GRAMOPHONE NOTES
THE centenary of Grieg's birth has naturally' induced some new recordings of his music. Admirers of this gifted but very unequal composer will be glad to have his Quartet in G Minor Op: 27 in a fine performance by the Budapest String Quartet (H.M.V. DB8953- 8956). One of his best pianoforte pieces is recorded also by Eileen Joyce, the Ballade Op. 24 (Col. DXxx 16-7). A Suite, arranged by the late Hamilton Harty, of music by John Field, played by the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, under Dr. Sargent, awakens curiosity, but this music, though charming, is a little slight for today's taste (Col. DX 118-20). A really enjoyable recording is that of Three Chopin Studies and the Nocturne in E Flat Op. 9, No. 2, by Solomon (H.M.V. C3345). The Love Music from Act 3 of " Boris Godounov " and a Polka from a ballet, " The Age of Go!d," by Shostakovitch, both played by the National Symphony Orchestra of America, under Hans Kindler (H.M.V. C3346), are good examples of Russian music old and new. The gramophone, like the radio, is unkind to Debussy's music because we do not get from it the requisite quality of tone. Mr. Louis Kentner has nevertheless recorded Debussy's Children's Corner Suite with some success, particularly in " The Snow is Dancing " and " The Little Shepherd." I do not like his excessive rallentandos in Schumann's " Traiimerei," which fills the final side (Col. DX it21-1122). The Gramophone Co. should get.Denis Matthews to record Schumann's " Kindersccnen." Mr. Arthur Bliss's Concerto for pianoforte and orchestra is played by Solomon and the L.P.O., under Sir Adrian Boult. It consists of a long, vigorous first movement, a lyrical—almost Chopinesque- Adagietto and a final movement. Andante Maestoso, which opens with an imaginative touch and then proceeds with vivacity and clarity to a logical end. This Concerto is clear-cut and well-made, and is a good example of modern English music. The recording, however, that I can recommend with most warmth this month is the set of three songs by Peter Warlock, " Sleep," " Sweet and Twenty " and " Consider " (H.M.V. B9332). Warlock was the best English song-writer of our time, and was steeped in our finest musical tradition. Take, for example, this song " Sleep " ; both inatmo- sphere and movement it is reminiscent, without being a plagiarism, of that magnificent duet by Thomas Morley, " Who is it that this Dark Night? " These three Warlock songs are well sung by Nancy
Evans and perfectly played by Gerald Moore. W. J. T.
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