.mirable as the mono reGording is, the Pe rformance : Beautiful Stereo Depth: Good stn~lgs . emerge with a " box-like" quality Recording: Admirable wlllch IS not evident in the stereo version. Six s i~ es of Mozart quintets may seem to Vox Records a nd the Barchet Quartet There is one place where the band of be q~'te a lot of listening, but J can report h ave plac~d us in their debt for having the tape editor shows up. It occurs in, the ~hat It was a most p leasant task. Not only I~lad e avaJla bl e at a bargain price these C Minor Quintet. During the second move IS Mozart to be thanked for the beauty of flrst a ttempts on Mozart's paH to write ment (one minute and forty-six seconds his mU SIC, bu t the fou I' mem bers of tbe quartets. It goes without saying that these from the start, to be precise), there is a Griller Quartet and their associa te "Wil a re not overpowering masterpieq!s. After change in perspective between two phrases, lia m Primrose, must a lso be cred ited with aJl, R. 80 was written w hen the composer as a res ult of the splicing of different hav.ing m ade listening the rewarding ex was a boy of 14, a nd we are told that he " takes." It is more noticeable in the stereo pen ence that it is. composed it in o ne evening! recording than in the mono. I t might not . One could _hardly ask for anything finer BUl what an insight we are given into be apparent to a n yone who was no t lis In mattels of blend, ensemble, tone, or the o rigins of Mozart's style! H ere, in his tening carefully. B ut then, because these interp.retation (with one minor exception), very fint string quartet, the yo ung Mozart per fo rmances a re so beautifully mold ed, than IS to be found on these th ree discs. was writing pure Italian music-music that J was li stening carefully. There is elan a nd spirit to spare-as wit could at times be mistaken for Vivaldi Taken in sum, though, tbis is chamber n es~ the closing movement of the D Major although we are told that his actua l modei music on records at its best. D. R . QUlIltet, with its vital tempo: T here is was a nother Italian-the then 70·year·old mag nificent feeling a nd wa rmth, as in the It.. ~ PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet Sammartini. But here, wi t hout ques tion, is beautiful slow movement of the same quin Ballet Excerpts. Czech Philharmonic Orches music in a state of transition. Quartet writ tet, a nd the slow movement of the famous tra. Karel Ancerl condo Pa rliament PLP S ing, as it was late r to flower, had not yet 132 $2.98; Mono PLP 132 $1.98 G Minor Quin tet, whose more sombre mo developed. For Haydn 'S first real quartet ments can seem almost tri vial, if not Inte: rest: Ballet masterpiece masterpieces - 0)). 20, Nos. 1-6 - written treated correctly. Fortunately. the Griller Performance: Superb at about th e same time, had not in 1773 ~ ns e mbl e seems to have just the key to the Recordin g : Excellent achieved wide circulation. Thus we find IIlteJ'pre ta tlOn of this music. Stereo Directionality: First-rate ~fozart 's cello a nd viola parts severely lim Stereo Depth: Fine T he "one minor exception" referred to Ited, often to the playing of repeated notes. above has long been something of a m ys Ten sections from the th ree orchestra I Even violin parts have not a tta ined com suites Prokofiev drew from his maste rful plete independence of o ne anothe r. tery to m ~. !t. is the tendency on the part ?f. fust VlO hl1lst Mr. Griller to suddenly ballet on Shakespeare's tragedy a re in· It is fascinating to observe the increase Inject an overly romantic slide into an I I I Recording: Dorati close-up: Schippers Rosen's first solo recordings some years of Hugo Wolf, without the same degree of spacious ago were for the now inactive REB label intensity or economy in mood creation. Stereo Directionality: Both good in music by Mozart, Haydn and Debussy. Fischer-Dieskau sings Schoeck's songs Stereo Depth: Angel better He has reliable technique and a solid with style and understanding, and he is This, the greatest Russian symphony since tone. His musical manner is forceful, and ably seconded by Margrit Weber. The re Tchaikovsky, has now reached its fifth re to a degree not always advantageous to the cording is also very well engineered. The cording in stereo. Yet its lyrical-heroic es mainly coloristic ·music of this record. His only flaw is contributed by Deutsche sence seems to have evaded every conduc playing is more sensitive to the architec Grammophon, which sacrifices scholarship tor who has essayed it on discs, save for tural requirements of these pieces than to and good sense to self-defeating commer· those who conducted the first American their delicate details of sonority. The pi cialism. No texts or translations of these performances some 20 years' ago - Serge ano tone is realistically reprf'-luced. W. D. unfamiliar songs are provided, and the Koussevitsky and Artur Rodzinski. program notes, in four languages, are ab RAVEL: Rapsodie Espagnore (see DE· surdly skimpy. In contrast to this, Angel Dorati brings plenty of strength and BUSSY) rhythmic vitality to his reading. but little provides with its Schubert record a sepa Ivrical . passion. The rather dry recorded A t:,. RAVEL: Valses Nobles et Senti rate brochure with full texts and transla sound is no help, either. The stereo re mentales: Le Tombeau de Couperin: DE· tions and scholarly commentary on each issue of the 2Y2-year-old recording by BUSSY: Petite Suite: -Prelude to the After of the songs. W. D. noon of a Faun. Detroit Symphony Orches young Thomas Schippers offers a more tra, Paul Paray condo Mercury SR 90213 £ t:" SCHUMANN: Dichterliebe-Song warm and spacious sound, but as inter $5.98: Mono MG 59213 $4.98 cycle, Op. 48; also, Der Nussbaum; Erstes preter he tends to let the lyrical elements griin: Jasminenstrauch; Der Himmel hat eine of the. score weaken its essential rhythmic hterest: French pastry Trane geweint; Kommen und Scheiden: tautness and monolithic structure. As for Performances: Fine Requiem. Cesare Valletti (tenor), Leo Taub the other stereo disc performances, I find Recordings: Good man (piano). RCA Vietor LSC 2412 $5.98: Stereo Directionality: Good Mono LM 2412 $4.98 Martinon's for RCA Victor on the brittle Stereo Depth: Good and superficial side, while Sargent's Ever Interest: Lieder masterpieces est version is just not very interesting Here is one of Paray's best recent record Performance: Clean which leaves Ormandy and the Philadel ings. The fOUT works are presented in Recording: Good phia Orchestra (Columbia MS 6004; mono clear, straightforward interpretations and Stereo Directionality: OK Stereo Depth: It's there ML 5260). Despite some thickening of they have been accorded sound to match. musical texture and occasionally ill-defined The pieces themselves are classics of the I can't think of another artist from the sound, I find this the only currently avail French symphonic repertoire and belong roster of the Metropolitan Opera who has able recording of Prokofiev's Fifth Sym. in every representative library. M. B. so successfully crossed over into the realm phony that strikes a proper balance be· of the art-song as has Valletti. tween the lyrical and the heroic, while His singing here reveals a sensitive, ma RinER: 0 amantissime sponse Jesu (see tilTing artist at work who produces beau conveying a true sense of its monumental BACH) dimension from a formal standpoint. In tiful, unforced sounds. The more lyrical deed, it is surpassed in this respect by only A SCHOECK: Vom Lager stand ich nit songs, like lch will meine Seele tauchen, one other recording done in recent years dem Friihlicht auf: Aber ein kleiner golden come off best but the entire enterprise is that I have heard-by Leopold Stokowski er Stern: Fruhgesicht: Rei'sephantasie: Das a noteworthy one, including the piano Ende des Festes: Nachruf; Jugendgedenken; playing of Taubman. M. B. and the Moscow State Philharmonic done Peregrina II; Auf ein Kind: Dammrung in Russia two years ago, and unfortunately senkte sich von oben; Ach. wie schon ist SCHUMANN: Kinderscenen (see CHO- not available outside the U.S.S.R. D. H. Nacht und Dammerschein; Nachklang: Hore PIN) den Rat: Venezianisches Epigramm; Jetzt .. t:,. SMETANA: The Bartered Bride t:,. RACHMANINOFr: Piano Concerto rede du! Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bari (complete opera). Dravhomira Tikalova (50- No.2 in C Minor, Op. 18: Rhapsody on a tone) and Margrit Weber (piano). Deutsche prano}-Marenka: Ivo Zidek (tenor)-Jenik: Theme by Paganini, Op. 43. Raymond Lew Grammophon SLPM 138013 $5.98 Oldrich Kovar (tenor) - Vasek; Eduard enthal with The Vienna State Opera Orches Interest: Could be made more appealing Haken (bass)-Kecal: Vaclav Bednar (bari tra. Maurice Abravanel condo Westminster tone }-Krusina: Jaromira Dobra (soprano) XWN 18884 $4.98 Performance: Sensitive Recording: Excellent -Ludmila & others with Chorus and Orches tra of the Prague National Theater, Zdenek Interest: Concert favorites Stereo Directionality: Reasonable Stereo Depth: Good Chalabala condo Artia ALPO S 82C/L 3 Performance: See text 12" $18.98; Mono ALPO 82C/L $15.98 Recording: See text t:" SCHUBERT: Songs, Vol. 3-Dem Un Interest: Bohemian delight These two melodic compositions make an endlichen: Die Sterne: An die Musik; Weh Performance: Authentic and spirited attractive coupling under any circum mut; Kriegers Ahnung; Der Zwerg: Der Wan Recording: Good stances. Those here are not the most ad derer: Fruhlingslaube; Die Taubenpost: An Stereo Directionality: First-rate Silvia; 1m Friihling; Auf der Bruck. Dietrich Stereo Depth: OK vantageous. Every now and then the pi· Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) and Gerald anist and the orchestra seem at logger Moore (piano). Angel 35699 $4.98 When Smetana's delightful rural comedy, heads, not technically, but stylistically. The Bartered Bride, is done beyond the Lewenthal does not seem to have the Interest: Tops in Lieder bounds of Czechoslovakia it more often breadth and sweep demanded by the mu· Performance: Magnificent Recording: Excellent than not ends up as an animated travel sic and he is emotionally swamped by the postcard; but a good Prague National orchestra. Abravanel is more the romanti The Angel series of Schubert Lieder sung Theater performance is something else cist and his performance is entirely credit by Fischer·Dieskau is one of the most dis again-it makes one think of nothing so able. The recording is more favorable to tinguished recording ventures of our day. much as wild strawberries and new mown the orchestra than to the solo instrument, Each disc has and wiII have its quota of hay. Fortunately, that's just how things again not in the matter of balance. The great songs and there is no reason to turn out in this first stereo recording of piano tone is not a rich one, while the doubt that the still-young baritone wiII The Bartered Bride. I just can't think of 6rchestral tone is. However, certain dy sing them with unfailing artistry and sen any opera in the entire repertoire-not namic gradations lead me to believe that sitivity. This third volume is especially even Mozart's "Figaro," Rossini's "Barber" electronic controls have come to Abrava beautiful because there isn't a weak song or Donizetti's Elisir d'amore-better suited nel's assistance on occasion. W. D. on the program and both singer and pian to chase away the blues. The tunes are ist are in top form. superb, the dances captivating, the charac t:,. RAVEL: Gaspard de la Nuit: Le Tom The recital of songs by Othmar Schoeck terizations shrewd, and the ha~dling of beau de Couperin. Charles Rosen (piano). promises more than it delivers. The com the orchestra would do credit to a latter Epic LC 3589 $4.98 poser was a Swiss who died in 1957 at day Mozart. Interest: Kaleidoscopic piano pieces the age of 71. Stylistically, his 400·or-so I am not familiar with the singers fea Performance: Energetic songs are in the tradition of the Romantic tured on this recording, but I should guess Recording: Very good Lied. They superficially resemble those that they are young; for they show no 84 HiFi/STEREO .. THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MUSIC YOURS ON t""~"""~ EPIC ~ "'%.w/II\'~ RECORDS LA 16000 LA 16001 BEETHOVEN: PIANO CONCERTO NO.3 IN C MINOR, OP. 37 BRAHMS: SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN D MAJOR, OP. 73 CLARA HASKELL, PIANIST VIENNA SYMPHON Y ORCHESTRA ORCHF5TRE DES CONCERTS LAMOUREUX, IGOR MARKEVITCH, CONDUCTOR ~\ Jt' 6.(1' .r il LC 3726/ BC 1097 LC 3722/ BC 1093 LN 3729/ BN 580 HAYDN SYMPHONY NO. 103 IN E THE THREE FLAT MAJOR, "DRUM ROLL" GREAT SYMPHONIES OF SYMPHONY NO. 104 IN D MAJOR, "LONDON" DVORAK GEORGE IC1IJ iiiKEtTfclf SZELL THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA I ~ 1::::-::-:-::::::-:1 LC 3725/ BC 1096 SC 6038/ BSC 109 LN 3699/ BN 570 LC 3709/BC 1090 CHOPIN RECITAL 27 ANTAL DORATI conducting the and his Orch., The German Band of Ballade No.4 in F Minor; Scherzo No.3 CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA OF Munich in C Sharp Minor; Polonaise No.6 in AMSTERDAM. LF 18002/ BF 19002 TOPS IN POPS A·flat Major; Mazurka Nos. 2, 31 and 32; LC 3724/ BC 1095 HANDEL: ACIS AND (D'ITALlA), Willy Alberti Sings Nocturnes Nos. 5, 8, 17-CHARLES GALATEA (Serenade) (Abridged) LN 3717/ BN 578 SOFT 'N' WARM, Roy ROSEN, Pianist. Soloists, Oberlin Choir and CAMERATA Hamilton LC 3723 BERLIOZ: LOVE SCENE from ACADEMICA DES SALZBURGER LN 3727/ BN 579 DANCING ATTHE HOP, ROMEO AND JULIET, Op. 17; MINUET MOZARTEUMS, BERNHARD PAUM· Bobby Vinton (A Young Man with a OF TH E WI LL 0' TH E WISPS; DANCE OF GARTNER, Conductor. Big Band) THE SYLPHS; RAKOCZY MARCH from LF 18000 MALE CHORUSES FROM LN 3728 A TRIBUTE TO CHUCK WILLIS. THE DAMNATION OF FAUST, Op. 24/ GERMANY-Volume I, Various Artists LN 3730 ANYONE CAN PLAY THE MENDELSSOHN: CALM SEA AND LF 18001 EDELWEISS (Bits of Bavaria) HARMONICA, Alan Schackner PROSPEROUS VOYAGE-Overture, Op. Die Kollmannsberger, Alois Mosbacher ® "Epic", Marco Reg. "CB S" T. M. Ptinted In U. 9. A. SE PT EMBER 1 96 0 85 signs of having succumbed to the routine discs of the Library of Recorded Master the Wagner repertoire. These perform that sometimes clings to a work that has pieces. The beautifully printed Ricordi ances do little to enliven or illuminate the had more than 2000 performances in edition of the miniature score of every music and they are not helped by the Prague since its premiere in 1866. The single work on each disc is bound into pinched sound provided by the engineers. voices are uniformly good and have plenty the album. Moreover, we are supplied The one interesting aspect of the disc of individuality of character for dramatic with scholarly notes about each work by is Dorati's refusal to tack the usual con purposes-the sweet daughter, the foolish Joseph Braunstein. Even without these cert ending onto the finish of the Act III stuttering half-wit, the pompous marriage features, however, the records would be Lohengrin Prelude. Instead, he has the broker, the youthful and passionate young highly commendable-if only for their orchestra proceed into the opening bars lover, Jenik. The chorus work is likewise musical content and the fine quality of of the Bridal Procession, which follows full of pep and is nicely spread out over performance. The orchestra is of high immediately in the opera, and then come the stage for stereo. quality, and the direction is stylistically to a cadence in the middle of the first A prime moment in this particular apposite. In addition, each of the many phrase. It's different-and effective. M. B. stereo recording is the entrance of the soloists is a thoroughly skilled performer, travelling players with their little band so that these discs contain throughout a WIDOR: Organ Symphonies (see p. 88) (right-to -center), the pitchman delivering wealth of fine playing. £.. WOLF: 23 Songs from the Spanisches his spiel in rapid-fire Czech, and then The releases of the Library of Recorded Liederbuch-Nun bin ich dein; Die du Gott after the famous Dance of the Comedians, Masterpieces are available by subscription gebarst; Nun wandre, Maria; Fiihr' mich, the exit-left. through the mails. The address is 150 Kind; Ach, des Knaben Augen; Ach, wie lang Recorded sound in stereo is crisp West 82nd Street, New York 24, N. Y. die See Ie, Herr, was tragt der Boden; Selt and clean for the most part, with just a sam ist Juanas Weise; Treibe nur mit Lieben The Columbia disc is produced in more Spott; Auf dem griinen Balkon; Und schlafst trace of overloaded grooves on occasion, conventional fashion. Here, too, the play du, mein Madchen; Wenn du zu den Blumen and sometimes a slight lack of bass; but ing is of a high order. The forces em gehst; Wer sein holdes Lieb verloren; Ich these are very minor considerations in ployed in the Columbia disc seem slightly fuhr iiber Meer: Deine Mutter, siisses Kind; view of the fine production as a whole and larger than those used in the LRM rec Herz, verzage nicht geschwind; Ach, im the sheer pleasure of Smetana's music. ords. In addition, the Philharmonic seems Maien war's; Aile gingen, Herz. zur Ruh; Chalabala does an absolutely topnotch to be recorded in a more spacious studio. Dereinst, dereinst; Blindes Schauen; Komm', conducting job and gets suitable coopera The New York Sinfonietta, on the other o Tod; Tief im Herzen; Da nur Leid und Leidenschaft. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bari tion from his orchestra. The famous Over hand, has a slightly greater definition of tone) with Gerald Moore (piano). Angel ture-always a virtuoso test piece-quite the various parts, without in any way sug S 35838 $5.98 takes the breath away on first hearing! gesting a dry, "studio" sound. All the Artia's album includes good notes and discs are very well recorded, and there is £. /). WOLF: 17 Songs from the Span full Czech-English libretto. D. H. no duplication of musical material. isches Liederbuch-Wunden tragst du; Die ihr schwebt; Die du Gott gebarst; Ach, des The D Minor Oboe Concerto on the Knaben Augen; Ach, wie lang du Seele; £. /). VIVALDI: Concerto in C Major Columbia record was also performed in a Mlihvoll komm ich; Nun bin ich dein; Herr, (tomo 54) for two flutes, two oboes, two now deleted Westminster release of some was tragt der Boden; Bedeckt mich mit clarinets, bassoon, two violins, strings and years back, by the Nouvel Orchestra de Blumen; Komm, 0 Tod; In dem Schatten harpsichord; Concerto in E Major (tomo 161) meiner Locken; Aile gingen, Herz, zur Ruh; for strings and harpsichord; Concerto in D Chambre de Paris, conducted by Andre Geh, Geliebter; Sie blasen zum Abmarsch; Minor (tomo 19~) for viola d'amore, strings Jouve. Comparison reveals that where Jouve tends towards a more incisive ap Wer sein holdes Lieb verloren; Sagt, seid ihr and harpsichord; Concerto in A Minor es; Treibe nur mir Lieben Spott; Mogen aile (tomo 152) for piccolo, strings and harpsi proach, Bernstein leans towards a more bosen Zungen. I rmgard Seefried (soprano). chord. The New - York Sinfonietta. Max lyrical interpretation. Jouve takes the Eberha rd Waechter l baritone \ with Eri~ Goberman. condo Library of Recorded outer movements faster and with more Werba I piano). Deutsche Grammophon Masterpieces. Vol. I, No. 3 Stereo and "bite"; Bernstein's slow movement rises to SLPM 138059 $6.98; Mono LPM 18591 $5.98 Mono with Score $8.50 (by mail order only) greater heights of lyricism. D. R. Intere~t: Psychological art-song £. /). VIVALDI: Concerto in C Major, WAGNER: Die Gotterdammerung Performa nee: Fischer-Dieskau, great! (tomo 10) for two oboes, two clarinets, £. Siegfried's Rhine Journey and Funeral Mu Recordings: Both good strings c:nd harpsichord; Sonata in F Major, sic; Tannhauser-Overture; Die Meister Stereo Directionality: Needless, but there (tomo 57), for two violins and figured bass; singer-Prelude. Philharmonia Orch., Wolf Stereo Depth: Good Concerto in A Major, (tomo 8) for strings gang Sawallisch condo Angel S 35755 $5.98 These two LPs contain between them and harpsichord; Sonata 10 quattro in E-flat Major, (tomo 21) for two violins, viola and 32 out of the 44 settings made by Hugo Interest: Wagner for Orchestras Wolf from the volume of Spanish folk figured bass; Concerto in D Major, (tomo Performances: Expert 62) for two violins, lute and figured bass. Recordings: Excellent poetry translated into German by Eman Same performers. Library of Recorded Stereo Directionality: Good uel Geibel and Paul Heyse. More than Masterpieces. Vol. 1_ No.4. Stereo and • Stereo Depth: Fine half of these songs were composed during Mono $8.50 (by mail order only). IN.B. the last two months of 1889, while most These are wonderful performances, testi The "tomo" numbers given above are the of the remainder were done in March and numbers in the Ricordi scores.) fying to young Mr. Sawallisch's flair as a April of the following year-an average Wagnerian. The opening of the Meister £. /). VIVALDI: Concerto in D Minor of one song every third day, and almost singer Prelude could use a bolder, mQre for oboe, strings and cembalo, Op. 8, No. all masterpieces! 