New Britain herald., 1927-06-08
COMPOSERS SUITE
HAS AIR PREMIERE
Works BY George Hahn Broad
cast From Hartford

Hahn OF this city, was successfully
done over the air from VITO,
Hartford, last night. The Travellers
Symphonic Ensemble, Dana s. Mer-
riman, conductor, augmented until
the musicians comfortably filled the
large broadcasting room at the sta
ton. gave a beautiful and faultless
reading Of the suite, and reports to-
day were general that the music was
received by the listeners in splendid
style.
The Travellers station had made
much OF the fact that this was a
premiere of = suite of considerable
dimensions over the air. perhaps the
first time in the history OF radio that
this had been done. Newspapers
throughout the state and In Massa-
chusetts took special notice OF the
novelty. and 1t is believed the audi
ence Of listeners in was larger than
ordinarily.
The composer today made the fol-
lowing statement regarding the de-
tails of the event:
Up to yesterday morning I was
fully confident everything would go
we'll. Yesterday, however, a queer
feeling got hold Of me. Said 1 to
myself: II this thing Is a failure
I'll feel like the worm on the end
Of the fish hook That Is the feel
ing, I am told, that always comes to
authors and writer's on the eve OF a
first night Anyway, was ex-
tremely nervous.
The situation was not helped by
the fact that I had stayed up until
a. M. yesterday looking for the
inevitable Typographical errors in
the parts-misplaced notes. an ac-
cidental here and there overlooked.
and such like. found place where
the bass viol was designated to rest
three bars where 1t ought to rest
six, and I ruminated that there
may be other little boomers in the
parts that remained undiscovered
and that delays would be in store.
THE rehearsal was due at p. m.
at the studio. The concert began at
.. The score had to be perfect or
certainly would look like Il fool, I
ruminated. I consoled myself with
the outcome Of past experiences,
that everything had always gone
correctly, and that Mr.. Merriman
had assured me after his own ex-
animation that all was we'll. All the
same, that didn't help my general
feeling Of foreboding. The knowledge
that about 100000 people would
have chance to be the critics
didn't help at all.
when, I in company with my
good friend Van Vechten Hostetter
of the New York World, who hap
pened to be my guest for a few
days, walked into the Travellers
station shortly after p. M, how
ever, a vast change took place. l
told him l suddenly felt as confident
as = peacock and that there was to
be no trouble at all. suppose no.
body can explain such mental
changes.
THE musicians strolled In and
soon discovered they were experts.
Two OF them, an oboeist and a bas-
soonist, had been secured from New
York. They are members of the
New York symphony. / felt CRATE
full to Mr.. Merriman for this, as I
had previously mentioned to him
that it would be we'll to have these
instruments represented, especially
as the oboe had a solo part in one
Of the numbers.
1--WE work fast when We get
started remarked Mr.. Merriman. !
was soon to discover this was no
idle boast. l queried whether there
was chance OF the musicians hay
ing trouble in reading the manu-
script potes. but he replied they
could read anything. even if the
notes were all but illegib1e. ! re-
marked that as / had to orches-
trate the entire suit in week and
a half some OF the pages were in
that class. Don't worry he con-
soled between puffs on his cigar.
Gentlemen. We'll have to de-
vote most Of our attention to this
suite" he announced when the re-
hearsal began. First humber.
Merry Dawn Beams From the Sky"
Bases hit those opening notes with
thud. Dynamics. expression.
phrasing out; now, let's co.
THE boys played it at sight, and
r. hn
just where it belonged. I think
there was a very broad grin on my
face as Director Merriman turned
in my direction with a nice, 'How's
that?'
Next, 'Baby's Kiss he an
nounced. Think of one when you
play it; soft, mellow This one was
played several times. the effect
sounded a heavenly chorus to my
ears.
Now for 'Erolic in the Garden
announced the director. This one Is
tricky. Watch out for-and then a
list Of adroit directions. Personally,
knew full we'll that II the musi-
clans got over the Frolic the election
of the night was won. The musicians
were going good when it was unex-
pectedly announced that there would
be recess for 40 minutes as some
other performers on the air needed
the studio. l groaned a little, but
Conductor Merriman assured me not
to worry That man is Il great hand
at radiating cheerfulness.
THE musicians strolled out of the
room and killed time for 40 minutes.
General introductions were made,
ant / was greatly pleased at meet
ing Sam Leventhal, first violinist, a
veteran on his instrument. Sam is
a brother to AL Leventhal, CO.
proprietor of the Davidson and Lev
enthal department store here Sam
joined in the don't worry business
and rccounted instances Of past ex-
periences. He has played in a host