12-inch Records 5s. 6d.; 10-inch 3s. 6d. THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (Conducted by SIR EDWARD ELGAR) 12-inch Record, Ss. 6d. Carissima Elgar IKISCH and Landon Ronald have shown their delight in the artistic perfection of " His Master'sN Voice " Gramophone by conducting great orchestras in our recording laboratories. Now we add the name of Elgar-a name synonymous in English minds with all that is best in modern composing and conducting. And it is both as conductor and composer that we present this dis- tinguished artist in this notable new record. All England has been talking about his newest work, " Carissima. " As befits its title, " Dearest One," this charming composition breathes throughout the spirit of true love which, for once, runs smoothly. The rich sonorous melodies have a measured flow which captivates the ear from the opening bar. Fascinating is the phrase, constantly recurrin g-ýý Cantadil=ý- I i-ýI ý- a-- - fir -i 0 Impressive harmonies lead up to a happy passage triumphantly rendered by the full strength of the orchestra. Throughout we feel the master-hand controlling the performance-not a phrase, not a note but is played exactly as its author conceived it. The tone and general ensemble of this delightful record are remarkable even in these days of perfect orchestral records such as have made music-lovers take " His Master's Voice " Gramophone so closely to their hearts. Sir Edward Elgar photographed in the Recording Room while conducting " Carissima" A record worthy of the international, reputation of Sir Edward Elgar-a record that will appeal to every lover of music. (Speed 78) Published by Messrs. Elkin & Co., Ltd BERLIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (conducted by Dr. ALFRED HERTZ) 12-inch Records, 5s. 6d. 040776 Parsifal-Charfreitagszauber (Good Friday Music) Part I. Wagner 040777 Parsifal-Charfreitagszauber (Good Friday Music) Part II. Wagner HE Third Act of Parsifal, which comprises some of the most beautiful pages of the Music Drama, T has for setting "a Spring landscape in the grounds of Monsalvat-at the back, a small hermit- age." Parsifal, bearing the Sacred Spear he has valiantly recovered, is wearily returning towards the Abode of the Grail. Gurnemanz, the aged Knight of the Grail, who has betaken himself to a lonely forest hut in his distress at the plight of the Holy Order, has just come upon Kundry lying in a thicket. He revives the unfortunate maid. The approaching Parsifal is seen by Gurnemanz, who at first does not know him. Eventually, realising that here is the Fool who has redeemed the Sins of the Brotherhood by regaining the stolen Spear, he is overcome with emotion. Seeing Kundry humbly bringing water to remove the stains of his journey from Parsifal, he declares that only water from the Holy Spring must be used to prepare the hero for his entry to the Hall of the Grail. The first record opens with the Parsifal Motive. During the following bars, Gurne- him manz anoints: Parsifal and greets as Original Programme of Parsifal (Bayreuth, 1882) King of the Order. Passages of solemn beauty from the or- chestra accompany these tense moments. The Motive of Promise is heard : ascending passages depict the apostrophe of the aged Knight as he ad- dresses Parsifal. The Grail Motive is given out with the full strength of the orchestra. Now we catch the Motive of Straying as Parsifal, unob- served, bends over Kundry and sprinkles water from the spring upon her. During this baptismal ceremony, the soulful Faith Theme falls exquisitely on the ear. The ravishing Flowery Meadow Theme succeeds- Parsifal soliloquising the while : plaintive melodies for the oboe leap out, to die away pianissimo. The second record goes over some little of the ground covered by the first, so that it may be the more coherent when dissociated from Part 1. Gurnemanz breaks in with his ecstatic-" That is Good Friday's spell, Lord ! " The leading theme of the Good Friday Music swells forth majestically, the orchestra sighing, as it passion, grief. No more eloquent playing could be conceived. Soon the violins are in the ascendent, the tone-colour being most rich. Dr. Hertz is drawing the soul from his players. Not a bar of the music fails to reveal its From Wagner's Original MS. full beauty ; most impressive is the conclusion, bringing as it does, a delicate rendition of the Atonement Melody. These two records of the Good Friday Music, together with the three numbers covering the Transformation Music and the three that embody the Prelude, make up a highly satisfying reproduc- tion of the essential music to Parsifal. The vocal records of Knupfer and Jadlowker are welcome additions to the collection. (Speeds 78) "His