9; Concerto in C Major for Diverse Instru vigorous approach. Otherwise these read Here are rueful portraits of hapless ments (with mandolins) Op_ 64, No.6; Con ings are secure and solid, ~ith great lovers (Wer seill holdes Lieb verloren), certo in C Minor for flute, strings and cem weight and strength to Wagner's impos of dialogues between Christ and sinner balo, Op. 44, No. 19; Concerto in C Major ing orchestral sonorities. The Philhar for piccolo, strings and cembalo, Op. 44, (Herr, was triigt der Boden). of perverse monic Orchestra plays beautifully and is No. II. The New York Philharmonic. Leon maidens (Seltsam ist Juanas Weise), of the recorded magnificently. M. B. ard Bernstein condo Columbia MS 6131 Christ-child at Bethlehem (Ach, des Kna $5.98. I N.B. The Opus numbers listed for bell Augen sind). Each has been deline the Columbia record are those assigned by £. /). WAGNER: Tannhauser-Overture -Marco Rinaldi.) and Venusberg Music; Lohengrin-Prelude ated by Wolf with unerring power, inten to Act III; Tristan and Isolde-Prelude and sity, wit, irony and occasional gaiety. As Interest: Vivaldi specials . Love Death. London Symphony Orchestra, Performances: All exemplary song compos~r, Wolf cannot be equated Antal Dorati condo Mercury SR 90234 $5.98; with any of the German or Austrian ro Recording: Both excellent Mono MG 50234 $4.98 Stereo Directionality: Fine mantic masters such as Schubert, Schu Stereo Depth: OK Interest: Staple Wagner mann, or Brahms. It is to the Russian, I must confess that I am always impressed Performance: Routine Moussorgsky, that we must turn. -and grateful-whenever a record com Recording: Pinched in sound To sing Wolf requires not merely mu· pany goes to the trouble of supplying the Stereo Directionality: OK sicianship, but a keen sense of psychologi complete score with a recording. This is Stereo Depth: Adequate cal drama and how to communicate it the case with the admirably produced Dorati lacks Sawallisch's natural flair for fully, yet within the bounds of taste. 86 Hi Fi/ STEREO If you listen to the critics • • • you'll list en to STEREOby ;tiNDON ® CLASSICAL SUGGESTIONS MUSIC OF WEBER, DE FALLA AND Wagner, D~S RHEINGOLD-Highlights - Puccin;, LA BOHEME-Complete Verdi, AIDA-Highlights RAVEL DIE WALKURE, Act II-Highlights Renata Teboldi; Carlo Bergonzi; Ettore Renata Tebaldi; Carlo Bergonzi; GiuH .. Raval, BOLERO; ALBORADO DEL GRA Kirsten Flagslad George London; Se t Bo stianini; Cesare Siepi; Fernando Co· etla Simionato; Cornell MacNeil and CIOSO Svonholm; 0110 Edelmann and others (ena and other soloists with Chorus and other soloists with 5ingverein der Gesell· De Falla, THREE CORNERED HAT with Vienna Phil. Orch.-Georg Solti. Orchestra o f l'Accademia di Santo Ce· schott der Musikfreunde and The Vienna (Three Donees) OS 25 126 cilia, Rome, condo by Tullio Serafin. Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Weber, INVITATION TO THE DANCE Gilbert & Sullivan, (2 records) OSA 120B Herbert Von Karajan. OS 25206 Paris Conservatory Orchestra - Albert H.M.S. PINAFORE-Complete Delibes, COPPELIA AND SYLVIA SUITES Beethoven: Wolff CS 6077 D'Oyly Corte Opera Co. and New Sym - Highlights. L'Orchestre de 10 Suisse PIANO CONCERTO No, 5 "Emperor" phony Orchestra condo by Isido re Godfrey Romonde-Ernest Ansermel CS 6185 Wilhelm Backhaus-Vienna Philharmonic Ravel, DAPHNIS ET CHLOE-Comp leta (2 records) OSA 1209 Moussorgsky: Orch. Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt CS 6156 Chorus of Th e Royal Opera House. COy· Beethoven: PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION Brahms: ent Garden and London Symphony Orch SYMPHONY No.3 IN E FLAT "Eroica" lisz!, THE HUNS-Symphonic Poem PIANO CONCERTO No.1 IN D MINOR estra conducted by Pierre Monteux Vi e nna Philharmonic Orchestra - Georg L'Orchestre de 10 Suisse Ramande Ju lius Ketchen-London Symphony arches· CS 6147 Solli CS 6145 Ern est Ansermat CS 6177 tra-Pierre Monteux, CS 6151 POPULAR SUGGESTIONS FRIML AND ROMBERG IN CUBAN IN A MONASTERY GARDEN AROUND THE WOR LD WITH THE HOLLYWOOD ALMANAC MCDONLIGHT (Th e Immortal Works of Ketelbey). Th e GRENADIER GUARDS Fronk Chacksfield and His Orchestra, The Stanley Block, Piano, with latin Ameri New Symphony Orchestra of London Bond of The Grenadier Guards. Colonel Continental; Lullaby 01 Broadway; The can Rhythms . Friml , Sympathy; Love Ever Robert Sharp les . In A Monostery Gorden; Boge y; Can Can; Carmen (Prelude); Way You Look Tonight; Sweet Leilani; las ti ng; Indian Love Coli; others. Rom Wedgewood Blue; In A Chinese Temple Waltzing Mali/da; Seventy Six Tram.. Thanks For The Memory; others. berg: Romance; Wonting You; One Kiss; Garden; Sanctuary Of The Heart; 'Appy bones; When The Saints Go Marching In ; (2 records ) PSA 3201 Lover, Come Back To Me; others. PS 191 'Amstead; others. PS 186 It's A Long Way To Tipperary; others. PS 180 OPERETTA MEMOR IES SONGS TO REMEMBER MY VERY GOOD FRIENDS OLD HEIDELBERG Montovoni and His Orchestra. " Die FIe· Montovani and His Orchestra. With These THE BANDLEADERS Will Glahe'and His Orchestra with Choir. dermaus" Overture; Waltzes from "Gypsy Hands; Faraway Places; A Very Precious Ted Heath and His Music. Sing Sing Sfn9; Freu, euch des lebens; Schon ist die Love," "The Merry Widow" and "The Love; Jamaica Farewell; Tend erly; Blue When It' s Sleepy Time Down South; Jugend; Dos Wondern ist des Multers Gypsy Princess"; others, PS 202 Star; Gigi; When I Fall In Love; others. You're Driving Me Crazy (What Can , Lust; 1m grunen Wold. do wo die Drossel Do ?); One O 'Clock Jump; others. PS 174 singt; others. PS 150 PS 193 THE AMERICAN SCENE DANCING WITH ROS THE SOUND OF MUSIC FI LM ENCORES-Vol. 2 Montoveni and Hi s Orchestra. The Music Edmundo Ros and His Orchestra. Magic Edmundo Ros and Hi s Orchestra. The Montavon; and His Orchestra of Stephen Foster, My Old Kentuck y Is The Moonlight; Cuban Love Song; Sound 01 Music (Cha Cha Chol ; An Th e High And The Mighty; A Certain Hom e;. Camptown Races; I Dream 01 Brazil; Toku ; Lua Do Brazil; Te Quiero Y Ordinory Couple (Mambo); Maria (Schot Smile; Friendly Persuasion; Whatever Jeon ie; others. The Music of 19th Century Ole; Tony's Cha Cha Cho; Poo Pao Cha fishJ; Edelweiss (Merenquel; .others. Will Be , Will Be; (Que Sera, Sera); America: Home On The Range; Yellow Cha Chao Divino Mujer; others. PS 205 PS 19B Tammy; Be My Love; others. PS 164 Rose 01 Texas; others. PS 182 ffss /i~!!.PN To toke luJt advantage of the remarkable technical excellence of flss records. we q y p recommend the new London·Scolt stereo· phonic Pickup and Arm , Write for free complete catalog. Dept. AR, 539 W. 25th St., N.Y.C. SEPTEMBER 1960 87 This Dietrich Fisch er-Dieskau d oes su A !:::. DUPRE AT SAINT-SULPICE, Vol. pho ny orchestra. H e wrote ten symphonies p erla tively well throughout the whole 2. Dupre: Variations sur un Noel; Carillon; for the gra nd organ , a nd each is a large of his Angel disc (the contents are iden Cortege et Litani e; Lamento; Final. Ma rcel scale, multi-movement composition. H e Dup re (organ). Mercury SR 90229 $5.98; tical with those of Electrola 90922). Ger was a serio us composer a nd h e did not Mono MG 50229 $4.98 ald Moore's accompaniments are wholly consider these symp honies m ere show worthy o f songs and singer and the re f::, WIDOR: Symphonies No.5 in F Minor, pieces. Dupre's r endition of the relatively corded sound is lovely. Full tex ts a nd Op. 42, No. I; No.9 in C Minor, Op. 70 popular Fifth offers favorable testimony to E nglish tra nslations are included . T he ("Gothique"). Marcel Dup re (organ). the composer's musical integrity, and in DGG disc unha ppily achieves no com Westminster XWN 18871 $4.98 the more reserved Tenth, t here is further pa ra ble success, though the sound as such Interest: Music for the Romantic organ confirma tion of this. It is unfortunate is good . H err ,"Vaechte r sings well a nd Performance: Authoritative that the third of the fi ve movemen ts of tastefully, but nowhere ma tches the m as Recordin g : Wesminster mellow; Mercury the Fifth Symphony is omitted here; the terful subtlety o f Fische r-Dieskau. Frau brilliant performance of the other movements is as Secfried brings off the lively songs to gen Stereo Di rectiona lity: Adequate authorita tive as we are likely to hear. Stereo Depth : Very, good erally pleasing advantage, but is hampered Dupre's own music r a nges widely in much of the time by a non vibrato de The grand organ of the R oma ntic p eriod emotion and effect. H e is at once the livery iilappropriate to WolE. in music was the organ-maker's answer to scholarly student of the Old Masters, the I ncomprehensi ble is the decision to do the orchestra of Richard Wagner a nd his devout Catholic, and the virtuoso per such " d ialogue" songs as H err, was tragt followers. It is the epitome of gigantism, former. The Stations of the Cross is a der Boden hie1' as actual dialogues rather an awesome instrument which permits a monumental composition. 'Written in 1932, tha n imaginary ones between Christ a nd single performer to assume the role of it is based on a series of improvisa ti ons the sinner. To hea r Fischer-Dieska u do Earth-Shaker. which Dupre played as interludes during this magnificent song solo is to understand Altho ugh man y huge organs are in use a reading of the fourteen poems of Le the d iiference between great a rt and some today, contempora ry taste has relegated Chem.in de La Croix by Paul Cla ude!. thing perilously close to gimmickry. The Illuch of the music which their size in· Dupre's musical commentaries a re by DGG album includes German text only spired to a lesser level of a ppreciation, and turns intense, dra ma tic, imaginative, re and no program no tes, t hereby limiting its only a little o f it is taken seriously. Fra nck signed and exalted. interest to those solidly conversant with wrote some beautiful music for this type In his Me rcury progra m, Dupre's music the German tongue. D . H. of organ, primarily because h e was a great is colorful, witty, tuneful, and always p ro composer and knew how to use the instru fessional. H owever, these pieces do no t COLLECTIONS ment as a medium of expressi on. He did have nearly th e intensi ty or significance !:::. DUPRE: Le Chemin de la Croix (The not overlook its power potential, but h e of the "Stations." Stations of the Cross) . Marcel Du pre (or also r emembered its ability to sing se The Me rcury recordings are magnificent ga n) . Westminster XWN 18911> $4.98 renely a nd hauntingly. The three compo reproductions of ideal cathedral-style or sitions offered as Volume 3 of Dupre's gan sound. It is big', billowing a nd excit DUPRE AT SAINT-SULPICE, Vol. 3. A ing. T he abse'lce of blurring, even in the Franck: Grande Piece symphonique; Fantaisie Mercury series a re impressive a nd moving. in A Major; Pastorale. Marcel Dup re (o r Charles-Mar ie Widor (1844-1937) looked mona ural, is a tribute to the musical skill ga n )'. Mercury SR 90228 $5.98 upon the organ as the p eer of the sy m- of the p erformer and t he electronic skill of the engineers. The "Vestminster sou nd is not as bright as the Mercury. I t is wa rmer and less spectacula r, but it, lOO, has merit. A nd for t hose who understand endowed with uncanny intelligence ... the techniques and subtleties of orga n playing, the ' ,Vestminster liner notes p ro vide a list of the registra tions which Dupre employs in his p erfo rma nces. Even .. in print, they a re impressive. W. D . !:::. THE ART OF FRITZ KREISLER. KREISLER: Rondino on a Theme by Be e thoven; DEBUSSY-HARTMANN: La fille aux cheveux de lin; ALBENIZ-KREISLER: Tango; Malaguefia; FALLA-KREISLER: La Vida Breve-Danse Espagnole; FALLA-KOCHAN SKI: Cancion Populare; DEBUSSY : En Ba teau; DVORAK-KREISLER: Songs My Moth er Taught Me; Slavonic Dances, Op. 41>, No. 2 and Op. 72, No.8; Indian Lament. Fritz Kreisle r (vio li n) and Ca rl La mson (piano). Camden CAL 518 $1.98 1 In terest: Supreme violinist I I Pe rform an ce : Elegant I'. Record in g : Good I The artistry of Fritz Kreisler n eeds no en co miums; it h as been admitted since the beginning of this century. His elegan ce of style a nd wa rmth of tone endeared hi m to all who ever h eard him. T his Camden program sets forth the Kreisler ma nner Handles your records gently with all the care in the short pieces which were so poten t .*GENTLY AUTOMATIC* you would want them to receive. Superb per an element in his communicatio n with the formance of stereo and monophonic records, audiences tha t a ttended his recitals. H e .G LASER * STEERS World's only record changer with 'turntable plays them with infinite charm and refin e pause.' $59.50 (less cartridge and base) _ At m ent, a nd with a n inte rpretive h eedom your hi-fi dealer or write for brochure. Dept. HFR-9 that is decidedly of the p ast. T he dub bing from old 78's is highly su ccessful and GS*77 Glaser-Steers Corp., 155 Oraton Street, Newark 4, N. J. this r ecord is a wo rthy m emento of a risto A Subsidiary of American.Machine 'and Metals Inc. cratic interpre tive individualism. W. D . 88 HiFi/STEREO The Sound ... September ... of Genius BRUNO WALTER, custodian of the true Brahms tradition1 shepherds his f6ur symphonies into the age of stereo with a set of definitive performances .. : accompanying the records is a twelve· page retrospective portfolio lovingly ... of Revolution authored by his daughter Lotte. M4L 252/ M4S GI5/ 0RCHESTRAL MUSIC of Brahms/Bruno Walter/Columbia The fiery days of our young Re Symphony public are re-created in"The American Walter's benign but authoritative hand is further evident Revolution" ... a 62-page book-cum in a joyous alliance with virtuoso violinist ZINO FRANCES record, living history in music, gazettes CATTI and cellist PIERRE FOURNIER in the BRAHMS and other 1776 calls-to-ar:ms chron DOUBLE CONCERTO ..• Finally, the melding of Walter's icled by historians Arthur Schlesinger octogenarian wisdom and the youthful ardor of pianist Sr. and Marshall Davidson, composer EUGENE ISTOMIN in the SCHUMANN CONCERTO; its felici Richard Bales. Unexpectedly moving tous companion piece is CHOPIN'S PIANO CONCERTO #2 - poet Robert Graves' evocation of the Loyalist point . IN F MINOR, with EUGENE ORMANDY and the PHILADEL· of view and painter Larry Rivers' contemporary im PHIA ORCHESTRA. pression of "George Washington crossing the Delaware." ML 5493/ MS 6158/ BRAHMS , Double Concerto; Tragic Overture/ Francescatti, Fournier, Walter/ Columbia Symphony . LL 1001/ LS 1002/ REVOLUTION / Richard Bales • ML 5494/ MS 6159/ CHOPIN / SCHUMANN , Piano Concertos/ lstom'in, Ormandy , Walter/Columbia Symphony "CARMINA BURANA" - the rakish Organist E. Power Biggs dusts off further early Ameri lyrics of medieval poets resound lustily cana ... the triumphant results of an odyssey with tape in CARL ORFF'S musical melee ... THE recorder amidst a'ntique organs still reverberant with quaint but unfaded sounds. PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA and EUGENE ORMANDY are joined by equally impas· ML 5496/ MS 6161/THE ORGAN IN AMERICA/E. Power Biggs sioned vocal forces. ML 5498/MS 6163/0RFF, Carmina Burana/ Philadelphia/Ormandy . .. of Uncommon Excitement RUDOLF SERKIN devotes himself to BRAHMS' SECOND PIANO CONCERTO in a majestic collaboration with Or mandy and the Philadephia forces. Russian virtuoso DAVID OISTRAKH, also allied with Ormandy, whirls like Johnny Mathis navigates the starlit a dervish through the SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO. world of Broadway with a searching ML 5491 / MS 6156/ BRAHMS, Piano Concerto No, 2/Serkin, Philadelphia Orch.! voice ... astringent for rhythms, Ormandy smoothest balm for ballads. ML 5492/ MS Gi57/SIBELlUS, Violin Concerto in 0 Minor; Swan of Tuonela/ Oistrakh, Philadelphia/ Ormandy C2L 17/C2S 803/THE RHYTHMS AND BALLADS OF BROADWAY/Johnny Mathis THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR, three hundred and Academy Award·winning composer·conductor Andre fifty voices soaring as one, proclaims its faith in "A Previn is the dashing and fleet·fingered soloist in a MIGHTY FORTRESS." new recording of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," ML 5497/MS 6162/ A MIGHTY FORTRESS / Mormon Tabernacle Choir knowingly conducted by Andre Kostelanetz. BERNSTEIN'S first Beethoven sym CL 1495/ CS 8286/GERSHWIN RHAPSODY IN BLUE/CONCERTO IN F/Andre phony recording-it's the Seventh Kostelanetz and Orch. and Andre Previn, Piano with cleanly-etched, vigorous heroics ... Percy Faith fashions artful new scaffolding for favored also new, his affectionate reading of the standards of the "Jealousy" genre ... Ray Conniff de· Second Symphony by Charles Ives livers a Latin·accented, infectious message-"Say It (1874-1954) a redoubtable Yankee With Music" ... The way West is sign posted by Nor· iconoclast. '.. footnoted with a six-page man Luboff and vocal company. picture memoir, including explorations of his Connecti CL 150l/CS 8292/ JEALOUSY / Percy Faith and Orch. cut cottage still crammed with memorabilia.,.....- even his CL 1490/CS 8282/SAY IT WITH MUSIC/Ray Conniff and His Orchestra and Chorus Class of '98, Yale, baseball cap. CL 1487/CS 8278/ S0NGS OF THE COWBOY/Norman Luboff Choir Ml 5438/ MS 6112/ BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 7/N.Y. Philharmonic/Bernstein Kl 5489/KS GI55/ IVES, Symphony No. 2/N.Y. Philharmonic/Bernstein @ "Columbia" , "Masterworks".@. ~ Marca sRe g. Printed in U. S. A. ... always on COLUMBIAmRECORD~ SEPTEMBER 1960 BE OUR GUEST (Continued t ram page 68) Stereo Directionality: Reasonable Stereo Depth: Will bridge the gap Bohuslav Martinu, a native Czechoslo vakian, died last year at the age of 69, having lived eventfully in various parts of the world. His Douhle Concerto, by his own estimate his best work, was written in 1940 in Czechoslovakia in the face of the advancing armies of the Third Reich. It is said to portray the tensions of the Czechs as they faced the Nazis. The Czech Philharmonic under Karel Sejna, with " two string orchestras," gives vent to the composition with great tidal chords of sound, not nearly so dissonant as one would expect from music of this period. The stereo recording reveals the true promise of stereo for big orchestra tions. The mono record has the same music but stereo is preferable. Three Frescoes (or Fresques) was writ ten in 1955. This is a sort of Pictures at the Exhibition at the Church, as the com poser evokes musical thoughts on view ing three paintings in a church in Arezzo. His thoughts were pretty violent. The big orchestra under Karel Ancerl thrashes through a double battle in the third painting. Martinu lived in the U. S. dur ing the war and finally moved to Switzer land where he wrote the Frescoes. Both compositions offer music worth putting ears to. They do not deserve the stamp of "modern music" used in a de· rogatory sense. Artia has done a worth while job and I think serious music lis· teners will respond. The record surface is good; the recording level is high;·and the recording is happily free from the un pleasant edge or bite often found on discs recorded abroad. J. R. C. ... DAKOTA STATON SINGS BALLADS Specially priced two-~ecord album by America's favorite symphony AND THE BLUES. Dakota Staton with Sid orchestra with renowned conductors, soloists, and chorus. Feller and Eddie Wilcox. Someone To Watch O ver Me; I'll Know; Time Was; Romance In The Dark & 8 others. Capitol St 1387 $4.98 Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra; conductors Newman, Rozsa, Dragon, Interest: Mild and Slatkin; pianist Leonard Pennario, violinist Michael Rabin, and the Performance: Varied Recording: OK Roger Wagner Chorale ... all in one wonderful album! Stereo Directionality: Much Warsaw Concerto, 1812 Overture, Chorus from Carmen, Sabre Dance, and Stereo Depth: Good Waltz of the Flowers are among the 17 favorite concert showpieces in Capi. The title of this record, Ballads And The Blues, is a redundancy, since everYlhing tol's "This Is The Hollywood Bowl!" is blue here. I would be too if I had a This deluxe album includes two long-playing records five-spot invested in this disc. In four numbers, Miss Staton is accom and an illustrated booklet. Price (optional with dealer) panied by Sid Feller's strings and harp is only $7.98 in monophonic version (ABO 8496), who leave her pretty much to herself and $9.98 in Full Dimensional Stereo (SABO 8496). these pieces come off fairly well. In the others, Eddie Wilcox's band mixes it up, •• and it gets hard to tell the Indians from The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, famed for its "Symphonies Under the Chief. Wilcox starts off with a few good bars which sound real cool, but just the Stars," has recorded 30 Capitol albums in spacious, thrilling high fidelity. about then Staton jumps in and it's nip The varied list includes 25 albums available in stereo, such as these: and tuck for two or three minutes as to whether she will survive. Love Scenes (Puccini) •... Alfred Newman, condo •••..