Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-24

| in the United States after crossing
the Atlantic on short waves.
This strange effect, which has
been described as the sound Of q
giant surf breaking on q rocky
cliff, changes a speakers voice In
a fraction of a seconds time from
the high, distinct characteristics
of tenor, to that of rumbling
bass. Music, deep and sonorous
one minute, may be swiftly
and Shrill.
Fer a long time this popularity
of speech and music had many
radio engineers puzzled. After
months of testing with q special
transmitter located at Deal Beach,
N. j., and receiver near London,
England, the engineers arrived at
the conclusion that "selective
fading" is the cause of the trouble.
They say the earth's magnetic
field, which causes the mariners
compass to assume a general
north and south position, also
may, at different times of the day,
literally cause the spreading radio
waves to turn SomerSaults.
Facts have been discovered by
the engineers which lead them to
believe that only on rare occasions
do any two tones of the human
voice or a musical instrument,
when transformed into radio
energy, travel the same path in
the ether between widely sep
arated transmitting and receiving
stations.
A Though the transoceanic
tests were carried out chiefly on
the short waves, the engineers
point out that the same surf effect
and tone distortion may be heard
frequently while intercepting the
program of a distant broadcast
ing station. When projected into
space the low tones of the voice,
or the bass notes of the cello, may
skip off the radio roof" at en-
tirely different places. It has been |
found, however, that q consider |
able amount of distortion in the
voice or music patterns" may be
presented without any serious
effect on the intelligibility of the
radio telephony.
The changes occur often and |
with great rapidity. First the low
tones will be deficient in signal
strength, or entirely absent, then
the fading will be evident in the
middle tones, then at the high |
tones. Obviously, when fading is
greatest on the low tones, voice |
will sound harsh and tinny |
When the RICH tones are lost in
the radio transmission the voice |
will sound booming and dummy. |
1t is the same with music.
x +
THERE'S young man in radio
who seems to be getting along |
right well. His mail, and he gets
loads of it, comes addressed:
Phillips H. Lord"
Maybe those who listen know
him much better as Seth Parker,
and then again maybe he is more
familiar as Uncle Abe of the Abe
and David sketches. This artist |
dotes on portraying aged Yankee
although he Is COM
paratively young in years. His
birth came July Is, 1902.
The son of a minister, Lord
grew up on Maine farm.
Besides Sunday at Seth Park
er's" and the Uncle Abe and
David" daily skitS, he also is the
of Seth Parkers Sing
ing School. To accomplish all of
his tasks-and radio does not get
all of his attention-requireS just
about Is hours of plugging day.
Here are some Of the other
things he does besides writing
and acting: Writes books, COM
poses hymns, makes records, and
writes four newspaper articles a
week.
It is estimated that his prolific
pen turns out the equivalent Of
three three-act plays week.
Then there are rehearsals for his
radio appearances to be taken
into consideration.
DETER HITCH TSCHAIKOW-
= SKY'S First Symphony" will
be broadcast by the Roxy SYM
phony Orchestra, under the di-
rection of Joseph Littau, in honor
of the famous composers niece,
Nine. Natalia Lvovka Rimsky-
Sunday afternoon,
"a, at 2 o'clock, over sta
ton WIZ and associations of the
National BroadcaSting Co.
Nine. Rimsky- Korsakoff has
long desired to hear this infre-
quently played work by the noted
Russian, which was composed in
the year of her birth. So s. L.
Roxy" who caused
much favorable comment by re-
viving .Tschaikowsky's Third
Symphony" last month, decided to
broadcast the First Symphony"
in honor Of the distinguished
Russian exile.
Nine. Rimsky-Korsakoff, daugh-
ter of Tschaikowskys only sister,
was his favorite niece. He in
structed her in music and COM
posed for her the "Nutcracker
Suite" which proved to be one
of his most popular pieces. She
married Vice Admiral Nicholas
Rirnsky -Korsakoff, who was vice
secretary to the Russian navy and
a cousin of another noted COM |
poser, Nikolas RimSky- Korsakoh. |
RELATIONSHIPS First SYM
phony" is characterized by inter-
esting and original motifs. full of |
the strongly marked rhythm and
unusual harmonies of the nation
al folk songs. 1t has never before
been broadcast and is so seldom
played during concerts that it
was necessary to send to Cali
fOrnia In order To get enough
scores for the Roxy Symphony
Orchestra.
\