THE author of this record-collector's vade-mecum is a lecture in
psychology at Edinburgh University, and in his final chapter he neatly combines both his interests to give a short analysis of the record-collector's psychology. The history, geography, topography, aetiology and eschatology of gramophone records are dealt with, and there are many useful hints to prospective collectors and ordinary buyers. As far as purely musical guidance goes he generally remains wisely within limits of easily verified facts (" Casals is considered by many to be the finest instrumentalist of the age ") or confines himself to purely gramophonic criticism. However, he cannot expect to avoid causing a flutter among the connoisseurs of the great voices of the past (the fervent admirers of Lotte Lehmann may resent page 52), but this spice of mild personal bias gives character to the book. An admirable handbook.
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