PRICES OF " His Master's Voice " Double-Sided Records THE ROYAL RECORD (R.E. 2841 THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING & QUEEN. 10 in. Double-sided, 5/6. THE ROYAL RECORD (R.D. 887) H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. 12 in. Double-sided 5/6. NURSERY Records-ORANGE Label (Serial Letters AS, 7-inch 1/6. (Each series of 6 records in album, 12/6. Album-with linen Decorated pockets -separate, 3/6.) PHYSICAL CULTURE Records.-Set complete in album, 12/-. Album and chart separate, 3/-. Serial Serial 10-inch 12-inch Colour of Label. Letter Letter PLUM... 4/6 C ... BLACK 6/6 D ... RED 8/6 DB ... BUFFPALE 10/- DK GREEN 11/6 DM PALE BLUE... 13/6 DO WHITE 16/- DQ ... Unless otherwise stated His Master's Voice" Records should be blayed at a sbeed of 78. His Master's Voice" Instantaneous Sbeed Tester, shows instantly whether your motor is running correctly ................... SEPTEMBER, 1925. ROYAL ALBERT HALL ORCHESTRA (conducted by SIR EDWARD ELGAR, O.M) 12-inch double-sided Black Label Symphony No. 2 in E Flat, Op. 63 Edward Elgar ... First Movement-Allegro D. 1012 vivace e nobilmente 1 Parts 1 and 2 First Movement-Allegro vivace e nobilmente D.1013 Part 3 Second Movement-Larghetto, Part 1 D. 1014 Second Movement-Larghetto, Parts 2 and 3 D. 1015 Third Movement-Rondo (Presto), Parts 1 and 2 (Fourth Movement-Finale-Moderato Maestoso, D. 1016 e j Parts 1 and 2 Fourth Movement-Finale-Moderato e Maestoso, D. 1017 Part 3 (11 The Light Life "-Meditation, Op. 29 Elgar of ... A handsome and durable album is presented free with each complete set of the above re,ords. T HIS superb Symphony, written in the full maturity of its composer's creative powers-the score is inscribed Venice- Tintagel, 1910-11-has justly taken its place as one of the masterpieces of orchestral music, and unquestionably the greatest English Symphony yet produced. Of its poetic meaning the composer has given us a hint in the motto prefixed to the score-" Rarely, rarely comest thou, spirit of delight " (Shelley). A hearing of the Symphony suggests that it may be an expression of the many rare delights that the artistic mind can find in life, especially in the contemplation of nature. For if there is any music that is eloquent of the open air surely it is this symphony, so many pages of which bring to one's thoughts the fresh sweet beauty and loveliness of the English countryside. The slow movement, however, does not fit into this explanation. While the symphony, intended as " a loyal tribute to King Edward VII.," was being written, came the news of the monarch's death. And so the wonderful Larghetto was written as the expression of a nation in mourning, inspired by the solemn pageant of the monarch's passing to his resting place. The first movement (record 1) commences with a joyous theme that is surely a perfect expression of " The spirit of delight." With this and the beautiful phrases that follow it the music sweeps and For prices see page 2 of cover. His Masfeiýs Voice7 Records ............AN ELGAR .............. ------SYMPHONY --- .... --- .... ........... ............................ SEPTEMBER, 1925. soars in a fine rapture of emotion. The second melody is of almost feminine grace and charm. Later a quieter mood prevails (2nd record). Faint harp notes like the distant chimes of a clock remind one of the passing of the golden hours. A wistful little theme appears, and for a time dominates the music, like a cloud obscuring the sunshine, inter- weaving itself with the other themes. Eventually the latter emerge triumphant (record 3) and the music leads up to a great peroration in which all is resplendent and joyful. II. The second movement Larghetto is, in the opinion of many, the finest that has ever come from the composer's pen. Sad little phrases (record 4) whispered by the strings usher in a solemn theme the accompanying rhythm of which gives the effect FE' of a funeral march. To this the violins reply with a melody of exquisite consolatory character. From this point (record 5) the music gradually gathers in emotional force until a mighty climax is reached, where with over- powering beauty of expression, a great theme, nobilmente (which is partly derived from the previous melody) appears in all the splendour of the full orchestra. Another climax (record 6) is made yet again with the nobilmente theme now towering to still greater heights of emotion. III. In this brilliant movement, which is a Rondo, we are back again in the invigorating mood of the first movement. The Rondo theme (record 6) is a freakish jaunty little tune which rushes about the orchestra in a breathless manner. Then appears a ponderous theme, that suggests