••••..••••••••••••••. SP 8516 My favorite record dealer says that Da· The Magic Bow .•••••••••.. Felix Slatkin, condo .. Michael Rabin, violin ..••. SP 8~10 kota's mono effort of a couple of years Sabre Dance ••••••..•...• Alfred Newman, condo. •.•••. •. •. •.••• ...... ••••• SP 8503 back, Late Late Show, was happily re Rhapsody Under the Stars •.• Miklos Rozsa, condo •. Leonard Pennario, piano . • SP 8494 ceived. The present disc is the most recent Starlight Waltzes .•••••••••• . Felix Slatkin, cond.· •...... ••...... •••• SP 8456 of several sequels. There's a lot of compe Starlight Chorale •••••••••• Roger Wagner, condo .. Roger Wagner Chorale .... SP 8390 tition in this area, and anyone who has Chopin by Starlight ...•.•. Carmen Dragon, condo ...... • .•...... •. SP 8371 read this far can think of the names of Concertos Under the Stars .. Carmen Dragon, condo • . Leonard Pennario, piano •• SP 8326 three or four singers with as much or Stereo album numbers are shown. To order mono, omit "8". more talent. J. R. C. • 90 HiFi/ ST EREO , Reviewed by BEST OF THE MONTH RALPH .... GLEASON NAT HENTOFF /::, Records reviewed in this section are both Time Records continues to roll "1"1• M a:: stereo and monophonic. Versions received up a remarkable "discs of for review are identified by closed ( Ji.J and open (l::,.) triangles respectively. All rec distinction" score with its ords are 33% rpm and should be played Jazz Contemporary LP featur with the RIAA amplifier setting or its ing trumpeter Kenny Dorham. equivalent_ Monophonic recordings (l::,.) may be played also on stereo equipment " ... Dorham is a consistently with resulting improvement in sound dis thoughtful player with a mellow tribution quality. Stereo recordings (1.'). tone and an unusually flowing however, must not be played on monophonic phonographs and hi-fi systems. beat . . . one of the more restful yet absorbing albums of the year .. " .... (see p. 92) l::,. THEM DIRTY BLUES - THE CAN NONBALL ADDERLEY QUINTET. Ea sy Living; Soon; Th em Dirty Blues & 4 others. Riverside RLP 12-322 $4.98 Interest: Full-bodied modern jazz Columbia's• Duke Ellington Performance: Loose but cohesive pursues his urbane way as one Recording: Good of the infallible great masters Like the previous Adderley album (The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San hall with Blues In Orbit, an albuIp cisco, stereo 1157, mono 12-311), this is a "that has the feel of an after program based heavily on blues feeling hours session . . . contains even when the songs themselves are not blues. The remarkable sales success of several of the most impassioned the preceding volume was due lilrgely ensemble passages in to the neo-gospel jazz it contained, and recent Ellington history." there's another of the same kind here Bobby Timmons' Dat Dere. (see p. 92) The program is refreshingly varied, h owever, with Nat Adderley's W01·/t Song; standards; and a couple of invigorating, melodic originals such as Duke Pearson's Jeannine. There is also a superior blues performance, particularly a so lo by the /::, leader, in the album's title tune. Camden's Singin' The Blues at Adderley has succeeded in building' a band that is well integrated without being $1.98 "is the bargain of the stiff. The overall looseness is not allowed month . . . one of the very best to decline into sloppiness. Cannonball has collections of blues singing in become an authoritative soloist and his brother, Nat, has. a quick, musical mind the catalogs ... from Jimmy and plays with slicing intensity. The group Rushing, Billy Eckstine, Fats represents the best of the neo-orthodo) Waller, Louis Armstrong, position now taken by many jazz players It is not as stubbornly searching, for ex Leadbelly . . . a necessity if ample, as that of Ornette Coleman but i you want to know anything also avoids the slickness of the Art Farmer about where popular Benny Golson Jazztet. N. H. music today came from." .A TRANSFIGURATION OF HIRAM (see p. 96) BROWN-MOSE ALLISON TRIO. Love 91 SEPTEMBER 1960 For Sale; How little We Know; 'Deed I Do; Interest: Uneven ate new patterns and pathways of jazz Make Yourself Comfortable & 2 others. Co Performance: Mostly for Carter music in the future. They may do so suc lumbia CS 8240 $4.98 Recording: Good cessfully; they have certainly made an Stereo Directionality: OK interesting beginning. The tunes are all Interest: limited Stereo Depth: Competent compositions of Coleman and, since we Performance: OK Recording: Excellent The basic flaw in this album is the pair have not heard them before, we cannot Stereo Directionality: Good ing of Schaefer and Carter. The latter is a judge the performance except in terms of Stereo Depth : Good superlative player who constructs solos that emotional impact, which is, occasionally are sweepingly lyrical and organically logi electrifying. Whether or not this young Allison is a young pianist from the South man will have the cosmic effect on his peer who plays and sings blues in what is a sec cal. Schaefer is an over·busy pianist with a brittle beat and poor taste. The first side group that some think, only time will tell. ond-remove authentic manner reminiscent Meanwhile, his music is interesting as ex of the traditional Dixieland musicians' is the most expendable because it was ar ranged (Can-Can songs) by Schaefer. Car· perimentation, sometimes moving as emo efforts vis-a·vis early jazz. Here he plays tional expreSsion, and harsh in overall (with good accompaniment from bass and ter's arrangements of tunes from Anything sound and conception, for all its freedom. drums) a "suite" of his own compositions Goes on the second side, though not among The slight sounding trumpet which im which is programmatic in the extreme and his best, are much less gimmicked than provises with Coleman's alto sax is played rather shallow. He also sings a blues and Schaefer's. Even Schaefer plays somewhat by Don Cherry and is what he calls a on the reverse a pop song and a blues. It better on the second side. The album is "pocket trumpet." On two of the numbers, is pleasant in spots but really quite trivial worth hearing for Carter, but could have Ramblin' and Una muy Bonita, there is for all its pretentious packaging by Co been much more substantial with another an unusually strong spark of direct com lumbia. The voice is on the right, with the pianist - someone like Jimmy Rowles or munication in 'which even those with an drums and the piano in the center and Bill Evans. N. H. allergy to Coleman's music may well find bass on the left. R. J. G. /)" SONNY CLARK TRIO. My Concep sustenance. R. J. G. tion; Minor Meeting; Nica; Blues Mambo A LOUIS BELLSON SWINGS JULE & 4 others. Time 70010 $3.98 STYNE-Louis Bellson (drums) and Orches /)" JAZZ CONTEMPORARY - KENNY DORHAM - Kenny Dorham (trumpet). tra. Sunday; Bye Bye Baby; Just In Time; Interest: Good modern jazz Three Coins In The Fountain & 8 others. Charles Davis (baritone saxophone I. Jimmy Performance: With feeling Garrison or Butch Warren (bass). Steve Verve MG VS 6138 $5.98 Recording: Excellent Kuhn (piano). Buddy Enlow (drums). Monk's Interest: Good dance album Clark is one of the few young modern Mood; Tonica & 4 others. Time 52004 $4.98 Performance: Vigorous pianists who is consistently original Recording: Clean and clear Interest: A jazz man matures .. enough to sustain a whole LP of hi~ own Performance: Very relaxed Stereo Directionality: Very good work and' who plays this music as though Stereo Depth: Convincing Recording: Very good the entire style was being created right This is essentially a spirited dance set with here and now. He has, of course, excellent As Mark Reilly observes in his intelligent jazz solos and a prevailing jazz flavor. The accompaniment here from Max Roach on notes, this album underlines the impres· arrangements are relatively simple and drums and George Duvivier on bass. They sive maturity trumpeter Kenny Dorham depend very much on dynamics for their both have first-rate solo moments scat has achieved in the past couple of years. effect. (In fact, the sharply shifting dy tered throughout the album. Clark's own A prominent modernist since the mid namics levels are often too obviously tele tune My Conception is really handsome forties, Dorham has always been fleet but graphed). Bellson, a model of restraint composition and he plays it in a manner it took some years for him to work out a among drummer-leaders, is mostly content worthy of its title. R. J. G. clear style of his own. It took even longer to serve as the rhythmic center of the band for him to learn to avoid technical fire· and we are spared prolix solos. Why no /)" COOL HANDS - BUCK CLARKE works and concentrate instead on musical personnel listings? N. H. QUINTET. Ed's Blues; Cool Hands; 1'" expressivity. Now, Dorham is a consistent Remember April; Mil-Dy & 5 others. Offbeat ly thoughtful player with a mellow tone /)" CAB CALLOWAY-HI DE HI DE OJ 3003 $4.95 and an unusually flowing beat. He has HO. 1'/1 Be Around; The Jumpin' Jive; You developed particularly well in the direc Interest: Commercial jazz tion of long-lined lyricism, and the tone Rascal You; The Hi De Ho Man & 7 others. Performance: Good RCA Victor LPM 2021 $3.98 Record in g: First rate of the album as a whole is gentle without being vaguely sentimental. Interest: Nostalgic This is a nice album with a solid jazz Dorham's current band blends well in Performance: Fine orientation and an overall effect something Recording: Excellent temperament and technique. Baritone like Arthur Lyman without the bird calls saxophonist Warren plays his shaggy in These are new recordings of old Cab Cal but with the vibes, the congo drums and strument with flexibility and a capacity to loway hits which include his now-classic the gently swinging rhythm. It's quite well make it sing softly. Pianist Kuhn solos peformances of Kickin' the Gong A1"Ound, recorded and very pleasant \\;ithout being with ordered conception and proves one Minnie the Moocher, and The Jumpin' the sort of thing that will make a twosome does not have to hammer to swing. The Jive. In addition, there are several bal suddenly three-is-a·crowd. R. J. G. rhythm section is dependable. All in all, lads. The C~Iloway standards amount to this is one of the more restful and yet a pleasant reprise of the 20s and early A ORNETTE COLEMAN CHANGE absorbing albums of the year; and it 30s; his Louis Armstrong imitation on OF THE CENTURY. Ramblin'; F,ee; Fore marks Kenny Dorham's attainment of ma nl Be Glad When' You're Dead is good runner; Bird Food & 3 others. At/antic SD jor jazz stature. N. H . fun. But it is on his ballads, such as '1327 $5.98 Stormy Weather, that Calloway, always Interest: Avant-garde jazz A BLUES IN ORBIT-DUKE ELLING one of the best ballad singers of his gen· ,Performance: Emotional TON AND HIS AWARD WINNERS-Duke eration, really shines. They are excellent Recording: Excellent Ellington and his Orchestra. Sweet And tracks, well worth the whole LP. In fact, Stereo Directionality: Good Pungent; Blues In Blueprint & 9 others. Co this particular album 'is something of a Stereo Depth: Good lumbia CS 8241 $4.98 good buy for all. R.J. G. Coleman is the new jazz musician who has Interest: Still the best big band been causing such controversy. He was the Performance: Uninhibited A COLE PORTER'S CAN-CAN AND subject of an article by Bob Abel in last Recording: First-rate ANYTHING GOES - BENNY CARTER, month's HIFI/STEREo REVIEW. This album Stereo Directionality: Logical HAL SCHAEFER-Benny Carter (alto saxo Stereo Depth: Excellent phone), Hal Schaefer (piano) Gus Johnson is by far the best example of his work to (drums), Joe Benjamin or John Drew (bass), date and the only one from which this This is a particularly loose, swinging El Ted Sommer (percussion) or Teddy Charles listener can, derive any pleasure at all. lington album that has the feel of an (vibes). I Am In Love; You're The Top & 7 Coleman is one of the cadre of young jazz after-hours session. The tunes are rela others. United Artists UAS 6055 $4.98 men whose probing minds are set to cre- tively uncomplicated although Ellington 92 HiFi/ ST EREO It is an axiom in high fidelity that no single speaker is capable of ideally reproducing the entire musical range of a symphony orchestra. At least two speakers, each specifically designed to re , produce a part of the sound spectrum, are needed to do a really adequate job. ElECTRO-V ICE UlTRA-COMPACT SYSTEMS OFFER MORE THAN JUST BASS RESPONSE Ultra-compact systems are no exception to this rule. This is why two year's research went into the development of Electro-Voice's new ultra-compact line. In its tradition of providing the finest, Electro-Voice would not introduce a system in which only the bass speaker and enclosure had been engineered to the special requirements of the compact system. Each component within that enclosure had to be designed to make certain it was a perfect match to the other elements in the system. Laboratory measurements and exhaustive listening tests had to be coordinated and differences resolved. The result of these efforts can now be heard from the new Ley ton, Esquire 200, Regal 300, or Ro~al400. These speaker systems produce bass of astounding definition and solidity, clear undistorted treble, and remarkable brilliance in their upper ranges. One of the key factors in producing this purity of sound was the judicious choice of crossover points, restricting each of the specially designed speakers to cover only the range over which its performance is most perfect. In all models, for example, the crossover from woofer to mid-range occurs at 200 cycles per second. With this degree of specialization, all forms of distortion are held to the lowest levels possible. Operating below 200 cycles, the bass speaker is not required to reproduce any of the mid-range spectrum and can act as a true piston. The specially designed mid-range speaker can then be made to provide exceptionally flat response, with its level matched perfectly to that of the woofer. The very-high-frequency com pression driver faces only the necessity of adding "sparkle", and dispersing high-frequency sound throughout the room. The result is a clarity and definition of sound that can best be described as transparent - enabling, you to feel the deepest bass, marvel at the effortless clarity in the mid-range, and de light in the brilliant definition of the upper harmonics. Whether you intend to purchase a new high-fidelity speaker system now or later, _ we urge you to visit your Electro-Voice dealer for a demonstration of these remarkable instru Electro-Voice ultra-compact sys ments. You may also write directly to the factory for a tems start as low as $93_00 complete description of these new units. Ask for High-Fidelity Catalog No. 137. CONSUMER PRODUCTS DIVISION E'fem.)6,e~ INC. DEPARiMENi 90-F, BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN SEPTE M BER 1960 93 continues to prove that h e is a m aster at Jimmy Rowles is a pianist of refreshingly A YOU AND LEE-LEE KONITZ/ AR creating pungent, introspective, original resilient beat and wit. T he unidentified RANGEMENTS BY JIMMY GIUFFRE-Lee melodies. The m en in the band dig into guitarist must be Barney Kessel and he is Kon itz (alto sa xophone) with brass section the music with unified purpose and the at his best in this session. and rhythm. You're Driving Me Crazy; The More I See You & 6 others. Verve MG VS T he leader is the least appealing soloist. album contains several of the most impas 6131 $5.98 sioned ensemble passages in recent E lling Long recognized as an inordinately skillful ton history. The soloists are all good, with clarinetist, DeFranco i limited in warmth Interest: In triguing patterns outstanding work b y trombonist Booty and originality of ideas, and not all the Performa nce: Thoughtful '~T ood in the plunger tradition of the late sophistry of Leonard Feather's notes can Recordin g: Very good "Tricky Sam" Nanton; b y long underrated co nvince me otherwise. The " head" ar Stereo Directionality: W ell-balanced Stereo Depth: Competent trumpeter R ay Nance; by the seemingly rangements here are e~ltir el y pred ictable, ageless Johnny Hodges; by robust baritone but the solos are unhurJ"ied and conver The concept of supporting soloist Lee saxophonist Harry Carney; and of course sational. T he better side is the second Konitz WiLh a muted brass section sco red by the leader on piano. T his is an album where everyo ne stretches ont in Funky's in contrapun tal patterns is an arresting that bears up under many playings. N . H. Uncle and a ballad medley. N. H . one. Jimmy Gi uffre's arrangements are well designed and serve to complement A THE GUITAR ARTISTRY OF TAL A THE GREATEST TRUMPET OF THEM and stimulate Konitz. (None of the brass FARLOW-Tal Farlow (acoustic and electric ALL - THE DIZZY GILLESPIE OCTET men solo.) Konitz, as usua l, is absorbing guitar), Milt Hinton or Joe Benjamin or FEATURING BENNY GOLSON-Dizzy Gil to fo llow. He has a superior musical imag W endell Marshall (bass) , Dick Hyman lespie (trumpet) , Benny Golson (tenor saxo ina Li on and his work always merits atten (piano), Bobby Jaspar (flute, tenor saxo phone), Gigi Gryce (alto saxophone ), phone ) or Fra nk Wess (fl ute, tenor and alto He nry Coker (trombone), Pee-Wee Moore tion, particularly with regard to the logic saxophones), Osie Johnson (drums). The (baritone saxophone), Ray Bryant (piano), of his linear designs. I would have pre Man In My Li fe; Bl ue Fu nk & 5 others. Tommy Bryant (bass), Charlie Persip fen ·ed, however, more visceral drive on Verve MG VS 6143 $5.98 (drums) . Sea Breeze; A Night At Tony's & tbe part of both the brass and Mr. Konitz. Interest: Superior chamber jazz 6 others. Verve MG VS 6117 $5.98 Nonetheless, the album is worth auditing Perfo rmance: Warm rapport Interest: Very well prepared for Konitz's fine qua lities as a postgl·aduate Recording: Carefully balanced Performance: Dizzy is superb improviser. N. H . Stereo Directionality: OK Recording: Very good . Stereo Depth : Good Stereo Directionality: Good spread A MONTGOMERYLAND - W es Mont Tal Farlow is a major modern guitarist Stereo Depth: Fin e gomery (guitar) , Monk Montgomery (elec who seldom appeal·s in public any more Most of Dizzy Gillespie's small combo reo tric bass), Buddy Montgomery (piano), Pony Poindexter (alto saxophone) or Harold and is also recorded less and less fre cordings during the pas t couple of years Land (teno r sa xo phone), Louis Hayes or quently. Farlow's semi-retirement is a loss have been quite informal with minimal Tony Bazely (drums ). Monk's Shop; Far Wes since he is a remarkable, resourceful and arrangements. This is the best prepared & 6 others. Pacific Jazz Stereo-5 $4.98 thoughtful mu ician. His tone on electri c date he's headed since he led his last bi g gui tar is less edgy than that of m ost of band. Benny Golson and Gigi Gryce have I nterest: The Montgomerys' best yet his contemporaries. On severa!" numbers in contributed all but one of the ori ginals Performance: W es is excellent this set, he is h eard on record for the first here and scored them for a speciall y as Recording: Warm and round Stereo Directionality: Good time on acoustic guitar which he plays se mbled octet. T hey·ve provided a wel Stereo Depth : OK beau tifully. come showcase for the more lyri ca l as pects Farlow u ses th e acoustic guitar on three of Dizzy's style. Dizzy's sensitivity and the G uital·ist Wes Montgomery has been pro trio numbers with Bobby Jaspar and Milt fullness of open tone in Gigi Gryce's charm claimed by Riverside R ecords as a m ajor H inton. The other performances are al ingly nostalgic R eminiscing should, for ex "new" gui tarist, b ut his two Riverside al most as