Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
Speaking

this kind of orchestral work. The trap
drummer has to 60 to school all over
again when he teams up with radio
orchestra.
MarveIs at Orchestra.
As the music ooZes out smoothly,
'fiat on the BRUSH" like tooth paste,
the nearer probably has no idea of how
much Scheming and experimenting went
into the building of these subtly har-
monized effects. In many years In
radio announcing, never fail to marvel
at the mastery of infinite detail neceS-
sary to turn out a finished broadcast of
complicated orchestral work.
The engineers, monitors and noise
makers work calmly, alertly and dis
passionately, without temperament. The
artists, however, must be allowed their
standard temperamental range, regard
less of the limitations of the micro
phone. An artist Is apt to insist on
being himself" and it Is fascinating
to watch the revelations of various
selves as they are spilled out before the
| microphone. Lurking around radio stu
dios think one could become pretty
fair reader of human personalities,
knowing In advance just about how a
person would act under given circum-
| stances. To illustrate:
Here Is faStidiously dressed young
man who must certainly be experienced
and successful in amour. Watch him
sing a sentimental song. His attitude
toward the microphone is coquettish-
nothing else. He approaches it in a
coy manner, and he appears to be con-
| f1ding something enchanting and beau
tiful to this cold metal ear One may
| be sure that he will not run away and
render these same outpourings Of the
heart to some other palpitating disc.
Works Like Cave Man.
Here's handsome bucko who has a
| different technique. He tells the mike
where it gets off. He steps In with a
listen, kid" way about him, stands
squarely and f1at-footed in his brogues
she can take it or leave it. He's a Bit
of cave man and probably works that
way.
Here's q chubby young chap who has
the easy confidential technique. He
and the mike are Just pals--that's all
but there Is hint that he might edge
up foot or two closer This Is a Pla.
tonic approach, warming I'D a bit as
time passes, as II the dream girl Of the
shadowland behind the tiny iron portal
had tossed him rose. These artists
| carry CnelT hearts on Lnelf sleeves, anC
one thinks, at any rate, that he car
read them as they pass by. And what
a parade of artistic temperament you
do see in few years in a radio studio
| While this range and variation Is
observable among virtually all the sing.
ers and actors, it is the Italians-irl
fact, the Latin peoples in general-whc
must always personify the mike before
they can sing note. Their restraint
falls away like a cloak as they fall into
operate gestures and posturing. In
fact, have been at work on a little
| invention which I think might make
me rich some day. would have lot
of life-sized lay figures, on which appro.
pirate costumes could be quickly placed
The microphone would be almost con.
cealed, in the chest perhaps, in the
interest of complete and convincing
histrionics. An italian singer woulc
always face this impersonation of his
innamorata, his nemesis or his victim
Singing in this world of complete illu.
sion, think the Italian artists woult
reach new heights.
| tcopyrisht, 1927