Evening star., 1941-04-06
Review of Recordings

She is superbly accompanied by the
Philadelphia Orchestra under Eu-
gene Ormandy.
Familiar strains of Chopin's Bar
carolle Op co. also Victor record
ing, find a masterful interpreter in
Walter Gieseking. His execution
draws attention to the finesse and
rapidity of his accomplished trill.
Be it in double stops or single tones
it is equally facile. While one may
not agree throughout with Mr..
Gieseking's Interpretation of the
piece it is beautifully performed and
well recorded in spite of the pianos
tinny tone.
Columbia presents a pianist also,
Sascha GorodnitZki, in Schumann's
&c Minor Sonata No. %" COM
position which is not likely to lose
favor with artists for a long time
to come. Filled with that vital
surge which characterizes most Of
Schumann's music, it has an in
vigorating effect upon the listener.
Even a certain hardness of Mr..
Gorodnitz's touch, as compared
with the foregoing pianists, does
not detract from the quality of his
performance.
The Siberian Singers, Nicholas
Vassilieff. director. sponsored by
Victor, display well-rounded tone in
two short chorals, sung a cappella,
the one entitled In Church" by
TschaikoWsky, the other, Bless the
Lord o My Soul" by Ippolitow-
Ivanow, constitute a part of the
Greek Orthodox Church music and
give a good idea of Russian re-
ligious art. The voices live up to
the good reputation with which
Russian singers are accredited,
especially applied to the basses.
Brahms Symphony No. 3 in F
Major" released by Columbia this
month and recorded by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra under Freder-
lex Stock, adds to the list of an
earlier recording by the same COM
pany made in Europe. 1t would
have been interesting to go over 1t
phrase by phrase. guided by Clara
Schumann's tentative program
which prompted her to surname it
Forest Idyl."
Unless there is a perfect SYM
pathy and understanding between
Brahms and his interpreters, his
works seldom escaped rigorous criti-
cism. Dr.. Stocks reading does not
bridge over the symphony to the
listener, nor does ne allow his own
personality to be reflected in it. His
presentation of it does not show
him at his best as an interpreter
although the recording itself is
clean-cut and thoroughly worth
while. The orchestra plays with its
usual zest and purity of tone.
By J. ". Stebb.
his British band. This set is aptly
named: Every number is paced by a
duo-pianist team which dotes on
the upper register, every last bar is
played with mad haste. From a
tune called Piano Madness" to
Canadian Capers" the Roy display
is one wild furry of one-steps and
rags Listening to the whole set at
one sitting can't be recommended;
| the possibilities of nervous collapse
are too great.
! Jazz-Religion.
Columbia presents two additional
groups of jazz classics, one of mod
ern and one of ancient vintage
both four discs apiece. Catering to
the current fad for boogie-woogie,
the Bridgeport firm has imprinted
the efforts of Harry James (b.-w.
trumpet. no leSS), Pete johnson,
Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Joe
Turner and Count Basie's Blue Five
in various combinations on hand
full of boogie classicS-and the ef.
forts shine. Lustiest interpreta-
ton is the Turner johnson Roll
'em Pete" most spectacular, the
Lewis-J Johnson three-pi-
ano two-part job on "Boogie-Woo-
gle Prayer" Hot Trombone" is
the label on the album of reprints,
and, logically enough, you will find
represented some of the old masters
of trombone: Floyd OBrien, Milf
Mole, Jim Harrison, Jack Teagarden,
J. c. Higginbotham, Benny Morton.
All soloiStS are heard as cogs in
the machinery of jazz groups, thus
the listener must glue his ear to
the smplifler to catch the trombone
entries as they rise and fall. Of
course, ensemble jamming is some
thing to appreciate with no exertion
at all. Outstanding: "Higginbotham's
Blues" Mortons Gold Diggers'
Song" O,Brien's Tennessee Twi-
light"
The Golden Gate Quartet has a
unique way of singing spirituals.
They apply a swing technique to
Negro songs that at once defies yet
lives up to spiritual traditions. You
may or may not care for their type
of breathless clipped phrasing. the
unabating patter of song-talk in
such material as the popular Bible
tales. In any event, Victor's new
three-disc set of Bible Tales"
offers the Gate lads in their best
form with Jonah and the Whale"
Preacher and the Bear" Job"
"John, the Revelator," Noah" and
Sampson"
In a strictly religious vein, an
other Victor set-of- three presents
the Victor Chapel Choir under able
Emile Cote in six of the best-loved
hymns including "A Mighty Fort
ress," "Abide With Me-" Rock Of
Ages" Holy. Holy, Holy"