Master's Voice" PARSIFAL RECORDS now on sale-12 inch, 516 BERLIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (conducted by Dr. Hertz) 040772040773040774040778Vorspiel, Pt. I., Act I. 040776 Charfreitagszauber(Good I. Ditto Pt. II., Friday Music), Pt. 040777 Ditto Pt. H. Ditto Pt. III., Verwandlungsmusik(TransformationKNUPFER and JADLOWKER Music), (duets) Pt. I., Act I. Charfreitagszauber(Good Friday Music), Ditto Pt. H., Act I. Part I., 12-in., 9/- Ditto Act III. Ditto Part 11., 91- Ballads Mr. JOHN McCORMACK (tenor) (with orchestral accompaniment) 10-inch Record, 4s. 6d. 4-2328 There is a flower that bloometh Wallace (" Maritana ") WALLACE'S lovely lyric w has been a favourite in the ears of English- men for several decades. Its simple strains, so plaintive, so appealing, so characteristic of the ultra-English art of the composer of " Maritana," are given out with extraordinary effect by McCormack, whose purity of tone and dignity of delivery are marked features of a superb performance. The flexibility of the great Irish tenor's voice is always a delightful feature of his ballad-singing, and the present record is a fine example of the artist's singing (Speed of the simple type of ditty. 78) There is a flower that 6loometh, It wafteth perfume o'er us When autumn leaves are shed ; Which few can e'er forget, With the silent moon it weepeth, Of the bright scenes gone before us The spring and summer fled ; Of sweet though sad regret; The early frost of winter, Let no heart brave its power Scarce its brow bath overcast, By guilty thoughts o ercast, Oh I pluck it ere it wither For then a poisoned flower 'Tis the of the past. Is the mem'ry of the past. mem'ry [past. Oh I pluck it are it wither, For then a poisoned flower [past. 'sTi the mem'ry, the mem'ry of the Is the mem'ry, the mem'ry of the Mr. BEN DAVIES (tenor) (with pianoforte accompaniment) 12-inch Record, 6s. 6d. To Mary classic is per- formed in entrancing THISby England's style great oratorio and concert singer, Mr. Ben Davies, who had the honour of being presented to the King and Queen at the Albert Hall, London, on February 28th. With him were Madame Kirkby Lunn and Miss Ruth Vincent, as well known for their " His Master's Voice" records as for their concert appearances. The characteristic phrasing, sure intonation and roundness of tone of Mr. Ben Davies are faithfully reproduced in Maude Valerie White's fragrant song. A performance of real distinction. (Speed 79) O Mary dear, that you were here, Mary dear, come to me soon, With your brown eyes bright and clear, I am not well whilst thou art far, And your sweet voice like a bird, As sunset to the sphered moon, [star, Singing love, singinglove to its lone mate, As twilight, as twilight to the western In the ivy bower disconsolate. Thou beloved, beloved art to me. O Mary dear. that you were here I (Percy Bysshe Shelley) Published by Messrs. Boosey & Co. Miss ALMA GLUCK (soprano) (with pianoforte accompaniment) 10-inch Record, 4s. 6d. 3963 The Brook Dolores ENNYSON'S " Brook" " goes on for ever," as all the world T knows. And all the world now knows that the artistic collab- oration of Alma Gluck and the great violinist, Efrem Zimbalist, which has gone on now for quite a long time, has had a romantic denouement in the announcement of their betrothal. The two young artists have made so many concert appearances together in the United States that the news is not altogether unexpected. Cases of great artists marrying one another are not common : de Gogorza married Eames, Clara Butt became the wife of Kennerley Rumford ; but the instances are few. The Gluck-Zimbalist engagement will focus special attention on the records these artists have given us in combination. They are exquisite renditions. The new record of Gluck is a ravishing performance. The delicious upper register of this great soprano was never reproduced more admirably, and her singing throughout is gorgeous. The accompaniment is marvellously suggestive of the gurgling yet contented flow of a streamlet. (Speed 79) I in With many a curve my banks I fret, wind about, and and out, By a field and fallow, With here a blossom sailing, many And here lusty And many a fairy foreland set, and there a trout. With and mallow : And here and there a grayling, willow, weed, And here flake, I slip, I slide, I gleam, I glance and there a snowy Among Upon I travel. my skimming swallows, With me as break I make the netted sunbeams dance many a silver water Against my sandy shallows, Above the golden ravel, I chatter, chatter as 1 flow, And draw them flow To all along and To join the brimming river, join the brimming river, For men may come and men may go, For men may come and men may go, But I go on for ever.