giant strides up some hill-side. Presently we hear a delicious little phrase-one may liken it to a bird in song. It gradually fades away, and (with record 7) we are once more in a strenuous atmosphere, which is mostly maintained to the end. IV. The dignity and stately beauty of the finale make it a fitting conclusion to this magnificent symphony. Its themes all have a nobility of character and it is impossible to avoid the thought that the music here is an apotheosis, as it were, of England. The graceful principal subject (record 8) is softly announced by 'cellos, bassoons, &c., and later on swells out on the full orchestra, to be followed by a very lovely after-phrase, of [Continued on page 3 For prices see page 2 of cover. `GreatestAriisfs -]ýinestRecord VLADIMIR DE PACHMANN (Pianoforte) 12-inch double-sided Red babel Mazurka in A Flat Major, Op. 50, No. D.B. 861 ' 2 Chopin 1 Mazurka in B Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4 Chopin "SOCIAL poems, poems of private life " is the happy description, J by a famous writer, of Chopin's Mazurkas. contrasting them with " the Polonaises, which are political poems." In these exquisite little tone-poems, indeed, Chopin almost touches a more intimate note than in his other works. Their music gives us glimpses of the composer's impressions of those Polish ýIiý3i!ýil mansions where, as a youth, he was the object of much adulation, where fair ladies danced the national dances, and Polish gentlemen held converse with one another, and where Chopin held all entranced by the magic of his playing. The music of these two Mazurkas, the wistful B flat minor, and the beautiful A flat major, is so well known as to need no description. Many have heard De Pachmann play them in the concert room. Here in these records is the ideal and perfect reproduction of the pianist's art, supreme in the interpretation of Chopin. AN ELGAR SYMPHONY-Continued. touching eloquence, which, gathering force, gradually rises to a most majestic climax. Finally we come to a melody, also marked nobilmente, which has both tenderness and strength. In the second part of the movement (record 9) we hear a fine new theme, which, entering softly, brings a mystic feeling into the music. But the reappearance of the earlier themes banishes this mood. The music broadens out to a stately serenity, at the last dying down into phrases of exquisite calm that suggest some celestial vision. " The Light of Life " is an early oratorio by Sir Edward Elgar, the Meditation being the prelude to the work. Its music, which is based upon some of the themes used in the oratorio, has a fine devo- tional and mystic atmosphere, clothed in soft orchestral colouring. For prices see page 2 of cover. "His Master's Voice"' Records A BACH CONCERTO SEPTEMBER, 1925. `i JACQUES THIBAUD (Violin) (with orchestral accompaniment) 12-inch double-sided Red Label. Concerto in E Major ... ... ... ... ... ... Bach D.B. 789 First Movement-Allegro, Parts 1 and 2 D.B. 790 Second Movement-Adagio, Parts 1 and 2 J Third Movement-Allegro assal DB..(Intrada-Adagio791 G. A. Desplanes, ... ... arr. T. Nachez LTHOUGH Bach's wonderful powers as an executant were mainly confined to the organ and the harpsichord, there is no A doubt that he studied the violin in his early days. And so when the flow of his inspiration was directed to music for that instrument the result was to enrich the literature of the violin with works that have never been surpassed for beauty and perfec- tion of form. Three concertos for the violin exist (there may probably have been more) and of these three the F, major concerto (which Thibaud has recorded) is generally considered the finest. Its music, like so much that Each has written, seems to transport the listener into another world, one far removed from the fret of everyday life, a world where all is serenity, light and beauty. For this reason Bach appeals to music-lovers to-day as much as he did two centuries ago, when first his works saw the light. I. The first movement is based upon the beautiful melody heard (on the orchestra) at the commencement, a melody which is both joyful and serene, one that lingers in the mind for long after. When the violin enters it is to take up this theme in a new aspect: soloist and orchestra vie with one another in weaving new and beautiful sound-patterns from its various elements. A little later we may notice an exquisite "after-thought" (as one might term it), a little soaring phrase which turns the music into a mood almost of ecstasy. The movement momentarily modulates into the minor (end of record 1), but with the next record begins a series of lovely phrases which gradually lead back to the main melody.