The Washington times., 1929-02-01
SH|LKRET ST AR
Of RADIO
EVENING

Reaching out into the wide
omen spaces where broadcast pro-
grams reVerberate and bringing
them into loud speakers was an
easy task last evening. There
seemed to be a bit of static here,
and there along the Pacific coast,
which was readily tuned In the
late hours, but points nearer were
tuned with no noise, and little
fading. Only the crOwding Of
many programs for place I'm re.
ceiving sets was annoying.
OF the many things happening
along the wave lengths last evening
that were easily brought to loud
speakers it is doubtful IL anything
gave quite the satisfaction to old
timers as the presentation In the
Song Shop opus OF the music OF
Nat Shilkret. Radio has identified
to many music lovers who never
knew him before. this versatile
young musician who started out in
life to be a clarinetist and is at
present one of the busiest @com.
posers, arrangers and directors o.
music in this country.
Shilkret was a musical factor III
many homes before radio receivers
were invented for as director Of
one of the phonograph orchestras
he added TO the joy Of tens of thou
sands anonymously. After compos-
ing his first two or three songs as
acquired fame as an expert in
arrangements of great compositions
for monograph reproduction, the
limit in size of the disks making t
necessary to condense many of the
symphonies and tone poems inCo
much less volume than their COM
posers had intended.
RADIO BRINGS
BIG OPPORTUNITY
Then came radio and with it the
opportunity TO direct orchestras on
larger scale and in a variety of pro-
grams and Shilkret contributed to
the popularity of many programs be-
fore he was identified to listeners.
Today he conducts half a dozen radio
orchestras, arranges music for them
and is likewise the final arbiter of
the music that Is recorded by the
monograph company with which he
has long been identified. 1t is re.
ported that his income Is greater
than that of any other director in
America. But his outgo-the music
he inspires his orehestras to play
and the compositions he has made
himself, far exceed in value any re-
turn he may get for them. Nathaniel
Shilkret is one of the men In the
world who has brought real happi.
ness into many lives-and it is a
very great pleasure to have oppor.
tunity to testify to that fact.
Observation-Disclosures fa' down and
go boom occasionally, and that is
what happened to us in the middle
evening. But there had been much
to entertain before that--and after
1t. when new sources of power were
tapped. Florence Jane Adams pro.
vided most entertaining IS min
utes from VOL with her little boy
who was found riding on trains
and played cupid for his uncle in
an amusing way.
The Seiberiing Singers program
was not only distinguished by an ex.
cellent Interpretation of the great
aria for Faust" by Jimmy Milton,
but by the announcement that the
singers-who are known as the
Revellers' Quartet. are departing
from the mierophone for a month.
They are to take concert tour and
1t is stated on good authority that
they will include Washington in
their journey. appearing here Feb
ruary II. we believe, under the
management of Mrs. Kitty Wilson
Greene. Elsewhere the usual Thurs.
day affairs were heard with con-
siderable interest and entertainment.