intimate and indicate that a sur ample, re-focus attention on the fact that bums as a leader have failed to substan prising amount of integration was achieved Dizzy is not only a great hot player but tiate. the advertising copy. On tbis Pacifi c in the studio among these musicians, who is also superipr in a softer context. J azz set, however, ,,yes indicates the reason do not play together regularly. I'd li ke Dizzy has most of the solo space, and h e so Ill any musicians have become enthusi to hear Farlow on th e road with the kind gets excell enL su pport. I would have pre astic about his work. On the Riverside a l of trio that he has in this album. N. H. fen-ed more variety of tempo and mood, bums, , ,yes' technical ease was eviden t, but as well as a fresher approach to so me of h ere one can also hear his unusual warmth A GENERALISSIMO-THE BUDDY De. the ensemble passages; but this is a very and a personal, fres h concepti on. His two FRANCO MEN - Buddy DeFranco (clari worthwhile album on the whole. N. H. brothers, Monk and Buddy, also p lay more net), Harry Edison (trumpet) , Bob Hard impressively h ere than on a n y of the previ away (tenor saxophone) , Jimmy Rowles A WOODY HERMAN'S BIG NEW ous Pacific Jazz albums they made while (piano) , Curtis Counce (bass) , Barney Kes HERD AT THE MONTEREY JAZZ FESTI. sel (guitar) , Alvin Stoller (drums) . Sunday; they were members of the now defunct VAL-Woody Herman (clarinet) and Or Mastersounds. Buddy plays piano instead Blue Lou; Yesterdays & 7 others. Verve MG chestra. Four Brothers; Skyl ark & 4 others. of his customal:y vibes, and his work is VS 6132 $5_98 Atlantic SD 1328 $5.98 Interest: One of DeFranco's best combos attractively spare. Perfo rmance: Contagiously relaxed Interest: Virile big band jazz On the fi rst side, altoist Pony Poindex Record ing: Crisp and clear Performance: Totally committed ter plays with a clarity of tone and ideas Stereo Directionality: Good Recordi ng: Adequate that indicate he should get more recording Stereo Depth: Tasteful Stereo Directionality: OK work. On the second side, the horn is tenor Stereo Depth : Uneven The title is a reference to the fact that saxophonist Harold Land who plays witb part of Buddy's last name is the same as This is the all-star band- that was assem out any of the occasional "overfun!;." that that of the man who rules Spain. As a re bled for 'Woody Herman at last fa ll 's Mon has made some of his performa nces too sult, this album is second in appalling terey Festival, the only jazz festiva l trusted predictab le. The " heads" on the ensem taste only to the Count Basie Roulette by jazz musicians. There are booting solos bles might have been more interesting, album that had a p icture of a nuclear by Zoot Sims, among others, and several but the al bum does generate mnch ex explosion on the cover. If anything musi flights by trombonist Urbie Green that re p ectancy as to h ow the new regular co mbo cal is wholly antithetica l in spirit to the mind us how extraordinary a soloist he is. co ntaining all three Montgomery brothers Spanish Generalissimo, it is jazz. Most importa ntly, the sidemen were so will develop. N. H . DeFranco has rarely been h eard in such concerned with making this as good a band relaxed company as h ere. Trumpeter H ar as possible in tribute to Woody Herman A THE BIG MEN-THE PAUL SMITH TRIO-Paul Smith (piano) , Leroy Vinnegar ry Edison p lays with his customary ease that they all played with fire beyond the (bass) , Stan Levey (drums). Su sze Bluze; 'S and economy. Bob H a rdaway, while thor call of union scale. It's a joyful album, W onderful; Yesterdays & 6 ot hers. Verve oughly derivative, is a t least moderately and Atlantic's Nesuhi Ertegun deserves MG VS 6135 $5.98 imaginative and swings comfortably. T he credit for having taken a chance on re rhythm section is excellent-firm but light. I nte rest : Slight for jazz listeners cording it. N . H . Performance: Smith's weak on jazz 94 HiFi/STEREO { ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC. 70·31 84th Street Glendale Z1. L.I. • N. Y. DAvenport 6·3982 Kil Dil/ilion oj PRECISION Apparatus COMp."y, I"c. o auhidiorll 0/ PACOTRONTCS. l>te. Hal! the pleasure of good news is in sharing it with others _ especially when it·s the kind that can help you choose your Stereo high fidelity kit with absolute confi dence in its performance, and - of special importance to the first-time kit builder _ is the ease with which it can be constructed. PACO kits are not only the finest of their type, but - as a glance at the over-size diagrams, simply written and mag nificenUy printed manuals will reveal - they are also the easiest kits in the world. to build ... by anyone! In recent months, the PACO SA-40 was reviewed by the most conservative high fidelity editors in the industry. Each one, we are proud to state, is a M4_star t9 RAVE REPORT. We invite you to send for these reports. In the meantime, here"s ' a sampling: C. G. McPROUD, Editor and Publisher of AUDIO: " ... fulfilled the specifications exceptionally well ... excellent performance at a reasonable price ... " JOHN DIEGEL -- HIGH FIDELITY: " ••• overall performance superior to that of many amplifiers in its price range ... completely stable ... " JIM LYONS -- Publisher -- THE AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE: " ... met or exceeded all (its) i mportant specifications ... a winner ... an exceptional value for the money . . . n WILLIAM STOCKLIN -- High Fidelity Editor -- ELECTRONICS WORLD: " ... harmonic distortion results are extremely good .... will provide true high fidelity performance ..• n JULIAN SIENKIEWICZ -- High Fidelity Editor -- POPULAR ELECTRONICS: M ... outstanding versatility ... offers nearly all that could be asked for ... " CHARLES TEPFER -- Hig/l Fidelity Editor -- ELECTRONICS ILLUSTRATED: M ... integrated ... neater ... listening tests revealed it to be a Good Buy ... " Write. today for your personal portfolio on PACO Stereo High Fidelity Kits. It contains: the complete reports on the PACO SA-40, plus thoroughly documented and illustrated literature on the PACO Stereo FM-AM Tuner, the FM Tuner - both available with factory-prealigned transformers, or with tuner sections factory- wired, pre -aligned and calibrated, or completely factory-wired, aligned, calibrated and assembled - plus complete data on the renowned PACO Speaker System Kits, Sincerely. 95 Reco rding: Very well balanced Can you see the difference Stereo Directio nality: Good for trio Stereo Depth: OK between these two needles? Paul Smith is a p ia nist of considerable tech niq ue but little cap acity to p lay per· sonal, relaxed jazz. O n medium and up tempos, his beat is stiff alld his ideas are ordinary. On ballads, he is expansively 1'0· mantic to the point of becoming r hapsod ic, but even in tb is area, what be p lays has little to do with jazz in rhyth ms or phrasing. Smith receives excellent support from Vinnegar (who is very clearly re corded) and drummer Stan Levey. Levey has improved markedly in the past three or four years and is a model here of musi cal u nderstanding and taste. N. H . A quality Clevite " WaleD" W·75 " Unlicensed" inferior foreign im itation .A 6. PERSUASIVE PERCUSSION - VOL. 2-TERRY SNYDER AND THE ALL Differences in n eedles may def y t he All Clevite " Walco" n eedles are STARS. Dearly Be loved; In A Persian Mar eye but not th e expe1'ienced ea1·. There f ully guaranteed. When you buy a ket; Blue Tango; Brazil & 8 others. Command is no visual difference in the above Clevite " Walco" exact r eplacement RS 808 SD $5.98; RS 33 808 $4.98 needles, but a W01'ld of dif fm'ence in n eedle, you get the same quality and the sound qualities reproduced by pTecision t hat is put into all Clevite Interest: Good for sound them. Superficial similarities of size, "Walco" 01'iginal equipment needles Performance: Slick shape or t ip material do not det ermine •.. needles that are specified and in Recording: Excellent a needle's effectiveness, but critical st alled in the cart ridges of virtually Stereo Directionality: Pronounced diff eren Interest: Unive rsal L-ESA •• • for STYLE and PERFORMANCE Performance: Mostly excellent Recording: Pre hi-fi The classic, smart appEl"arance o( the LESA CD2/21 stereo record changer T his LP is the bargain of the month. It's previews the perfection of performance you can expect from this precision tbe $1.98 series and it offers one of the component, custom crafted in the discriminating Italian tradition. Whether you very best collections of blues si nging in are just stepping into hi·fi,- or have been an enthusiast for some time, compare the catalogs. T he artists range from Jim ... you'll find LESA has everything. my R ushing, Billy Eckstine, Fats , ,,Taller, • Fully automatic, 4·speeds • pre·wired for monaural and stereo. Minimum Louis Armstrong, Leadbelly and Lil Green rumble, flotter and wow • Constant speed·change cycle-only 6 seconds. to W ingy Manone. Several tracks (the Absolutely iaJ11·proof • Automatic size intermix. "Heavy duty four·pole motor Fats ' '''aller and the Lizzie Miles in partic • Gentle record handling. Universal plug-in head. No background noise. Stop without rejecting • Automatic click suppressor. Finished most attrac ula r) have not been released p reviously. tively in smart continental styling. Write for free LESA literature and name of For the inclusion of tbe Leaabell y cl as· nearest dealer to: Electrophono & Parts Corp. 530 Canal St. New York, N. Y. sic Good Moming Blues alone th is LP 50 would be worth its price. This is an ex· CD2/2~ High·Fidelity Stereo Record Changer traordinary record of great emotional $44Slightly higher depth . T he Hot Lips Page vocal on just In the West Anothe;' Woman, while not his best, is still a good example of one of the great and u nrecognized talen ts of the 30s and 40s. Lil Green 's Wh), Don't You Do Right? is the version from whence stems Peggy Lee's hit with Benny Goodman. Lizzie Miles, now an en tertainer as m uch as a singer, is heard here in a 30· year-old re cording that is a real surprise. The Louis lhmstrong and the Jack Teagarden vocal is one of their best and th e Billy Eck stine (with Earl Hines band) j elly j elly is a modern classic. I'm delighted to see the incl usion of the J ohnny Moore-T h ree Blazers track but the Wingy Manone, the Hazel Scott and the Charlie Ventura have no business here. Nevertheless, it's more than -a bargain. It's a necessity if you want to know anything abou t where popular m usic today came from. R. j. G. 96 HiFi/ S T E R E O ( Reviewed by Orchestra, Paris, Manuel Rosenthal condo finale of the " Milita'ry" comes off as a Time: (50:21) Westminster WTC 127 $7.95 wild rat race. The "gimmicks" in question take the RALPH J. GLEASON In terest: Falla masterworks form of exaggerated triangle sound in the DAVID HALL p'erformance: Intense Recording: Reasonably good famous percussion episodes of the Mili JOHN THORNTON Stereo Directionality: Evident tal} Symphony; and worst of all, a coy Stereo Depth: Fair exchange of Auf wiedel'sehens between conductor and departing players through French composer-conductor Rosenthal has 4-TRACK CLASSICS out the closing pages of the "Fm·ewell." a special way with this music of Spain's If you prefer your Haydn "Military" Manuel de Falla. I don't think I have ever straight, you should try the Mogens Wol heard either of these pieces played with j. BRAHMS: Violin Concerto in D Ma· dike tape for Vanguard. D. H. jor, Op. 77; TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Con such rhythmical intensity-most interpre certo in D Major, Op. 35. Erica Morini ters tend to emphasize the already evident HOLST: The Planets, Op. 32. Vienna with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra .A lush elements. The result is a series of new State Opera Orchestra & Vienna Academy of London, Artur Rodzinski condo Time: and interesting perspectives on thrice Chorus, Sir Adrian Boult condo Time: (47:00) (69:00) Westminster WTP 125 $11.95 familiar modern masterpieces. Westminister WTC 124 $7.95 Interest: Two great masterpieces The French recording is not exactly of Interest: Cinematic description Performance: Warm. reflective the "chromium plated" variety; but it's Performance: Excellent Recording: Average wholly adequate in any event. The direc Recording: Sounds fine Stereo Directionality: Good tional characteristics of the stereo sound Stereo Directionality: Widely split Stereo Depth : Good lead me to believe that an unconventional Stereo Depth: Good hall Morini's approach to the Brahms is warm orchestra set-up was used at the recording session. Even so, this tape is well worth Holst's highly descriptive program music, but not large toned. This gifted woman which might be called a set of eight or has a great deal of virtuosic ability, but acquisition both for Falla's music and Rosenthal's interpretation. D. H. chestral "poems," is representative of early • she does not use it theatrically. Conse· Westminster stereo, but, despite its "age" quently, where many soloists flash she is Sir Adrian Boult's reading still packs a reflective, and her real strength is in her j. GINASTERA; Ballet Suites-Panambi; wallop. It is surprising that there are not restraint and good taste. There are other Estancia; VILLA-LOBOS: The Little Train more recordings of this highly colored performances to ignite gypsy fire, like of the Caipira (Toccata from Bachianas Bra score in the catalog, as it is a natural for Szigeti's with Menges a nd the London sileras No.5). London Symphony Orchestra, hi-fi display, ranging, as it does from the Sir Eugene Goossens condo Time : (28:52) Symphony for Mercury and there are re ominous thunder of to the transpar Everest T 43041 $7 ..95 MaTS cordings like the Stern-Beecham on Co ency of Neptune. lumbia i~ you prefer your Brahms large I nterest: South American spice Stokowski for Capitol achieves a more and glowlllg. Performance: In the vein glowing luster in the Venus section, but In the Tchaikovsky, Morini retains her Recording: Superb his approach lacks the dynamic energy of coolness. Rodzinski does not overpower the Stereo Directionality: Tops Boult's reading. It is too bad London did soloist, but guides the London Orchestra Stereo Depth: Plenty not record Sargent's performance with the through both scores smoothly. 'What you Despite the exaggerated billing given the London Symphony in stereo-best overall get is tasteful reservation, not fiery aban Villa-Lobos tidbit, this whole tape makes of the four recordings available, and beller don. The whole may not be sonically for thoroughly enjoyable listening, as well than Sargent's more recent album with exciting, but it's good musically. J.T. as for a splendid hi-fi stereo showpiece. the BBC Symphony and Chorus. Ginastera's early Amerindian ballet, There is a slight lack of high frequen COPLAND: A Billy the Kid-Ballet Suite Panambi, makes for the most substantial cies in the Westminister set, but among & Waltz; Rodeo-4 Episodes. Utah Symphony and interesting fare. Less arresting is Es the current stereo version of The Planets, J Orchestra, Maurice Abravanel condo Time: this Adrian Boult issue is the choice, (38:49) Westminster WTC 121 $7.95 tancia, an Argentine counterpart to Cop land's Rodeo. The Villa-Lobos train piece whethel' on disc or tape. J.T. Interest: Wild west ballets in tape format is a perfect test for play Performance: Reasonably good back system response to upper partials, j. PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in B Recording : Good especially in its opening and closing. D.H. flat, Op. 100. London Symphony Orchestra, Stereo Directionality: Good Sir Malcolm Sargent condo Time: (43 :20) Stereo Depth: Good Everest T 43034 $7.95 The Rodeo is for the present a first-and ' j. HAYDN: Symphonies-No. 100 in G Interest: Prokofiev masterwork only on tape; but Billy The Kid has com Major ("Military"); Symphony No. 45 in F Performance: Good to great petition from the composer's own perform sharp Minor ("Farewell"). Vienna State Recording: Coarse in spots ance on Everest. Nevertheless, if you in Opera Orchestra, Hermann Scherchen condo Stereo Directionality: Good division sist on " horse opera" ballet for two sides Time: (46:02) Westminster WTC 130 $7.95 Stereo Depth: Good of a tape, this reel fills the bill nicely. Interest: Haydn masterworks In his reading of Prokofiev's mastet'piece, The Utah players h andle the music with Performance: Controversial in spots Sir Malcolm improves as he goes. He takes style, if not the very last word in virtu Recording: Good to a slow tempo in the first movement, osity. Mostly very good sound. Crosstalk is Stereo Directionality: Excellent but his 'pace in the final Allegl'o, and evident in a few spots. D. H. Stereo Depth: OK his feeling for ti).e rough humor of Both performances have their merits-vi tha t exciting movement will raise the shmt j. FALLA:;I Amor brujo-Ballet (com tality in rhythm and- refinement in exe hairs on the back of your neck. The per plete); Nights in the Gardens of Spain. cution; but both are marred by "gim_ formance does not have the taut dramatics Yvonne Loriod (piano), Amparito Peris de micky" tricks in production, while the of the fine Martinon recording on RCA Pruliere (mezzo-soprano). Nationa I Opera 97 SEPTEMBER 1960 Victor with the Paris Conservatory Orches Mother Goose music is in a class by itself, The Perfect tra, nor the large bold sound of Ormandy if only because he includes the lovely and with the Philadelphia Orchestra on Co otherwise never heard Prelude and Spin Workshop lumbia. Schippers is more lyrical in his ning-Wheel dance. Besides this, his re superior Philharmonia recording. But most corded performance is utter perfection and Companion For of the way Sargent readily competes with superbly communicated on this stereo tape. them alL The sound for Everest is not as The Debussy, save for a little stiffness in The Advanced good as one would expect. There is coarse Fetes, fares equally well, notably in Si ness in the climaxes. J. T. rimes, where the women's chorus (nicely Audiophile divided) comes off on tape ever so much A RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto more cleanly than on disc. Sound is first No.2 in C Minor, Op. 18. Peter Katin wi th rate all the way. A splendid tape of music the New Symphony Orchestra of London, Colin Davis cond. Time: (35:27) Richmond that's a natural for stereo. D. H. RCH 40002 $4.95 Interest: Rachmaninoff's most popular A VIENNA CARNIVAL STRAUSS, THE 1961 score JOH. & JOS.: Elj en a Magyar Polka; Performance: Excellent Spharenkla nge Waltz; Banditen; Kunstler Recording: Amazingly g09d leben Waltz; Unter Donner und Blitz; Mor AUDIO YEARBOOK Stereo Directionality: Fine genblatter Waltz; Plappermaulche n Polka ; Stereo Depth: Good Mein Le benslauf-Waltz. Vienna Philhar mo nic Orchestra, Willi Boskovsky condo Over 25 projects and features Bargain hunters will do well to give this Time: (42:40) London LCL 80039 $7.95 R ichmond release very serious considera Interest : But naturally covering stereo; hi-fi, compo tion. The sound is spectacular and the per Perform ance: Matchless! I nents, acoustics-every phase of formance excellent all the way. Recording : 'fop drawer The most popular of R achmaninoff's Stereo Directionality: ·Perfect audio! Advanced discussions and scores, the Second Piano Concerto has a Stereo Depth: Just right instructions on: listing of some thirty-odd recordings in the Schwann Catalog, with a half-dozen avail vVhen a tape is as p erfect as this one, the able in stereo d isc form. London's econom reviewer must do it justice without sound ing as though he owned a share in it. It • CONSTRUCTING THE SI-PHONIC COUPLER ical Richmond line has tended to feature lesser known conductors and soloists, but is difficult to be restrained in the face of such flawless production. Boskovsky, who • STEREO MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES sometimes these artists give more accom plish.ed performances than their more cele is concertmaster of the Vienna Philhar monic, has made several Strauss albums • FINDING FAULTS IN HI: FI SYS'fEMS brated colleagues. Katin's polished pianism and Davis's with bis fellow players, all of them good, creditable conducting places this account but none to touch this one. He conducts • WIDE SPA€E S'fEREO of the Rachmaninoff Concerto on a par the polkas at an exhilarating pace; the •• with London's first-line production with waltzes come off at exactly the right tem • MULTIPLEXING MUSIC ON oNE RECORDER Katchen and Solti, and the engineering is po. H e has the orchestra under firm con trol at all times, and aided by some of • ROOM ACOUSTICS FOR STEREO every bit as good. J. T. London's best engineering, he wraps the A RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a whole thing up with a shimmering ac • Plus many ather authoritative articles Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 ; DOHNANYI: count of M ein Lebenslauf ist Lieb tmd Variations on a Nursery Tune, Op. 25. Julius Lust. Rar for bar there is no Strauss al- Katchen (piano I, with the London Philhar bum that can beat it, anywhere. . monic Orchestra, Sir Adria n Boult condo On sale at your newsstand or Percussionists produce an effect in the Time: (45:07) London LCL 80036 $7.95 electronics parts store Septem Plappenniiu.lchen Polka that sounds like Interest: Romantic familiars the wonderful old Klaxon horn that came ber 8th Or order by coupon today. Performance: Rachmaninoff great as part of the early Fords. J. T. Recordin.g: Uneven for Dohnanyi ~udio · f961 Stereo Directionality: Good iyearbootv---. Stereo Depth : Too much in spots A VILLA·LOBOS: Uirapufu Modinha }' Not representative of the best London (from Sachianas Brasil eiras No. I); PROKO· FIEV: Cinderella Ballet Suite. Stadium stereo, this coupling offers a dazzling per jet Symphony Orchestra of New York, Leopold formance of the Paganini inspired piece, Stokowski condo Time: (45:21) Everest STBR and a routine account of the Dohnanyi 3016 $7.95 which is considerably handicapped by in adequate engineering. Katchen's piano is Interest: Stokowski, lush and lean brilliantly prominent in the Rachmani Performance: Prokofiev magnificent $~~~~ ~ Recording : Full-bodied noff score, but is distant in the Nursery Stereo Directionality: Good Tune variations. Stereo Depth: OK The only real competition to the Rach maninoff work in my opinion is Fileisher's Of Villa-Lobos' tone-poem about a leg h air-raising performance with the Cleve endary Amazonian bird and of the slow Ziff-Davis Publishing Campany, Dept. HSR 96 434 S. Wabash Avenue . land Orchestra on Epic's mono disc (Le. .movement from the 8-cello suite, Stokow Chicago 5, Illinois 3330), to my knowledge not yet available ski makes the lushest possible listening T. experience. Please send me a copy of the 1961 AUDIO on stereo tape. J. YEARBOOK. I enclose $ 1.00 plus 10¢ to For me, the real attraction of this tape cover mailing .and handling charges. (Can A RAVEL: Mother Goose (complete bal is Stokowski's way with the large-scale yet ada a nd Foreign $1.25 plus 10¢ postage,) let); DEBUSSY: Nocturnes for Orchestra lean Cinde!