5 JULY 1945, Page 13

GRAMOPHONE NOTES

UNDER the auspices of the British Council Elgar's famous choral work, The Dream of Gerontius, has been recorded with the Huddersfield Choral Society and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Dr. Malcolm Sargent. The soloists are Heddle Nash, Dennis Noble, Gladys Ripley, N. Walker (H.M.V., C7611- zz). It takes the twenty-four sides of twelve discs, but it is one of Elgar's major works, and this is the first time it has been avail- able as a whole. It is a' very successful recording.

Among other recent recordings are Gricg's Norwegian Dances (Gal. DX1192-3), well played by the City of Birmingham Orchestra under its new conductor George Weldon ; a threnody for a soldier killed in action by Michael Heming, completed after his death by Anthony Collins, played by the Halle orchestra under John Barbirolli (H.M.V. C3427). There are two excellent dance records, the waltzes " Excuse Me " and Songe d'Automne in the Old Time Dances series, played by Harry Davidson and orchestra (Col. D3C1 05). The " Excuse Me " waltz is an attractive adapta-

tion of the famous Eton Boating Song. W. J. T.