The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-05-13
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Static was wIIIing-but the
breakfasts were weak last night,
which Il the reason why many
dial twisters failed to make as
long lists OF distant stations
tuned as the conditions seemed
to warrant. There was less noise
In the air than for q week or 10
days. Exact tuning was necessary
TO obtain anything at al. The
| South seemed to have the great
eat volume although some Of the
Middle West stations were easily
found and acquitted themselves
wen.
Fiddlin' Charlie Bowman turned
two hound dogs loose on the wave
lengths Of WIZ ana its network
last night, in celebration Of the
widening OF the Hill BilIies' sphere
Of activity. Either the dogs got
chummy in their chase among the
Tennessee mountains, or the Wis
Utility was low-something tanned
down the famous "Fox Hunt"
speciality Of the champion fiddler
and the piece didn't seem to
have the zip ana 20 that Character
lied It when Charlie won The
Washington Times fiddling cham
picnship from the late Uncle Am
Stewart.
But the Hill Billies gave the
faded listeners along Broadway and
points west a lively fifteen min
utes when they made their metro
politan debut last night as big time
entertainers-with many OF their
Washington friends listening In and
wishing them luck.
With crystalline clarity that verged
bit onto sharpness, the voice of
Minnie Volkmann, soprano, made
the wave lengths ring at the begin.
ning OF the WRC broadcast with the
Kit hour Of music last evening.
There IL q ringing quality that re.
minds one of the scintillations OF q
diamond in Miss Volkmann's voice,
or like the brilliance of sunlight on
the bubbling waters Of 9. spring
freshness and springttime seem to
dwell in her tones. She sang her
songs with vigor and excellent effort.
Charles Miller, saxophonist, was the
other Kilt artist, who acquitted him.
self well.
KURT HETZEL
PLAYS WAGNER
The high spots on the program of
the evening were Kurt Hetzels play
ing Of the big Wagnerian number in
his piano recital and the all too short
performance of Vincent Lopez and
his orchestra, both from WRC. It
takes considerable confidence for the
pianist Of the musical intelligence of
Hetzel to attempt Wagnerian num-
Der. Wagner didn't compose for
solo instruments in his operate en-
deavors. Likewise it takes more
skin than the average pianist pos.
sesses-no matter how confident-to
accomplish the Wagnerian illusions
with a single instrument. But Hetzel
did just that last evening and did it
with that fine intelligence for which
he II distinguished among his kind.
Hardly less notable in loud speaker
deliveries was the singing of Mary
Apple, contralto, during the Auth
concert from WMAL. This Auth
hour, by the way. Is becoming more
and more an interesting musical
event as Arseno Ralon directs it.
His small orchestra last evening
gave an excellent account Of itself,
oven though its performance was
not quite equal to that of the soloist.
Miss Apples singing Of the Herman
Loehr setting for one Of Laurence
Hopes verses, was especially fine.
The Hawaiian music OF the South
Sea islanders, the lively tunes OF
the Clicquot Eskimos, and the dead
level playing Of brilliant Mcdowell
compositions by Hans Barth. pianist,
weresthe chief WEAF products. In
the outer gardens OF melody Atlanta
provided an excellent concert from
WSB in the late hours, and WLW,
Cincinnati, and WHO, Des Moines,
also helped liven up the evening.