·ella music of Prokofiev. The (complete ). Suisse Romande Orchestra with rhythmic vitality and sense of irresistible Women's Chorus, Ern est Ansermet condo NAM,~E ______Time: (44:40) London LCL 80011 $7.95 momentum with which he inves ts the waltz movements really must be heard to ~ I I nterest: French jewels be believed. ADDRESS, ____-'- ______Performance: Ravel superb The notoriously tricky Manhattan Recording: First-rate Center a ~oustics fare better on tape than. Stereo Di rectionality: Fine on either the stereo or mono disG versions CITY _____ZONE-STAT"-E __ _ Stereo Depth: Good I . I of these performances. D. H. ------Ansermet's performance of the Ravel (Continued on page 102) 98 HiFi/STEREO I- I t _"T,:. W • C d 'l/let: \\ jill J!! .. I .. \\VHI,::\,CE \YELI( \i... I bttvt U~(t, !. hI. \ I.ij:,k: v , ,,' H.•. ~j "" ''1\ j.. ~b<., J~I '1;1~,< H.I ",t" lb~, I;"P~. \"M ;;j. ft'\lij ~ \~~rl ",\1 1~.1U:l;tI.t4\ ' ...r It 1:l,, 1 .. fl.'''1~ ,.., t!' 11.-.1 I'ta!r> Ht 1Jr~, fUr tW4j" i! Dance with "Julie is her name" "Pat's Great Hits"-Vol.2 "Benny Rides Again" LAWRENCE WELK JULIE LONDON-Vol. II PAT BOONE BENNY GOODMAN I Now look what "Soul of Spain" bel canto 1Q1 STRINGS has for you on 2 and 4-Track and Cartridge STEREO TAPE (and the,re's more where these came from) bel canto Stereophonic Recordings a subsidiary of Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc. b 1977-1985 McAllister Avenue. COLUMBUS 5, OHIO WRITE TODAY FOR FREE BEL CANTO CATALOG OF STEREO TAPE HITS ~,~! ,.., ;' - "Leave it to Jane" "Sound of Speed" Voices and Strings of Thl! MILLS ORIGINAL CAST (Exciting Sounds of LAWRENCE WELK BROTHERS SING Vehicles in Motion). I SEPTEMBER 1960 99 .A.nl.erica's st Popular, 'lYLost Authori t~ ... Books on :B:igh Fid..elity, ereo ·an.q. Tape Here are some of the world's greatest hi-fi books ___ chosen carefully by Zift-Davis Electronics Book Service as among the best in their field_ Right now, one or more of these great books will ·be sen to you for 7 days FREE! Simply write your choices of! the 2752. HIGH QUALITY 2753. LOW-COST 2755. THE PRACTICAL 2756. REPAIRING 2760. HI-FI STEREO SOUND HI-FI, Hoefler HI-FI HANDBOOK, King RECORD CHANGERS, FOR YOUR HOME, REPRODUCTION, Moi, Ecklund Whitman Hundreds of hints for A guide to high fidelity A "how-to" book on hi-fi, The perfect manual for budget hi-fi will be found sound reproduction for A practical m anual on Tells what stereo is, how written in simple lan both the professional in these fourteen chap the service engineer and repair of mechanical ele it differs from hi-fi, how guage. Will help you buy engineer and the serious ters with over 300 de amateur. Chapters on men ts of record chang it works, 'how it affects the right equipment and amateur interested in tailed photographs. amplifiers, loudspeakers, ers, including pickups, home listening habits, see that you get the high fidelity. The "why" drawings and diagrams. pickups. microphones, needles. changer actions, and how to install and · ~ most out of your stereo and "how" of sound re Will save you money in record players, disc, tape motors. drives, tripping, maintain it. Complete or monaural investment. production is covered in starting or improving and stereo. $6.00 dropping and shut-offs. list of terms defined. $2.50 complete detail. $15.00 your system. $2.50 Also magnetic recorder . Generously illus trated_ repairs. $5.95 $3.50 • 42. REVERE TAPE 49_ TAPE RECORDING 2750. ELEMENTS OF 2754. MAGNETIC ' 2757. RIBBONS OF 2758. 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Wellman A comprehensive t r eat How to plan your home A com plete survey of A discussion of basic Authoritative advice on m en t of both t he princi music system. choose the t he technique of sound p roblem s in sound r e chbosing t he right type ples a n .d prac t ice of best com pon ents. install recording and r eproduc cordin g a nd reproducing of system for you r n eeds m o d ern hig h fi.d e lity your system easily and tion, discussin g t he en for t he designer. engi with p ractical informa sou nd systems - how t o m ainta in it by yourself. tire chain from micro neer. technicia n an d stu t ion on the functions of plan a new system . h ow All these. and . ways to phone to loudspeaker. A den t. Cover s acoustics. each u nit-selection. as to improve- a n existing save m oney.. are p r e practical book for music vacuum tubes. au dio am sembly a nd installation . one. 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I will send y ou payme nt for the book(s) of my choice. plus postage and handling. 502 NUMBER TITLE PRICE . leading hi-fi dealers . and salons and · radio and electronics patt.s JODbers .are] (If you ne ed more s pace to list additional title s. attach "TOTAL .makWg kt!;1eir stores.iPea'clgui,I.rters fO·1 a sheet of p a P er with additional list.) opoks on ~ evefy electroni 2W'suoject. · You'~ SAVE MONEY! Enclose payment in full for Please send me FREE CATALOG, when can Ja~e this list to your favori,e dealer o the book(s) of your choice and we will pay D published. shipping charges. Same return privileges for immediate purchase. ' and prompt refund guaranteed. " New York City Residents. please add 3% sales tax. NAME------~p~L~~s~E~p~RI~NT~c~L~~~RL~y------ADDRESS ______ L _CITY_ __ ~ ______~ZONE ______. STATE~ ______J 101 (Continued frolll page 98) 4-TR. ENTERTAINMENT semble is sympathetic. The group works together with easy rapport, and there isn't 4 KUSSIAN FAIR. At A Russian Fair; A LOUIS ARMSTRONG - I'VE GOT a weak spot in the tape anywhere, not in Song Of The Cadets; The Birch Tree; Glory the solid arrangements of Holman, nor in To Him;- After The Battle; Lilac In Bloom; A THE WORLD ON A STRING. You're The Gypsy Campfire; A New Year's Tale; Christ· Top; Little Girl Blue; When Your Lover Has any of .the leading voices. In other words, mas Night. Don Cossack Choir, Serge Jar· Gone; Don't oet Around Much Anymore & . a perfect job. The mikes were spread off condo Decca 517 10016 p.95 6 others. Tirlfe: (36:40) Verve VSTC 235 $7.95 - ratlier too far apart, so that there is some • hole-in·the·middle at low-level. Otherwise, Interest: Ever popular chorus Interest: Universal Performance! Louis is great the engineering is tops. And a special Performance: Typical word for the virtuoso bass playing of the Recording: Inadequate Recording: OK T. Stereo Directionality: Sharply split Stereo Directionality: Unbalanced versatile Budwig. J. Stereo Depth: OK Stereo Depth : Too close A GET THOSE ELEPHANTS OUT'A Despite the tape hiss and the over-balance .Iarotf's celebrated Russians have b~en HERE. The Mitchells with Andre Previn. thrilling cities and towns in the U.S. now toward the right channel, which carries Get Those Elephants Out'a Here; My One for more than 25 years. Their organ.like Louis' voice and hom as well as the bulk And Only Love; In The Wee S",afl Hours Of Morning; Moten Swing; Monster Rally: Three unison, and their razor.discipline has made of the band sound, this is a fine tape be cause the vocals are so fine. Armstrong is Cheers; Blues For Brain; Fraternity. MGM them the outstanding choral attraction on STC IGI2 $7.95 the concert stage circuit. Many fine reo really an unbelievable singer. It's hani to Interest: Real. man cordings can be had of the choir, and accept the fact that he can make the most trivial lyric attractive when delivered in Performance: Mean. like I said stereu treatment is the perfect medium Recording: The most to show off their appealing musicianship. that grotesque gravel voice, but he can. Stereo Directionality: Too wide This new Decca tape, then, shuuld just fit Somehow Louis triumphs- over all obsta· Stereo Depth: Everything is there the right niche. It doesn't, unhappily, cles, the hiss, the bad balance and the ba nality of the tunes and comes through as Red, Whitey and Blue Mitchell, who are chieRy because of inadequate enp·._neering, not together as mllch as they should be, which places the J aroff sections ,00 close. a fine and beautiful thing. W hell Your Lover Has GOlle is a triumph of Arm assembled at New York with Previn to The microphones tend to overluad on the make a "family" tape, and the result is so strong vocal styling. R. J. G. peaks. Everything is splendid up to -the good that every serious jazz collector moment the tenors come in, and when the should own the document they inadel It's .. SIDE BY SIDE-DUKE ELLINGTONI whole group sounds forth, the middle and mean, man, low·down, cool most of the upper registers become wiry and distorted. JOHNNY HODGES. Stompy Jones; & way, with some of the most musical jazz Spatial depth could have been better Squeeze Me; Ruint; Just A Memory 5 others. Time: (44:45) Verve V5TC 237 $7.95 playing on tape. Most of the pieces were achieved by backing off somewhat. So far put together by Red and Whitey, and their as those marvelous basses go, what there Interest: Universal work sounds original and refreshing. Prevo is of them .is simply stupendous. It's a Performance: Beautifully warm in, showing excellent judgnient, blends Recording: Good real disappointment to report that the with the patriotic group like one of the performances, typical of the great choir, Stereo Directionality: Marked Stereo Depth: Minimal originals, and his fleet technique never , are spoiled by technical inadequacy. Listen dominates. Real gutty, too, the bass beat, first, before you take it home. J. T. This is an absolutely lovely tape. It is with truly fine, sensitive solo lvork from hard to see how anyone can like jazz at Red (trumpet), Frank Repak (trombone), 4 SOYJET ARMY CHORUS & BAND. all and not like this warmly swing set and Pepper Adams (baritone sax). The The Birch Tree; Song of the Volga Boatmen; of performances. Ellington's piano playing title, by the way, originated with Mother Kalinka; Tipperary & 9 others. Soviet Army is in top form and he gets more to do Mitchell, - who would frequently request Chorus _and Band, Col. Boris Alexandrov here, of course, than on a big band effort. condo Time: (42:00) Angel ZS 35411 $7.95 her talented boys to remove their bull Hodges sounds like he .invented swinging fiddles from the Mitchell living room. A Interest: Russian choral spectacular lyricism in jazz. There's a couple of lovely fine tape, every moment of it. J. T. Performance: Magnificent trumpet solos by Harry Edison and Roy Recording: Powerful Eldridge as an extra fillip, as well as some 4 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN: Carou· Stereo Di'rectionality: OK '; Rute and guitar work by Les Spann and sel (original sound track). Gordon MacRae; Stereo Depth: Good several fine trombone bits by Lawrence Shirley Jones, Barbara Ruick & others. Time: (46:30) Capitol ZW -694 $7.95 The disc version, stereo and mono, of this Brown, plus a bit of Ben Webster's tenor: super· spectacular exhibition of male chor The piano is on the left and the alto 011 Interest: Exceptional musical the right wf;h the trumpet. All in all, this Performa nce: Marvelous al - virtuosity recorded in London some Recording: Very good years ago has long been one of the best is one tu own. R. J. G. Stereo Directionality: Good usage sellers on the Angel disc label; so it is not Stereo Depth: Fine sound- surprising to see it among the first Angel WEST COAST JAZZ IN HI·FI. A Bill Finally, to tape collectors comes a quar 4-tFa€k tape release~. Holman Bond. Way Down Yonder; !'-rue Jazz; ~er-track reel of Capitol's best·selling al· As indicated some m0l1ths ago in my Angel Eyes; Stella By Starlig.ht; Star Eyes; bum taken from the soundtrack of the review of the stereo disc release, this kind I Hadn't Anyone Till You; ringer Awhil-e; The 1II0no record became a hit, the of high·powered choral music is the hard Things We Did Last Summer; If You Were fih~. No One; Indiana. HiFiTape R 609 $7.93 film was a great success, and this new est sort of thing to cut properly onto a stereo release vividly reminds one that stereo record-so that it will track without Interes+: Top grade Carousel belongs in the select group of distortion, yet have sufficient volume level Performance: Perfect America's musical masterpiec~. so that turntable rumble and surface noise Recording: Very good - If I Loved You imd You'll Never Walk don't get in the way. Tape is the all5wer _Stereo Directionality: To,! wide Alone must surely be considered as two of and it is certainly proven herel Stereo Depth: Just right the finest" tunes in musical show history, The musical content throughout is luud HiFiTape has assembled some of the - and the rest of the tunes are net far be enough, furthermore, to rtlask any elt: brightest names on the West Coast to doc· hind. The combil~tion of Shirley Jones ments of "crosstalk."- ument the Coast jazz style, and a fine idea and Gordon MacRae is musically perfect, In addition to the .brilliantly sung co! it has turned out to be. Jazz fans. will be and when you add fine engineering and lection of Russian folksongs anti the Eng encha.Hed to know that Tichie Kamuca the conducting of Alfred Newman, h is lish TillperQry and Oh, No, -John!, Col. (.tenor), Stan Levey (drums), Vince Guar- -_,_ no wonder that Capitol sdti So many discs. Alexandrov has programmeEi s£veral mod aldi (piano), Ed Leppy (trumpet), Frank The tape is sonically far superior to the ern Soviet numbers, among which thef Rosolino (trombone), Conte Carrdoli disc. Only "light use is made of stereo to S61dier's Chor~ from Yuri Shapol'in's op- (trumpet), Monte Budwig (bass), and.. BilI. gi'l(e the illusibn of movement, notably in era, Th, Decemilrists, is a real sta.ndout. Holman (baritone·arranger) ave galhllred You're A Queer .ne, Julie Jordon. J. T. This apWi.e~ not only to the music, but to tog,ether for the sessions. All of these "'11I , ,. its usefu'M'ess as an A-I test piece for play sicians Ire corking _good artists, come af a ... RODGERS Ir HAMMERSTItH: Carou· back eqpipment! D. H. solid working backgroundi and their en· sel-Oklahoma!' Oh, What A Beautiful 102 .c.. Hi F i / S T I: It E 0 Morning;. Surrey With The Fringe On Top; Siamese Children ; MY FAIR LADY:' I C ould A THE MUSIC MAN. Original Broad Pe o ple Will Say We're In Love; Oklahoma; Have Danced All Night; On The Street way Cast starring Robert Preston with Bar I Cain't Say No; June Is Bustin' Out All Where You Live; I've Grown Accustomed bara Cook, David Burns, Pert Kelton. Tim e: , Over; If I Loved You; You'll Never Walk To Her Face; Wouldn't That Be Lover/y; (45:45) Capitol ZO 990 $7.95 Alone; Carousel Waltz; Mister Snow. Rosi Get Me To The Church On Time. The lon Interest: Topflight musical lind Page, Bryan Johnson, Eula Parker, The don Theatre Company with Janet Waters, Performance: Preston superb Mike Sammes Singers, and the london The Andy Cole, June Marlowe ; Mike Shaun, Recording: Fine '- atre Company directed by Eric Rogers, Dave C arey with Chorus. Tim e: (34:40) Stereo Directionality: Even • Time: (37:00) Richmond RPH 45001 $4.95 Richmond RPH 45000 $4.95 Stereo De'pth: Good Interest: High, of course Inte rest: Magnifice nt musicals Surely Preston's performance as the loud, Performance: Best of entire series Performance: Too imitative ·b ras h, fast-talking salesman in The Mu. Recording: Excellent Recording : Good sic Man m ust be ranked among the great Stereo Directionality: Static division Stereo Directiona lity: Good balance est characterizations in the American m u Ste reo Depth: Good Stereo Depth: Fine resqnance sical theater. Even with strong support The London Theatre production of these and a bagful of engaging tunes for the great Rodgers and Hammerstein scores is But for the fact that the London Theatre other principals, The Music Man is Pres easily the best of the entire R ichmond Company's productions are som~times too ton's veh icle. He is Seventy-Six Tm1n series so far. It is. obvious that the direc imitative of original Broadway cast per /Jones all by h imself. He is even safe from tion here is far superior to that which formances, this whole series could be con such a scene stealer as the open-toothed guided the London group through The sidered a gallant effort to bring to the little boy who charms the world in Wells King And I, My Fair Lady, The Music public music from two magnificent musi Fm'go Wagon. Man, and ·Gypsy. For one thing there are cals at a low price. And since Capitol has Capitol now offers to the 4-track cata no .vocal weaknesses. For another, there is just issued the sou ndtrack of the MGM log one of the great musical recordings m uch more imagination, and it is evident motion picture of The King And I on 4- of the last decade. T he technical q uali ty not only in the arrangements and cond uct track (reviewed above), the Richmond ver comes very close to the high standards of ing, but in the sensitive expression of the sion is a poor second choice. the original 2-track tape. ] . T . vocal lines. As for My Fair Lad)l, there is not a Eula Parker's whimsical rendering of 4·track competition yet. Columbia has ap A. THE MUSIC MAN: Till There Was paren tly ceased releasing its superlative You; Seventy-Six Trombones; Ya Got Trou the fetching song from Okla homa!, I ble; Goodnight My Someone; Lida Rose Cain't Say No, and her expert accou nt of 2-track stereo of the original cast per formances. In the Lerner and Lowe mas And W ill I Ever Tell You; GYPSY: Every "A1.ister Snow" from Cm'ousel, marks her as thing's Comi.ng Up Roses; Some Peo ple; terpiece, the London Theatre group offers an artist whose name should be in lights You'll Never Get Away From Me; Together a n'iore individualized performance. The ; .on a street called Broadway. Bryan John Wherever We Go. london Theatre Com son is another standou t in the cast, and presentation is more pops in character pany with Joyce Blair, Janet Waters, Bryan the M ichael Sammes Singers are expert. than an attempt to duplicate classically Johnson, The Michael Sammes Singers. Time : Unhappily, not one of the London T hea the orig~n a l. The sound is excellent, but (35: 10) Richmond RPH 45003 $4.95 tre prod uctions make use of stereo as a the stereo effect is static with no sugges In terest: Pai ~ of grand musicals tjon ' of stage movement. ]. ·T. mediu m for action or movemen t. The spa Performance: Road company standard tial effect is, of course, very apparent. j. T . .4 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN: The King And I (original soundtrack) . Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner & others. Time: (45:15) Capitol ZW 740 $7.95 Interest: Great R & H music Perfo rmance: Tops Recording: Good ' Stereo Directionality: Good Stereo Depth: A little tight Nothing so helps the cause of 4-track tape stereo as the issuance of such great re cordings as Capitol's Tohe King And If Nearly two years ago I reviewed the orig inal 2·track tape reel, and this one is every bit as good. Fl'equency l"espo nse characteristics are much the same. An A-B comparison test using two decks at the same time, placed the old and new tapes so close together the d ifferences were not detectable at moderate and low volume levels. Thus, you get the same m usic ex- ' actly, at about half the price, withou t any loss in q uality. Listening to t.he music again is a real convincer. All the pops al bums issued after this one are poor imi tations of the powerful and uniquely sen timent-ful performances turned in by De • Hi-Fi borah Kerr and Yul Brynner. T he King's • Ham Radio aria with its sardonic description of the • Tapes relationship between a honey bee and the • Kits & Parts RADIO SHACK CORP. Dept. 60J15 I flower, and Kerr's tender solo, Hello, • Test Equipment I 730 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. I Young Love1's, are priceless items in an • Sports Goods I Without obligation, plea se send me fREE POSTPAID, your tatest I altogether priceless m usical. Stereo is used 15·day no-risk home trial on any item. Send for your catalogs nowl I giant Electronics catalog plus every new issue for one full year. I only for spatial illusion. ] . T. If coupon is cl ipped, write to I I RADIO SHACK CORP. I I A THE KING AND I: Sha ll We Dance ; I Dept. 60J1S I~~ I Whist le A Happy Tune; .Hello Young Lovers; 730 Commonwealth Avenue I Post Office I L~~ ______~=~~~____ ~ We Kiss In A Shadow; March Of The BOSTON 17, MASS. S EP T EM BER 1960 103 Recording: Good A NOW-FRED ASTAJRE. Change Part· Stereo Directionality: Adequate ners ; Isn't This A Lovely Day; A Foggy Day; SEND HiFi/STEREO Stereo Dept- h: Good sound The Girl On The Magazine COlie r; I Love To Quarrel W'ith You ; Along Came Ruth; The REVIEW Unfortunately for Richmond's London Afterbeat; They Can't Take That Away From Theatre Company, some of the American Me & 9 others. Fred Astaire with Orchestra musicals recently issued by them have also and Chorus directed by Pete King. Time: EVERY MONTH been released on 4-track stereo with the (33:40) Kapp KT 41025 $7.95 original casts. The performance offered by HiFi Robert Preston on the originl:ll Broadway Interest: Astaire document cast version on Capitol of The MttSic Man Performance: Good, naturally Recording: Fine is a great one, so great the show is still Stereo Directionality: Static separation the largest drawing card on the Great Stereo Depth: Good . White Way. It is now available on 4·track (Capitol ZO 990) reviewed above. Astaire again proves that a great talent The, Richmond producers have assem· improves with age. He has been around bled casts whose main purpose it seems is the stages of Broadway and Hollywood to simulate closely the sound and color since 1917, but he sings these songs as of the originals, good theory for a trav though they had been -written yesterday. eling. road show compan'y, poor for re And he was the youngster who made his cording. The imitation is poor, the vocal New York debut 43 years ago! He does not standard spotty. J. T. h~ve a fine vbice, but it is a pleasant one. name'______~ ______~--- To this he adds his unique talent, the A REDHEAD. Hill Bowen and Orchestra special Astaire way of putting over a song. addl'ess__ --,-_~ ______with Soloists and Chorus directed by Mike This is nothing less than intelligence plus Sammes. Overt ure; Th e Right Finger Of My a remarkable and sensitive feel for the Left Hand ; J ust For Once ; I Feel Merely city______zon"---,-state' ___ _ delivery bf his lines. The truth is, he is Marvelous ; The Uncle Sam Rag; Look Who's as good an actor as he is a dancer, and he In Love; My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Check one: 3 years for $12 2 proved it in tbe film On The Beach. A 0 0 y~ars Me; I'm Back In Circulation; We Loves Ya; for $9 El 1 year for $5 Jimey; Pick-Pocket Tango. SMS S 22 $7,95 fine album to demonstrate one of Amer· IN THE U. S., ITS POSSESSIONS AND CANADA ica's top talents in the fourth decade of In terest: Sophisticated his professional career. Good sound, excel o Payment Enclo~ed o Bill Me Performance: Good lent arrangements. Stereo is static. Astai~,e Foreign rates: Pan American Union countries, add Recording: Good $.50 per year; all other foreign countries, add doesn't dance, justs sits ahd sings. J. T. $1.00 per year. St.ereo Directionality: Well miked Stereo Depth: Fine Mail to: A THE GE.NIUS OFG-EORGE WRIGHT. Albert Hague's charming music, light, so HiFi / STEREO REVIEW HRS·960 'Espana Cani; If I Had You; Hernando's phisticated, and whimsical, plus the. "dif· Hideaway; Around The World; Song Of The l 434 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago 5, III. ferent" story of Redhead makes for an at· Islands ; By The Beautiful Sea; Midnight tractive ' musical, not of the stature of a Bells; Wabash Blues; My Lost Melody; Tea "Fair Lady" but nevertheless, appealing For Two; The Song Is Ended; Strike Up The and amusing. Right Finger Of My Left Band. George Wright at the Mighty Wur litzer Theater Organ. Hifitape R 713 $7-.95 Hand, Look Who's l1l Love, and My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Me are pleas. Interest: For Wurlitzer fans ant 'if not great tunes, and the slap-dash Recording: Fair _ humor of We Loves Ya , Jimey is one of Performance: Very good the best spots in the production. The tape Stereo Directionality: Fair was made in England, with English artists, Stereo Depth: Reasonable which is appropriate enough since the. Many long years ago, before television, story takes place 'in London. Rita Williams and before high·fidelity, the "Mighty Wur· * ·NOW NEW IN STEREO* is the best of. the capsuled cast. Speaking of musicals on tape, the early litzer" represented a vital force in motion picture entei'tainment. During the inter· four· track SMS Flower Drum Song (S 2) JACKIE GLEASON '''''"IS mission between the feature film and the is still a real gem on 'all counts, with fine sport subjects, the theater organist, wbo singing, and good engineering. J. T. was a most respected individual, would play for ten minutes or so with the house A RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN: The lights dimmed . . Sound Of Music--Highlights. Th e Cosmo· !vluSlc. Mr. Wright plays the Wurlitzer pipe ~d~'1 politan Chorale Ensemble and Th eater Or· ;\Iartinis chestra, Norman Ha,rrington condo Time: organ originally installed in tbe Paradise (II/(/ ;\Iernories (46:35) . Livingston 4T' 13 $7.95 Theater in Chicago. His musicianship is an exact throwback to the days mentioned My Funny Valentine, My Ideal, In terest: Current favorite musical Sody and Soul, .. Somebody Loves Me, earlier and he has a 'genius for exacting But Not for Me, Once In Q While, 'Performa nee: Amateurish from the WUTlitzer all of the unusual ef " love Is Here to Stay. I'll Be Seeing You, Recording: Poor 12 mor •• SW 352 8 others. SW 509 fects that can be elicited from that compli. Stereo Directionality: Doesn't matter cated machine. The recorded sound. is Stereo Depth: Poor disappointing. What is lacking is the great, Livingston has released an extremely shod· spatial fe e.ling, that peculiar and woneler *************Very relaxi ng. Gleason's· two most listen.*. dy 'performance of a great musical. The ful sense of enormous space that could be able and romantic mood music albums, production features soloists who are total· created in a large theater. I guess ,the both featuring the trumpet of Bobby Iy inadequate, an orchestra that plays well answer is not to strive for so much pres Hackett, have .geen recoq:ied anew in the but rOlltinely, and a chorus that is medi· ence in mike placement, and to be willing 'tender erpprace of st~reo. Try one, ocre. It is a release that sounds altogether to sacrifice directionality in order to amateurish. There aloe many times when achieve this highly individual kind of the· the singers find it difficult to stay on atrical spatiality. pitch. Better wait for Columbia to release .Mr. 'Wright's records and tapes have the original cast performance on 4-track sold over a million copies. There must be tape. If you can't wait, then try Kapp's quite a few others who fee l as wistful album with the Peter King Chorale (RT about the vanished era of the Wurlitzer . 41021), a very able job. J. T. MI~. ~~ 104 HiFi/STEREO ( POPS .•• COLLECTIONS ••• THEAT-ER,' FILMS, TV ••• SPOKEN BEST OF THE MONTH ~e'vlewed by .. . RALPM .... GLEASON STANLEY GR~EN NAT HENTOFF A Atlantic's newest LP of night: Records reviewed in this section are both club 'song' ::,\tylist, Mabel Me~cer, stereo and monophonic. 'Versions received 'lives. up tp its' title Merely jor review are identified by closed (j.) and open (6.) triangles respectively. All rec· Marvelous. ". . . she sings ords are 33Vs rpm and should be played with more meaning' than almost with the RIA{'/. amplifier setting or its any other song stylist you equivalent. Monophonic recordings (6.) may be played Ol.so on stereo equipment might 'name ... the with resulting imp r ~veinent in sound dis involvement is real. •••" tribution quality. Stereo recordings (j.), (see p. '106) .however, must not be played on monophonic " phonographs and hi-fi systems. • • • POPS A Kapp's much touted "super j.. WARM AND WILLING-ANNA sonic" Medallion series justifie's MARIA AI:BERGHETTI with Orchestra. Nelson Riddle cOQd. An ema e core; Porgy; its billing with special felicity in I Have Dreamed; Come Back to Sorrento & The Sound .of Musical Pictures 8 oth ers. Capitol ST 1379 $4.98 featuring ,Ralph Hermann's con Interest: Attractive program Performance: From the heart ducting of the Medallion C.oncert Recording: Slightly cloudy . Band. " . .. '. puUs out ·all the ' Stereo Directionality: She's in' the center stereo stops ... The Whistle?' Stereo Depth: Enough and His Dog includes ... a Anna Maria Alberghetti has a voice made of pure taff-y-sweet, elastic, and perhaps whole chorus of canines not to be taken in too large amounts. for a grand finale " For though it is attractive enough, it does (see p. 109) not seem to have enough variety to sus tain a complete program and is at its best in the more sincere, direct expressions. Miss Alberghetti's collection of American and' Italian standards (and sh..ould-be standards) includes four that are the. inspi ration of Jimmy McHugh: a melting title t::. song, a rather ill-advised Porgy (it was Washington records has sung in the Blackbirds of 1928 and was F. D. R. inspired by the play; not the opera), the rendered a major public service _. infrequently perfo'rmed Cuban Love .song; in this prime political year with SPEAKS: " and the always attractive I'm In The Mood F.D.R. Speaks-a compr-ehen For Love. Cole Porter's How's YOU1' Ro mance? may not be exactly the singer's sive selection of meinorable particular cup' of espresso but it's always speeches. " ... to hear him a joy to hear. S. G. , '. speak again is to listen once j. ETHEL AZAMA ...... COOL HE~T. more to tHe spirit of 'a 'time Johnny One Note; All I Need Is You; Tim e , that has all too swiftly faded After Time; My. Ship & 8 others. LibertV into history." LST 7142 $4.98 -' (see 'P .. 1-12) Interest : Nice pops vocal Performance: Cool and calm SEPTEMBER 1960 105 Recording: Goocl something went wrong with the sound Recording: Agreable Stereo Directionality: Bland they have been provided with. The record Stereo Directionality: Va bene Sterao Depth: Bland has far too much treble and not enough Stereo Depth: Sufficient range. The teen-age young ladies should Miss Azama, a young singer from Hono While the title of the album would lead not, of course, be blamed for they sing lulu, has a clear, ringing voice with a cool, you to believe this to be a collection of well and the songs are delightful. No almost clinical sound. However, there is Viennese songs, it tUniS out to be a multi· translations are on the jacket. S. G. really no particular spark to it and some lingual recital with the selections sung in times it gets a bit strident. The arrange German, French, Italian, and English. The A AN EVENING AT GOLDIE'S NEW smoky-voiced bistro entertainer is a · per m.ents and the accompaniment (the work YORK-GOLDIE HAWKINS AND WAYNE of Marty Paich) are really topnotch and SANDERS (duo pianos). By Myself; She suasive performer in any tongue, though are probably responsible for the voice Is Not Thinking of Me; Together & 19 others. less so in English than in. the others. (She sounding as good as it does. The voice is Mercury SR60218 $4.98 destroys the meaning of the last line of I Could Write A Book by singing it as heard on left center with a good sprcad Interest: East Side fare behind for the band. R. J. G. Performance: Sparkling team "How to make two lovers be friends.") Recording: Beautiful Stereo does some jolly tricks on Gonda t:. OSCAR BRAND-BOATING SONGS Stereo Directionality: Well done liere in which the singer's voice is heard AND ALL THAT. BILGE with The Sea Stereo Depth: Not apparent echoing left and right, and the superim posing of one tape on another is cleverly Wolves. Ten .Little Fishermen; Yacht Club Goldie Hawkins, the proprietor of an East Blues; Blow Me Home & II others. Elektra done on both Gondoliere and Everybody Side spot proprietarily called Goldie's New EKL 183 $4.98 Loves A Lover. No jacket translations. S.G. York, has joined with his co-pianist, Interest: Not for landlubbers Wayne Sanders, to provide an enormously Performance: Standard Brand pleasing recital of cocktail-style piano play t:. LEO DE LYON-LEO'S HERE. Cheek Recording: Smooth sailing ing. Surprisingly, the program is well To Cheek; How About You?; Bewitched, served by stereo which places each man Bothered And Bewildered & 7 others. lon· Most of Oscar Brand's recent albums· have don 5551 $4.98 . been devoted to. celebrating some of the at a separate speaker but somehow man more Rabelaisian exploits of members of ages to maintain the proper intimacy. The Interest: Minimal the armed forces. Leaving the serviccs in songs are a fine mixtu:re of Rodgers and Performance: Unfortunate favor of the rather select sport of boating, Porter and Schwartz and Loewe and-oh, Recording: Fine you get the idea. S. G. Mr. Brand has now penned similar pieces There is nothing sadder than a dull come dealing with the adventures and misad dian. Mr. DeLyon tries hard to be the life ventures of the yachting classes. As some t:. 100 STRINGS AND ,JONI-I'M IN' THE MOOD FOR LOYE. Exactly like You; of the party, but only succeeds in muti· of the humor requires a firm knowledge Don't Blame Me; You're A Sweetheart·; let's lating nine standard popular songs. The of nautical terms and situations, it would Get lost & 7 others. MGM E 3837 $3.98 final piece, Leo In Africa, is a' narrative seem that the audience for this sort of Interest: For Joni James fans with sound elIects that probably goes over thing would be made up almost exclusive big with the Mau·Mau set. S. G. ly of sailing· enthusiasts. S. G. Performance: Erratic Recording: Good TONY MARTIN AT THE DESERT INN A NEW YORK'S A SONG-RALPH Joni James has a voice whose bad points t:. are continually emphasized by the preten Tq,ny Martin (vocals) with Carlton Hayes DURNS AND HIS ORCHESTRA, WITH' and his Desert Inn Orchestra conducted by,' THE SOUNDS OF THE CITY. I Happen tiousness of her presentation but this does AI Sendrey. So In Love; All Of You; I love To Like New York; Manhattan; Ticker Tape not seem to matter; the LPs keep appear Paris & 8 others. RCA Victor lPM 2146 $3.98 Town & 10 others. Decca DL 79068 $5.98 ing. She ranges from the pitiful to the passable on these tracks, but even at its Interest: For nocturnal romantics Interest: Slight best the album is a bore. The performance Performance: Smooth Performance: Better music than sound Recording: Good Recording: So-so is just too uninspired. R. J. G. Stereo Directionality: Favors right for In terms of what he tries to do and the KATIE LEE-LIFE IS JUST A BED sound effects t:. audiences for which he sings, Tony Martin Stereo Depth: Fair OF' NEU ROSES with Ray Martin and his Orchestra. Case History; We Must Adjust; is a success. At rooms such as Las Vegas' Creating a program of music and sounds When I Was A little Girl & 9 others. RCA Desert Inn (where this was recorded) Mar· to depict. the atmosphere of New York Victor LPM 2214 $3.98 tin projects a richness of voice and a showman's skill at exploiting sentimental City is almost irresistible in the age of Interest: Some clever stuff stereo. Ralph Bums' arrangements of some Performance: Just right ity that beguiles even the. compulsive gam familiar New York-inspired songs (Man ,Recording: Perfe$=t blers. As an interpreter, Martin lacks the hattan, Autumn In New York, etc.) are at penetrating intelligence and musical sensi tractive enough but the accompanying As a result of her successful LP, Songs Of tivity of a Sinatra; but he is consistently sounds of traffic, subways, hansom cabs, Couch And Consultation, Katie Lee has professional and is able to maintain an and the like have been poorly recorded. become the leading exponent of songs deal aura of moonlit romance. If he insists on Moreover, they are almost all heard from ing with all sorts of neuroses and psy singing in French, as in Autumn Leaves, the right speaker. I'm afraid the appeal of choses. Though her new collection is spot he ought to take a few lessons. N. H. the set will have to rest on the ten-page ty, it seems to be at its best in the work portfolio of photographs by Ed Hamilton of Fred Ebb and Paul Klein, nyo gentle men heretofore unknown to me. Three A MABEL MERCER - MEREL\~ MAR and the notes of Gilbert Millstein. YELOUS with the Jimmy Lyons Trio. let's Incidentally, if you are ~nterested in of their numbers are particularly good: eegin; Sell Me;. YFRANK SINATRA. 1/1 Spools-S.plice Free 30·15 KC Freq, Re· Nature Boy; Body And Soul; Where Or sponse-IO Day Money·Back Guarantee Interest: Poor Poe When; All The Things You Are & 8 others. . Pe rformance: Horror st ory Columbia CL 1448 $3.98 3 10 25. Recording: Clean 1200' Acetate . ... ea. $1.29 $1.17 $1.09 Interest: Broad 1800' Acetate . .. . ea. 1.79 1.59 1.45 As if Edgar Allen Poe didn't have enough Performance: Not his best 1800' Mylar ..... ea. 2.09 1.99 1.85 misfortune during his lifetime, RCA seems Recording: Re issues 2400' Mylar ... . :ea.. 3.29 2.99 2.75 determined to inflict additional punish This package is from the Colu mbia, or Any Ass!' ment permitted for quantity discount ment on him. Poe /01' Modems is Buddy Dark Ages, period of Sinatra's recording add postage-15c per spoo/-25 or over 10c Morrow's misguided attempt to create mu- . Deluxe Tape Splicer Special-$2.95 . career when he couldn't make a ' hit for Shure M7 D Diam. Stereo Cart. Special $13.95 sical interpretations of a dozen well-known trying and Colunlbia was busy experi poems and stories, tho'ugh the result menti.ng with all sorts of things that they ~HI-FI PACK .AGE~ sounds less inspired by Poe than by thought .would h!,!lp. Sinatra wasn't happy themes from television's private eye pro . then and a lthough he alw.ays gives his best, at tremendous savings grams. In addition to the orchestra, Keith Be ll carill on #2221 20 W. Stereo ' .there.'s somewhat of a depressed feeling Amp ...... $99.95 McKenna reads Annabel Lee and Vla evident in this collection. The tempos are Bell Cari llon #2222 FM/AM Stereo lume, and a vocal trio ca lled .the Skip Tuner ...... :· ...... : .... 109.95 all slow and sometimes dreary, and the Jacks do what they can to r uin The Bells accompanimen t of strings and sometimes Garrard RC-210 4/SP Stereo Changer and The Raven. S. G. and Base ...... 54.45 a vocal group, is a bit on the corny side. Shure M7 D' Di amond Stereo . (GOOdIJ.ight h-ene "especially.) However, Cart ridge ... . : ...... 24.00 6. JACKIE PARIS SINGS THE LYRICS 2-Uni versity S-80-2 way Speaker . on Natw-e' Boy it's really the King of pop Systems ...... '. 11 9:9'5 OF IRA GERSHWIN wit h O rchestra, Irving vocalists in full form. R . ]. G. Jacobs condo The Girl That Got Away; Th is . R e~ula r Catalog Price 4iiii:3ii Is New; Sure Thing; There's No Holding Me YOUR COST 255.00 & 8 others. Time 70009 $3 .98 A KAY STARR-MOVIN' ON BROAD· YOU SAVE ALMOST 38% • • :si'53.30 W/liY! with Orchestra, Van Al exander cond_ Interest: Only in the songs Heart; C'est Magnifique; Just In Time & 9 Don't like our package-Let us Quote on yo urs Performance: Weak and affected by return ai r m a il ~ No obligation. Let us prove ot[1e rs. Capitol ST 137A $4.98 the Statement " We Will Not Be Und ersold." H Recording: Satisfactory Interest: Some Alost standard brand - Hi-Fi components I ra Gershwin seems at last to be coming' Performqnce: Bluesy approach Kits and Tape Recorders in Stacie and, avail: able for immediate deliver1l. into his own as a writer worthy of having Record ing: Tops entire alb.ums devoted ~o h is lyrics. T his Stereo Directionality: Satisfactory is, however, the firsL one in which he is Stii>reo Depth: Fine represen ted withou t any songs by brolher Kay Starr's steel ' fi le Gf a voice cuts ( George, and it's a joy to hear the con through twelve Broadway sh ow tunes and sistentlY,fine work he provided witli such promptly transforms .them into vehicles 108 H i F i /ST E R E O for her own very personal jazz approach. high octane, or in making the lyric seem tracks to show off the wide variety of mu Thus, Heart (pronounced "he-a-art") be to apply to a couple of hot-rod juvenile sical expressions the brass seCtion is cllpa comes a sincere song of faith; I've Grown delinquents. Similarly, On The Street ble of. Peri to's work is the flashiest as it Accustomed To His Face is a crooning Where You Live, a song of amorous fidel is used for Latin American rhythms, lullaby; and I Love Paris is transformed ity, is swung and scat to such an extent Schoen does the slower, moodier pieces, into a joyous jump tune, complete, with that it now makes the young swain appear ' and Harris, possibly the most imaginative, a dreadful non-Porter patter about raising to be merely impatient to high tail it off handles such an apparently unlikely quar Cain on the River Seine_ S. G. the street as quickly as possible. Mr. tet as the Sabre Dance, The Toy Trumpet, Torme is a sensitive musician. That he Holiday For Strings, and Parade Of The • DAKOTA STATON SINGS BALLADS is capable of better work makes the cur Wooden Soldiers. AND THE BLUES:--Dakota Staton (vocals) rent release more unfortunate. S. G. Tqe Sound Of Musical Pictures, the sec with Orchestras conducted by Sid Feller and ond album, really pulls out aU the stenio Eddie Wilcox. Romance In The Dark; Time b,., THE BIG. BIG VOICE OF LOVELACE Was; Come Home & 9 others. Capitol ST stops as it utilizes sound effectS as part WATKINS. When I Fall In Love; Where of the musical selections. Thus, The Whis 1387 $4.ge Or When; You Do; I Could Write A Book & 8 others. MGM E 3831 $3.98 tler And His'Dog includes ;'not only the Interest: Spotty title characters 'but a whole chorus, of Performance: Often self-conscious Interest: Emotional pops Recoraing: Good canines for, 'a grand finale of yelping and Stereo Directionality: Tasteful Performance: Like Roy Hamilton bax:king; Napoleon'S Last Charge has the Stereo Depth: Realistic Recording: Good . entire French army march in strict 'forma This is a new singer with a big, emotional tion from right to left, fight the battle, On four numbers, Miss Staton is· accom and then retreat left to right in the same panied primarily by strings, harp' and voice that he uses with full bag of tricks at every possible moment. There's an over- strict formation; The Teddybears' Picnic rhythm. On the others, she's supported by , tone of rhythm and blues style in the is a brigh t, pastoral piece with the frol- a regular band. She is at her best on throaty vibrato but he does swing. Roy o icking bears (plus crickets, birds, and' quasi-rhythm-and-blues numbers which Hamilton is obviously a great influence crows) heard from all over. The sound ef allow her to release some of her natural on Watkins and the sharp, swinging ar. fects an! the work of Bob Prescott, a drive but even there, she occasionally rangements of Ray Ellis make the best of gentleman who will undoubtedly go far in sounds contrived. On ballads, she remains the situation. The members range from a the world'of stereo. stiff all(~ she tends to emphasize the senti medium slow (and romantic) When I Fall Strings h,ave been beal,ltifully served by mentality of tunes that are ab;eady too In Love'done with strings, to Hello, Young the ,sonorous sound heard on Medallion soggy with adolescent daydreams. Miss Lovers in a walking tempo with the band 7502. Fra~k Hunter's arrilngements are in Staton is at a hazardous point in her, ca sounding very swingy behind him. R. J. G: commendably good taste throughout, with reer. Her initial impact is ebbing and the violin section frequently broken up to she has yet to create a striking, in,tegrated' . perform duets with itself as well as with style of her own. N. H. COLLECTIONS violas, and cellos. The package' features such eminent bowmen as Arnold Eidus, b,. PAT SUZUKI LOOKING AT YOU. • THE SOUND OF TOP BRASS-THE Dav,id Nadien. Emmanuel Vardi, Harvey Small World; Easy Living; Cheek To Cheek; PETER LONDON ORCHESTRA, ART HAR Shapiro, George' Ricci, and David Soyer. My Funny Valentine & 7 others. RCA Victor RIS, NICK PERITO, VIC SCHOEN CONDo There is also, I might, add, a violinist ' LPM 2186 $3.98 ' Sabre Dance; Holiday For Strings; Among named Emanuel Fiddler. ' & Interest: Broad My Souvenirs; Mood Indigo 9 others. The final recording of the group, The Performance: Slick Kapp Medallion 7500 $5.98 Sound Of A Chorus, is the 'least appealing Recording: First-rate both ~usically a'nd stereophonically. Los • THE, SOUND OF MUSICAL PIC. C;ompafleros de Mexico, a vocal group of This LP has the best accompaniment Miss TURES - MEDALLION CONCERT BAND, , eighteen men, sound as if they were forced Suzuki has ever had ... the Ralph Burns RALPH HERMANN CONDo The Midnight to performduI'ing siesta, time, and Carlos Orchestra. Burns is past master of the art Fire Alarm; BEln-Hur Chariot Race; In A Persian Ma~ket & 7 others. Kapp Medallion Ramirez's rough-edged voice is of little of accompanying singers as he dearly . 7501 $5.98 help. Moreover, the group is 'heard n:om shows here. He never lets her get into a betwtlen the two speakers rather than from position of trying something that does • THE SOUND OF S·TRINGS t;xtr€mity to extremity. not lie right for her voice, and since 'she MICHAEL LEIGHTON AND HIS ORCHES Each of the records is enclosed in an does not have a very flexible instrument, TRA. Cheek To Cheek; Sleepy Lagoon; attractive flap album containing detailed this is a clear and present danger. It's Little White Lies & 9 others. Kapp ,Medal liner notes by Paul Myers. All the album a nice sounding album but really is only lion 7502 $5.98 covers show a medallion bearing the pro for those who are already pre·sold on the A THE SOUND OF A CHORUS-LOS file of' an unidentified gentleman who charming Pat Suzuki. R. J. G. COMPAAEROS DE MEXICO. FEATURING looks like a skinny-C:hester A. Arthur. S. G. CARLOS RAMIREZ. Adios Muchachos; EI • MEL TORMII SWINGS SHUBERT Relicario;, Adios mi Chaparrita & 9 others. THEATER, FILMS, TV ALLEY with the Marty Paich Orchestra. Kapp Medallion 7503 $5.98 On The Street Where You Live; Hello, Interest: For the stereo set A ,BELLS ,ARE RINGING (Jure StYne Young Lovers;, Whatever I..ola Wants &, 9 Betty Comden-Adolph Gre!ln). Original others. Verve MG VS 6146 $5.98 Performance: First three first rate; last one fair soundtrack recording. Judy Holliday, Dean Interest: little Recording: Rich, resonant sound Martin, Eddie Foy, Jr., & others,with Orches Performance: III-advised Stereo Directionality: Impressive on first tra & Chor,us, Andre Previn condo Capitol Recording:' Splendid three; not so much SW 14~5 $5.98 Stereo Directionality:, Unnecessary so on last Interest: Attra'!:tive'score Stereo Depth: All right Stereo Depth: All great Performance: A bit self-conscious There is, of tourse, nothing inflexible Kapp Records has now created a line of Recording: Great presence_- about show tunes, but enough is enough. Stereo Directionality: Gouldn't be better super-sonic showcase albums which, col Stereo Depth: Excellent Instrumental, groups can swing Shubert lectively, present some of the most au Alley or Tin Pan Alley or anyplace else, rally impressive work yet heard on stereo. On the:.s'tage, the success of Bells Are Ring but a singer cannot indiscriminately give The over-all effect of all the five recQtd -, ing was due pretty much to Judy Holliday a song an up-tempo beat for the simple ings is that of an uncolllmonly spacious who 'managed to invest the tale of an an reason that 'the lyric then usually becomes sound with attentign given to botl!. the swering service. ope);ator. with her own meaningless. For ,example, R-odgers and highs and the lows wit40uf sacrificing' special brand of wholesomeness, warmth, , Hammerstein have never written a more quality' on either.. " ,', and_addle-b.rained comedy. Judged by the, moving piece of love and faith than Hello, Medallion 7500 features the arrange recording of -the, soundtnick, the film ver ,Young Louers. Nothing is gained by treat ments of Art Harris, Nick Peri to, and- Vic sion is still pretty much of a Judy Holli ing the melody as if it were in need of Schoen, each of whom has been given four day show, though she now has adopted an SEPTEMBER 1960 109 almost self-conscious winsomeness that there. After his brilliant work for Gypsy, makes her singing far less genuine than Styne apparently felt in need of a rest; his PUR.CHASING in her original performance. (For com melodies have little appeal and seem parison, listen to the Broadway cast re somewhat inappropriate to the children's cording on Columbia OL 5170.) And wonderland they are intended to c:-!lebrate. ·1 HI-FI though Dean Martin, Miss Holliday's lead George Weiss, who furnished the lyrics for ing man, sings acceptably, he does not the musical Mr. Wonderful, is of no help seem to be completely at ease in his role. with some pseudo-sophisticated, cliche-rid SYSlE M?· The score has been left more or less dled verses, The Chicago Fire, sung by PARTIAL LIST OF BRANDS intact. Do It Yourself, a minor item, has Earl Wrightson, is a rather well-done nar IN STOCK been added to replace On My Own, and rative, but the tributes to New York, San Send Us Altec: Lansing Elec:trovolc:e , the brightly contrapuntal Better Than A Francisco, and New Orleans make them all Jensen. Stephens Dream, which had been added to the score sound like the. well-known metropolis of Your Hartley • Janzen University. KLH* during the New York run, has also been Dullsville. S. G. Ac:oustlc: Researc:h retained for the film. I'm rather sorry, List Of Jim Lansing· .... LlnLE MARY SUNSHINE·IRick Be Wharfedale however, that Is It A Crime? and Long Karlson Cabinets Before I Knew You were among the five soyan). Original cast recording. Eileen Components Viking .Hallierafter numbers left out. But it is amusing to Brennan, William Graliam, Elmarie Wendel. Conc:ertone John McMartin, Mario Siletto & ofhers with Bell. G.E. compare the changes in the lyric of Drop Weathers Orchestra & Chorus, Glenn Osser condo For A Harman-Kardon That Name, a song that is little more than Capitol SWAO 1240 $6.98 Elc:o • Pilot an inventory of current celebrities. Indi Ac:rosound Interest: Delightful spoof Package Quad Ampl & 5pkrs' viduals such as Humphrey Bogart and Dual Changer Errol Flynn had to be eliminated,' of Performance: Topnotch company Bogen • Leak course, and the team of Debbie and Ed Recording: Very good Quotation Dynaklt • Fisher Stereo Directionality: Used well H. H. Scott die has been updated to Lizzie and Eddie. Uher Rec:order Stereo Depth: Well done WE WON'T BE Sherwood* Not unreasonably, they've even found UNDERSOLD! Thorens* credit room for Arthur Freed, the film's The delights of Rick Besoyan's takeoff on Ampex • DeWald old-fashioned operettas were enumerated Sony. Roberts ' producer. . A 11 merchandise Challenger The stereo effects have been well done in the May issue, when I reviewed the is brand new, Wollensak mono set. Effective use is made of stereo factory fresh & Garrard. Pentron throughout, though most noticeably in guaranteed. Miraeord • Noreleo Just In Time. This one gets the full treat right from the start when the brave Forest Glaser-Steers Rangers come tramping in from the left Rek-O-Kut ment, with Miss Holliday and Mr. Martin Comaonents singing and dancing and cutting up all to sing their stirring marching song. There Tandberg· is some comic movement on Once In A AIREX . Fairc:hild over the place. S. G . Pic:kering • Gray Blue Moon though perhaps the funniest Audio Tape l:!. THE CHAPLIN REVUE {Charles Chap is in Such A Merry Party, in which El Maqnec:ord* lin Soundtrack recordings from A DOG'S RADIO Artizan Cabinets I. marie Wendel is continually popping out CORPORATION Roc:kford Cabinets LIFE, SHOULDER ARMS, & THE PILGRIM. on all sides of the spread-out chorus. S. G. • Fair Traded. Orchestra conducted by Eric Spears. Decca 64-MR Cortlandt St., N. Y. 7, CO 7-2137 DL 4040 $3.98 A THE NEW MOON (Sigmund Romberg Oscar Hammerstein II): WHITE HORSE 1nterest: Yes indeed INN {Robert Stolz-Ralph Benatzky-Rob Performance: Perfect UNHAPPY ert Gilbert-Harry Graham!; THE GIRL Recording: A bit faded FRIEND (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart). WITH "HI" It is always amazing to listen to a film Doreen Hume. Bruce Trent, The Michael HI-FI PRICES? score written by Charlie Chaplin. Even Sammes Singers with Johnny Gregory and his Orchestra. Epic BN 566 $4.98 Write us your hi-Ii needs if you did not know who wrote it or for -you'll be pleasantly sur what purpose it was composed, so much Interest: Old favorites prised. Ask Jor our free of the Chaplin character comes through Performance:- Good voices audio catalog, too. that the listener can easily see the pa Recording: Bit too much treble KEY ELECTRONICS CO. thetic little tr~p getting into one scrape Stereo Directionality: Too much 120 Liberty 51. Stereo Depth: Some N.Y. 6, N.Y. after another. Epic presents Doreen Hume, and Bruce CLoverdale '8-4288 According to the rather vague liner notes, the sound tracks on this release were Trent-in no less than three well-remem recently orchestrated in England. There is bered musicals. Musical comedy fans will no information, however, about whether probably be completely perplexed by . ifJr MAIL ORDER HI-FI ~ they were purposely made for reissued ver what passes for four excerpts from Rodgers sions of tqe ancient films, nor is there any and Hart's The Girl Friend. For these You can now purchase all your Hi-Fi from one explanation for the slightly faded quality songs-The Girl Friend, Blue Room, reliable source and be assured of perfect Mountain Greenery, and I'm In Love by delivery. We deliver from NY stock most of the sound. It's no matter really, as the components, recorders & tape within 24 hours. album is a delight and one that no Chap Con Conrad and Gus Kahn-were from an SEND US A LIST OF YOUR HI-FI REQUIRE lin fan will want to pass up. S. G. English musical called The Girl Friend, MENTS FOR OUR WHOLESALE QUOTATION which in spite of some Rodgers and Hart and our FREE wholesale cafa/ogile. .... l:!. FREEDOMLAND U.S.A.,' (Jule songs, had nothing to do with the Amer 125-%E.88St. Styne-George Weiss). Johnny Horton, Jill ican show of the same name. CARSTOM New York 28, N. Y. Corey, Richard Hayes, Jimmy Rushing. Cliff Both Miss Hume and Mr. Trent are Arquette, Earl Wrightson with Orchestra, placed at opposite speakers for solos and Frank DeVol condo Columbia CS 8275 $4.98: duets, and there they remain for the Mono CL 1484 $3.98 entire record. S. G. 1nterest: Tin Pan Alley Land l:!. THE BEST OF JULE STYNE-THE You bel we'd be••••• Performance: Valiant If we were to tell you Recording: Needs bass GOLDEN DOZEN. Tony Bennett: Polly .Yl about AUDION's Stereo Directionality: Effective for Chi Bergen; Les Brown and his Orchestra; Carol ( II OUt of this World'. cago Fire Channing; Doris Day; The Four Lads; Harry HI Fl Values. Stereo Depth: Little James and his Orchestra; Johnny Mathis; Write for free catalog. Kirby Stone Four. The Party's Over; It's Freedomland, as if I hal! to tell you, is Magic; Together & 9 others. Columbia CL New York's answer to Disneyland, and 1462 $3.98 . audidn Jule Styne's and George Weiss's answer to Interest: Jule's jewels 25- K Oxford Road Freedomland is a collection of ten songs t Massapeq'ua, New Yark Performance: Varies dealing with various attractions found no Recording: Generally satisfactory • H i.F i 1ST ERE 0 SEPTEMBER 1960 III , . ''''ith the exception of Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne is the most prolific and suc· cessful composer currently wTiling for the - theater. It is therefore amazing to note tha t this is the first collection of his songs 'assembled for an LP album. All of the numbers have been culled from previously released sing:les, and range from Styne's first published song, Sunday, in 1927, to tlu'ee selections from G}'psy. SOIue of the MOVING recordings are almost twenty years old but Make sure You. notify our. sub the sound is seldom less than accept able throughout. S. G. scription d'epartment apout any THE FINEST OF ITS KIND ••• Get more FM stations with the world's most SPOKEN change of' address. Be sure to powerful FM Yagi Antenna ~y stems. 1nclude your postal zone num !:::, BEAT GENERATION-VOL. 1. H ugh To be fully informed, Romney; J ohn Brent; Len C ha ndle r. Musi ber as well as both old and new send 25~ for book tron MID I $4.98 "Theme And Varia· addresses. Please allow four tions" by L F B. Carini Interest: Curiosity piece weeks' time for processing. and containing FM Pe rformance: Like amateur night Station Directory. Recording: Poor HiFi/STEREO REVIEW APPARATUS DEVELOPMENT CO. If you have been just dying to hear what 434 South Wabash Ave., Chicago 5, Illinois a real beatnik nigfit club Aoorshmv sounds Wethersfield 9, Connecticut like, your chance 'has come. R ecorded duro ing a performance at the Gaslight Cafe .' in lew York-'s Greenwich Village ("Mecca of the Bea ts ;" according to the liner notes), , here are the pl'etentious poetic dribble of Hugh Romney, the occasionally bright but excessively shrill satire of John Brent, and the innocuous folk singing of Len Chan AIR MAIL us your dler. Incidentally, no one applauds after requirements for an the performances. Because the tenants in the building above the mecca complain, IMMEDIATE WHO audience approval is registered by finger Components, Tapes and Recorders SHIPPED snapping. S. G. PROMPTLY AT LOWEST PRICES Newest method of record storage. Quick-Sec Album File t::, F.D.R. SPEAKS-AUTHORIZED EDI. 'unlimited . rells smoothly forward on 'ball bearings for easy front-view, TION OF SPEECHES 1933-1945. Wash '714.5 Lex. ;'ve., N. Y. 22, N. Y. , flill-through se lection. Albums rest on wide bars. Capacity ington W·FDR 6 12" $29.95 AUDIO fifty 1211 , Quickly and eas ily installed tn your cabI net, closet or shelves. Now only $7.95, ppd. Specify black wrought iron, brass, or cop per finish. Also available with Interest: For ' everyone cab inet shown . Send check or money order to' : KERSTING Performance: A master MFG. CO., 504 A S. Date. Alhambra. Calif. Dealers inquire. Recording: Varies In bringing out this six-record album of ,\ \ I. I 1/ 1,/ GENUINE speeches by Fraliklin D. Roosevelt, Wash ington Records has performed a distinct • DIAMOND NEEDLE service to the record·buying public. For R,E:N'T Roosevelt was surely the one individual ONLY $2.95 who dominated the years from 1933 to stereo ta.pes No need to pay fantastic prices for a diamond need le. If your nee dle is replaceable chances a re 1945; to hear him sp~ak again is to listen • Over 1500 different albums All Labels 10 to 1 that we can replace it for only $2,95. once more to the spirit of a time that has Simply remove your old needle from the cartridge, all too swiftly faded into history. • 2·track and 4·track t ape it to a . piece of paper with you r name a nd add ress, enclose $2.95 check or money order a nd Excerpts from thir.ty·three speeches • No deposit on tapes rented mail to us. By return Air Mail postpaid, we will send you a brand new genuine diamond needle fo r (plus one written just before Roosevelt's • Postpaid to and from your home exact replacement. Your old needle wi ll also be death a nd read by his son, Franklin D. fREE !ROCHURE ~ returned. Complete satisfaction or mhney back. In rare cases where we cannot furnish replacement Roosevelt, J1'.) have been edited by Hen· , stereo-parti .if. your money and heedle will be returned by Air ry Steele Commager so that they reveal Mail. No COD's. 811·B CENTINELA AVE" INGLEWOOO 3. CALIF. the many public facets of the Roosevelt SOUND ACCESSORIES personality. Here again are his four in· P.O. Box 3402 Oklahoma City, Okla. augural addresses ... his fireside chats . .. two State of the Union messages . .. cam.paign speeches ... the declaration of war ... the D·Day prayer . . .. the report to Congress on the Yalta conference. NEVER FAIL-ZONE YOUR MAU. Throughout; Roosevelt was always the leader, always the man of purpose. There The Post Office has divided 106 cities into postal de was determination in his first inaugu'ral address as he spoke to a nation in the livery zones to speed mail delivery. Be sure to include depths of the depression, and there was the same determination in his last speech zone numbe'r when writing to these cities; be sure to as he spoke of his -plans for a world at indude zone number in return address peace. Never content with short·term your your remedies, Roosevelt always seemed ',to ha've after the city. before the stat~. the vision o!-a bright future uppeunost in:' his mind. His abi'Jity ' to communicate that vision was remarkable iIi. his time; it is no less so fifteen years after his death. S. G. 112 HiFi/STEREO RATE: 40¢ per word. Minimum 10 words. November issue closes S.eptember 8th. Se-nd order and remittance to: Martin Lincoln. HiFifSTEREO REVIEW. One Park Ave., N.V.C. 16. TAPE recorders, Hi-Fi components, Sleep Learning Equipment, tapes_ Unusual values_ Free Catalog_ EQUIPMENT and Dressner, 69-02HF 174 Street, Flushing 65, New YorK _ STEREO Tapes , Quality, 300 FT_ Sample 1.00, 1200FT ACCESSORIES 3_00, lIiOOFT 4_50, List _04 _ Cope , 420 W_ 37 St_, Los Ang~les 7, Calif_ VIKING Professional Stereo Tape Deck, Mod . 95 , with HI-FI Components-Tape Recorders_ All brands In 4 Track Head, in original carton, Brand New, $4.00, stock at "We W,ill Not Be Undersold Prices." Quota Long, Box 3202 , Lafayette, Lou isiana . tions. Free Wholesale Catalog return mail. Hi-Fidelity RENT Stereo Tapes-over 1500 different-all major A HANDY GUIDE TO PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, 'NOT Center, 1797HC First Ave., New York 28, N. Y. labels-free catalog. Stereo-Parti, 81l-G Cent'nela NECESSARILY IN THE HIGH FIDELITY FIELD, BUT OF Ave_, Ingleside 3, California. WIDE GENERAL INTEREST. PRICES? The Best! Factory-sealed HI-Fi Components? Yes! Send for Free Catalog. Audion , 25R Oxford Road, SELF-Hypnosis tape . New! Free literature. McK'nley Massapequa, N. Y. Smith Co., Dept. T4, Box 3038, San Bernardino, Calif. .WRITE for quotation on any ' HI-FI components . EXCELLENT quality recording tape-7" reels. 30-1500 PHOTOGRAPHV-FltM, cps guaranteed : 1200' Acetate, 3/3.90-6/ 7.50; 1800' ~t~~el~ef_~o:~t.tion Inc., 34 New St., Newark, N. J. Acetate, 3/ 5.10-6/ 10.00; 1200' Mylar, 3/ 4.80-6/ 9.00; 1800' Mylar, 3/ 6.60-6/ 13.00. Special: 2400' EQUlPME~T, SERVICES DISGUSTED with "HI" HI-FI Prices? Unusual Dis Mylar, 3/ 7.20-6/ 14.25 . Plus 15¢ PP & Handl ing per counts On Your High Fidelity Requirements. Write ~e:~. y~~~~ Sound, 88 Harbor Road, Port Washington, OPTICAL-Science-Math Bargains. Request Free Giant Key Electronics, 120 Liberty St., New York 6, N. Y. C~talog "CJ". 128 Pages. Astronomica l Telescopes, CLoverdale 8-4288. RECORDING Tape 1800' Mylar $1.89, 10 for $18 .00; Microscopes, Lenses, Binoculars, Kits, Parts; Amazing COMPONENTS, Recorders . Free Wholesale Catalogue. 2400' Mylar $2 .95 , 10 for , $27.50. First quality, war surplus bargai ns. Edmund Scientific Co., Barring Carston, 125-L East 88, N. Y.C. 28. . splice-free, brand new, manufactured by one of the ton, New Jersey. top four U.S. tape companies . Absolutely uniform AUTO Rad io Distributor selling servicing Becker Blau frequency response. G.E. VR II 3-play diamond car punkt, FM-AM, other European, American Sets. Save tridge' $9.95 (reg. $19.95). ESL arms $26 .75 (reg. 30%+ Square Electronics, 150-60 Northern Blvd., $34.95). Wollensak 1515-4's ' $159.95. Free stereo Flushing, N. Y. cartridge (your choice to $25.00) with the purchase SOUNDTASTlC! That's what our customers are saying of any changer and ba se. Many more bargains; write BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES upon re ceiving our prices on our latest High Fidelity for catalog. All Items unconditionally guaranteed. ~ ~ Stereo and Monaural, amplifiers, tuners, turntables, The Sound Room, 7959 Melrose Ave ., Los Angeles 46, ~~~~~~ ______~ ____-u ______~~bl speakers, tape recorders, kits. All brand new with California. ' factory guarantee. Individual quotations only. No ORGAN Ta~ e Converting Piano knowledge to Organ. MAKE $25-$50 Wee k. clipping newspaper Items for catalogues. Audio World, 2057 Coney Island Avenue , Chord Chart-Six numbers-15 Hammond Combina publishers_ Some clippings worth $5.00 each. Particu Brooklyn 23, New York. Dept. HR. tions. Pri r.e $12.00. Popular Piano Course on Tape ~:~ V~r~. National, 81-DG, Knickerbocker Station, arranged especially for Teachers, Semi-Advanced and WESTERNERS! Save Money on Your Components! Free BUSINESS cards $3.75 Thousand postpaid, Free sam Delivery and Advisory Service. Special Prices on Classical students or for anyone who can read Treble Clef. Play popular music with Fill_ Complete Course ples. Imagination, Box 761, Hollywood 28, Calif_ Package Deals . Charles Munro-Audio Components, 475 -Covers all Scales . Chart and Six Numbers included Linden Ave., Carpinteria, Calif. . in Course. $12 .00. Introductory Offer for piano tape AMPEX, Concertone, Magnecord, Presto, Bogen, Tand only-First lesson $2.00, if satisfied, send balance berg, Pentron, Sherwood, Rek-O-Kut, Scott, Shure, for complete course. Recorded on Ampex-7.5. Bob Dynakit, others, Trades. Boynton StudiO, Dept. HM, Miller Tapes, P.O. Box 132-H, Cranford, N. J. t 10 Pennsylvania Ave., Tuckahoe , N. Y. CASH for used Short-Wave ham receivers, transmitters and accessories. Treger, W91VJ . 2023F N. Harlem GIGANTIC Collection Free! Includes triangles, early Ave_ , Chicago 35, Tuxedo 9-642.9. . United States, animals, commemoratives, British Colo WRITE for special low Prices on all hi-fi components, nies, high value pictorials, etc. Complete collection tape recorders, etc. Individual Quotations only. No plus big illustrated magazine all free. Send 5¢ for catalogues. Classified Hi-FI, Dept. HR , 2375 East 65th postage. Gray Stamp Company, Dept. Z2 , Toronto, Street, Brooklyn. New York. HI-FI Ooctor- WIII so;ve your hi-fi problems on-the Canada _ spot. Acoustic, Audio, Radio Engineer. Stereo-design MARANTZ Stereo Preamp Mod 7, Original Carton, Sac Ing. Professional visits, day, evening, New York area_ rifice, $200. long, Box 3202, Lafayette, Louisiana. William Bohn , PLaza 7-8569, weekdays. HI Q impregnated crossover coils, any type, any fre ALL Makes of HI-Fi Speakers Repaired. Amprite, 168 quencies, with full instructions. Price list. AI W. 23 St., N. Y. C. 7, CH 3-4812. - EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION Brewster, 2838 Parkview, Alhambra, Calif_ PRECISION Receiver Alignment-FM-$5; FM/AM-$9. AUDIO Accessories-best prices-free catalog. Audio Hi-Fi Equipment meticulQusly serviced. Kit problems tone Recording Services, P. O. Box 9, Port. Washing- solved. L P6l1ack ~ Wesjbury, l. I. ED-4-4490. EARN Extra money seiling advertising book matches_ ton, N. ' Y. ' Free samples furnished. Matchcorp, Dept. MD-90, REMOTE Control for Citizen Band Units. Write Manu Chicago 32, Illinois. facturer Frontie r Electronic, Orr, Minnesota. HIGH Pay Overseas, Domestic jobs. Men, Women. TV & Radio Tube s-All top Name Brands-R. C. A., etc_ Generous Benefits. Companies Pay. Transportation. -6-10-5% . Full replacements. Regular Boxed . No For info; write: World Wide, Dept. E2, 149 N. Franklin Joblets of closeouts. (Representatives wanted for all St., Hempstead, N. Y. States.) Radio Tube Specialists, 397-7th Avenue, OVERSEAS Employment. America n Firms and Un ited Brooklyn 15, N. Y. . States Government. Comprehensive job Information SONGS into Dollars! Share $33 million dollars yearly $2.00. Foreign Opportunities, Box 172, Columbus 16, TUBES-T.V. and Radio tubes, Guaranteed-Save up for New Songwriters, songpoets. Any subject, songs Ohio . to 80%-Write: Emkay Electronics, P.O. Box 142, composed, published , promoted by largest firm. In Blythe~ourne Station, Brooklyn 19, N_ Y. ' formation, appraisal Free. Send Nordyke Music Pub -'iT lishers, 6000 Sunset, Hollywood 283, California. POEMS Needed to be set to music and recorded. Send poems today for Free examination. Ascot Music, Inc., MISCELLANEOUS 6021 Sunset Blvd ., Hollywood 28, Calif., Studio SOL "WINEMAKING," "Beer, Ale Brewing," "Cider." Methods, illustrated, $3,00. Eaton Bookstore, Box .BUSINESS otipO~'tUNITIES 1242-VF, Santa Rosa, California. STEREOPHONIC Components, Recorders, Tapes. Pack DIESEL Injector Parts and Fuel Pumps Wanted. GM51- age Quotes. Bayla Co., 1470-R Elmer Rd. , Wantagh, 53-71-110, Hi-Fi, 2093 East 19th Street, Cleveland 15, ~~ , Ohio. $250.00 WEEKLY Spare Time with a Tape Recorder! -SKYS:"C'"R"'A"'P"E"R'- H"e-=e'l "SLh "'oe:-:s"', "WiT.:-:-=p-'_w:7"i"'s 1 Photo LOW Quotes on everything HiFi & Stereo Tapes. Bar Proven . Guaranteed, Tested Plan $2.00 (Refundable). as a t;-:e"'d'C"'o:-:r::-se::;tC:C~' gain' Li st: HiFi, Dept. H3, Roslyn, Pa . - Dixieland Sound, Asheboro 5, N. C. Catalogs, $2.00. Finec raft, Box 442-P, Hollywood 28, Calif. LEARN While Asleep_ Hypnotize with your recorder, $$$ SPARETIME with your recorder-Audio Greeting B I ZA:-;R"R"E~F"'a:-:s'i:'h ;-:io:::n ::;s !;--'I"II :-:-:us:-'t-;;:ra:-'t ::Ced:;---;;C:::-at'~a:o.lo:-:g::-:u-;:-e,-$""1' .'"00"-. phonograph or amazing new Electronic Educator end Cards-Details free. Audiographic Laboratories, 2913 Renee, Box 2804-P, Hollywood 28, Calif. less tape recorder. Catalog, details free_ Sleep Santa Fe, Independence, Missouri. Learning Association, Box 24-ZD, Olymp ia, Washington. WOODWORKI NG Catalog and Manual • • Brand New '1961 Edition! World 's largest selection ' 6f domestic - im TAPES copied to Hi-Fi Discs. Free price list ported woods-materials. tools e - supplies, do-it-your Vance Studios, 3409 Grand Ave., Oakland, Calif. se lf plans, projects: 1,,0 pages, many full color. PROFESSIONAL Recording Tape-First Quality of Prime MISCELLANEOUS Send 25¢ (refunded first oroer). 'leaf's subscription to Manufacturer. Full Frequency Res ponse _ Polished. "Chips and Chats" included -Free. Constantine, -2050 Lubricated. Money Back Guarantee. Acetate )200' 1'12 Eastchester Road , Dept. M-107, New York 61, N. Y. Mil 4/ $,5 .00 . 1800' 1 Mil 4/$6.65. Mylar 1200' 1'12 KEY chains, personalized ashtrays, smoke sets use Mil 4/ $5 .95. 1800' 1 Mil 4/$8.20. 2400' '12 Mil GOVERNMENT Surplus Receivers, T~an s mitters , Snoop ful novelties for home, .office and gifts. Inexp~nsive 4/$12.60. Postage 15¢ Each. Hisonic, 1212 North erscopes, Parabolic Reflectors, Picture Catalog 1O¢. items. Write for free cat~log . House of Brand, H-5, Park Road , Hollywood, Fla . - Meshna , Malden 48 , Mass. 3458 Fish Avenu'e, New York 69, New York. SEPTEMBER 1960 113 HiFi/Stereo Review ADVERTISER'S INDEX September 196'0 1 r CODE PAGE NO. NO. 69 Airex Radio Corporation...... 110 INFORMATION 3 Allied Rad io ...... 30 2 Altec Lansing Corporation . ... 6, 7 53 Ampex Magnetic Tape Products .. . ' 69 SERVICE 100 Apparatus Deve lopm'Ont C o . . I 12 5 Audio Devices, Inc...... 13 181 A udio Empire ...... 70 H ere's how you can get additional informa 83 A udio Fi delity, Inc ...... , 25 tion, promptly and at no charge, concern 218 Audio Un limited ...... 112 ing the products advertised in this issue of 215 Audion 110 Hi Fi/Stereo Review. This free information 199 Bel Canto Stereophonic Reco rdings 99 will add to your ~1DdeJ.· standing of high 6 Bell Sound Division. . 15 fidelity. and the equipment, rccords and 224 Bi lt Rite Electronics Co. 7.6 t ape n ecessar y foJ.' its fullest enjoyment . 114 Capito l Records .... 12 . 90, 104 , I 225 Carsto n 110 37 Clevite 'Waleo ' 96 Print or type your name and address on Columbia Record Club ...... 9, 89 II I 1 the coupon below. 146 Dynaco, Inc. 32 I 10 EICO ...... 34 I 15 Electro-Sonic La bo ra tories, Inc. 22 Check in the alphabetical advertising index, II Electro-Voice, Inc...... 33, 93 2 left, for the. names of the advertisers in El ectronics Book Service ...... 100, 101 whose products you are interested. 22 6 Electrophono & Parts C o rp . . . ' 96 209 Epic Records ...... 25 200 Fid elitone 8 In front of each advertiser's name is.a 13 Fisher Radio Corporatio n . .. . 27,29, 3 1 code number. Circle the appropriate num· 14 G laser-Steers C o rp. 88 3 ber on the coupon belo.w. You may circle 99 Harman-Kardon ...... 107 as many numbers as you wish . . 4 1 H eath C ompany ...... 16, 17 201 Hi Fidelity Center. 108 223 H orizon .. I, 2 , 3, 2nd Cover Add up the number of requests you have 77 JansZen Loudspeakers ...... 83 made and write the total in the t~tal box. 118 Jensen Manufacturing C o mpany.. I I I 4 228 J errold Electronics Corporation. 4 203 Kersting Mfg. Co. 112 Cut out the coupon and mail it to: 86 Key Electronics Co...... I 10 5 45 La fayette Radio . ..••. . 24 46 London Records ...... 87 12 8 Madison Fi elding ...... 73 Hi Fi/STEREO REVIEW 50 Minnesota \v!ining and Manu- P. O. Box 203 facturing Company ...... 28 VILLAGE STATION 77 Neshaminy Electronic Corp. 83 New York 14,. New York 176 Paco Electronics Company, Inc. ... 95 26 Pilot Radio Corporat ion . 65 222 Prestige Records, Inc 108 HI FI/STEREO REVIEW 60 RCA Victor Popula r Album P.O. Box 203 960 TOTAL NUMBER 0 Cl ub, Th e ... , ...... 3rd C over VILLAGE STATION OF REQUESTS 109 Radio Shack C orp. 103 New York 14, New York 79 Reeves Soundcraft Corp. 75 Please send me additional information concerning the products of the advertisers 66 Rek-O-Kut Company, Inc. 14 whose code numbers I have circled. 29 Scott In c., H. H. · ...... II 30 Sherwood Electronic La boratories, 2 3 5 6 10 11 13 14 26 29 30 31 34 Inc ...... ' ...... " ...... 63 3 1 Shure Brothers, Inc...... 23 36 37 41 45 46 50 53 60 66 69 77 79 82 220 Sound Accessories ...... 112 83 86 99 100 109 111 114 115 118 128 140 146 176 188 Stereo-Parti ...... 112 181 188 189 199 200 201 203 209 214 215 218 220 222 82 Th orens ...... •...... 21 223 224 225 226 228 229 229 Tim\, Re cords Inc ...... - 10 NAME ______140 United Audio ...... , ...... , . . 26 189 United Stereo Tapes ...... 4th C over 34 Un iversity Loud spea kers, Inc...... 67 ADDRESS,______36 Viking of Minneapolis, Inc ...... : . 18 2 14 Wollensak Optical C o mpany...... 79 CITY______ZONE __STATIiiE:- ______I ' Ziff-Dnvi<-Book Division ...... 81 114 PRINTED IN U.S.A. HiFi/,STEREO ~ ! Save on either ' STEREO r or , REGULAR L. Po l through The RCA VICTOR Popular Album Club GLENN MILLER /or $ TERPIECES only o 0 0 if, in a short trial membership, you agree to buy just four additional popular albums from the Club within one year * 3 LONG-PLAYING RECORDS * EXCITING MILLER "FINDS" * DE LUXE LIBRARY CASE No matter what kind of Miller fan you are-from barely lukewarm to sizzling hot-this is an offer you shouldn't pass up. Here is some of the best work done by the band- carefully selected from 900 "air checks" of radio broadcasts from 1940 to 194.2. You'll enjoy the rich sound in these numbers, never released before this album was issued. This $14.98 collection is yours for only $2.00_ It's your exciting introduction to The RCA VICTOR Popular Album Club. Here are some of the other advantages membership brings: • You choose new albums for your collection-withou t hustle or hurry-in the comfort of your own home. • You enjoy the finest stereo or hi-fi music being recorded today by the top stars of RCA VICTOR. NATIONALLY • After purchasing fO llr additional albums, you continue to save almost on e third of the manufacturer's nationally advertised price ADV,ERTISED PRICE $14.98 through the Club's Dividend Album Plan. This plan lets you choose a free album for every two you buy. THE SONGS AND THE ARTISTS IN THIS MEMORABLE COLLECTION To join, simply fill in the membership coupon. Every month you'll BLUES IN THE NIGHT M EMPHIS BLUES receive the Club's magazine, which offers a wide variety of albums Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke, The Modernaires DIG IT MY GAL SAL Ma rion Hutton, Tex Beneke - up to 200 a year. One is singled out as the album of the month. YOU'RE A LUCKY GUY WALKING BY THE RIVER If yo u want it, it comes to you automatically. If you don't want it, Ma ri on Hutton Ray Eberle, The Modernai res WHEN SUMMER IS GONE WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING you can order an alternate or nothing at all by using the simple WABASH BLUES CONFUCIUS SAY form always provided. YOli pay only the nationally advertised price SWEET AND LOW Marion Hutton of $3 .98 (at times $4.. 98) for regular L.P. and $4.98 (at times $5.98) I NEVER KNEW ROSE ROOM LET'S ALL SING TOGETHER WANG WANG BLUES for stereo, plus, in all cases, a small charge for postage and handling. Marion Hutton ONE DOZEN ROSES THINKING OF YOU Ma rion Hutton, Tex Beneke. Th e Modernaires ••••••• ALL ALBUMS ARE 12-lnc h 33lj3 R. P. M . ••••••• ALICE BLUE GOWN SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT The RCA Victor Popul ar Album Club, P. O. Box BO, Village Station, New York 14, N. Y. P146-9 HALLELUJAH! CONVERSATION PIECE Please register me as a member of The RCA V ICTon Popular Album Club and send me the SARONG IF I HAD MY WAY three-record album For the Very First Timc, for wh ich I will pay $2.00 (plus a 8mall NICKEL SERENADE postage and handling charge). agree to buy four other albums offered by th~ Club ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE i: Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke, The Modernaires wi thin one year, for each of which I will be billed at the manufacturer's nationally OH, JOHNNY! OH, JOHNNY!OH! WHISPERING advertised price: regular L.P.s usually S~.98. at tim~s $4.98; stcreo v~ rsio n ~,$4.98, at Marion Hutton OOH! WHAT YOU SAID limes 55.98. (A small postage and handltng charge IS add~d to all p rIc.es.) I hercaft,cr Marion Hutton BLUE AND BROKENHEARTED I need buy only four such albums in any twelve-month period to mamtam membership. I may cancel any time after buying four Club albums (in addition to the three-record DIPSY DOODLE BLUE AFTERGLOW IF YOU WERE THE album in th is introductory offer), but if I continue after my fourth purchase, for every BIRTH OF THE BLUES two albums I buy I may choose a third album free. ROCKIN' CHAIR ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD SWEET POTATO PIPER o REGULAR L. P. Tex Beneke PLEASE CHECK THE DIVISION YOU WISH TO JDlN 0 STEREOPHONIC SWEET LEILANI Marion Hutton YESTERTHOUGHTS SONG OF THE ISLANDS • Mrs. • Ray Eberl e BYE BYE BLUES Mr. f· ------ Miss • SMOKE RINGS SOLID AS A STONEWALL, JACKSON • Address ______• T' AINT NO USE AT ALL GABBY GOOSE • GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART I HEAR A RHAPSODY City Zonc.....-State__ . _ .___ _ Ray Eberl e, Th e Modernaires I'M STEPPING OUT If yo u wish your membership credited to an authorized RCA VICTOR dealer, please fill In below: WITH A MEMORY TONIGHT I CRIED FOR YOU Ray Eberle THIS CHANGING WORLD Dealer . .. WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME Ray Eberle @ ~~~dc~~ a~~~~ b ~ ~~I ~:;ig abnea~r:~' ~~t;::::!~sC~~eb~~~~rne~ ~~!~ !O a~eJi~~i~t~e~ ~~~yUir ~~ ' f~~~e~~\~~li~~ THE BLUES SERENADE MARIE IMPORTANT-PLEASE NOTE. This Glenn Miller collector's item is regular L.P. SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD BLUE SKIES and can never be made available in stereo. The records can be played on A LOVE SONG HASN'T BEEN SUNG SOLITUDE stereophonic phonographs-in fa ct, th ey' ll sound better than ever. However, Ray Eberle A·TISKET A-TASKET stereo records are designed to be played ONLY ON STEREO EQUIPMENT. SOME OF THESE DAYS Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Start with tape. Ali recorded music does. That's because tape is the accepted quality standard for ali recording sessions . . . why tape masters are used to make monophonic and stereo discs. Because· there!s nothing to wear or scratch, the fidelity of yo~r · tape is the same the 5th, 15th or 115th time you pla.y it. Make your selection .from the hundreds of tapes now available at lead ing hi fi salons, music stores and tape machine dealers. For complete catalog, write: 1024 Kifer Road , Sunnyvale, California, UNITED STEREO TAPES. YT MUSIC SOUNDS BEST ON TAPE