June Records

Some phonograph records are musical events. Each month TIME notes the noteworthy.

Symphonic, etc.

MOZART: QUINTET FOR CLARINET & STRINGS (K. 581). (Benny Goodman and the Budapest String Quartet; Victor: 8 sides.) One evening last winter, a Victor representative introduced bespectacled Benny Goodman, No. 1 U. S. swingster, to the famed Budapest String Quartet, world's No. 1 chamber-music team. Goodman knew about them; they had never heard of him. When they discovered how well he played the clarinet they suggested that he join them in making a record or two. "Have you ever made records before?" inquired the Budapesters. "Yes, a few," said Goodman, "in fact, I have a band." "Indeed." "Yes, you must come down and hear us some time." But the Budapesters never did.

Upshot of the meeting will interest Goodman fans but disappoint chamber-music connoisseurs. Able Clarinettist Goodman plays his notes precisely, but sounds like a little boy with a very stiff collar singing in church for the first time.

SONG OF THE VOLGA BOATMEN, and MOUSSORGSKY: SONG OF THE FLEA (Feodor Ivanovitch Chaliapin; Victor). Death two months ago of the greatest singing actor of his generation prompted Victor to re-issue these two lighter items on a memorial disc. Made when Basso Chaliapin was vocally past his prime.

HARL MCDONALD: Two HEBRAIC POEMS (Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting; Victor). Short, agreeable impressionistic pieces by a steadily developing younger U. S. composer.

SCHUMANN: SYMPHONY No. 2 (Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting; Victor: 10 sides). First modern recording of one of the greatest Romantic symphonies. Ormandy's Philadelphians have done it complete justice.

BEETHOVEN : TRIPLE CONCERTO IN C MAJOR FOR VIOLIN, CELLO, PIANO & ORCHESTRA (Vienna Philharmonic, Felix Weingartner conducting, with Richard Odnoposoff, Stefan Auber and Angelica Morales; Columbia: 9 sides). Second-rate Beethoven, with only fair-to-middling performance from the soloists. But the recording of this rarely performed piece will interest Beethoven enthusiasts.

BERLIOZ: THE DAMNATION OF FAUST, ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS (London Philharmonic, Sir Thomas Beecham conducting; Columbia: 4 sides). Berlioz' flickering and diaphanous orchestral effects brilliantly played. The excerpts are the familiar Minuet of the Will o' the Wisps, Dance of the Sylphs, Hungarian March.

JOHANN STRAUSS WALTZES (Boston "Pops" Orchestra Concerts, Arthur Fiedler conducting; Victor: 10 sides). The Blue Danube is lacking, but Vienna's Waltz King is otherwise well represented.

MOZART: DIVERTIMENTO No. 15, IN B FLAT MAJOR (K. 287). (Arthur Fiedler's Sinfonietta; Victor: 9 sides.) A less distinguished solo performance than Joseph Szigeti's (TIME, May 2), but a sharply focused orchestra part makes this a better all-round recording.

CESAR FRANCK: SONATA FOR VIOLIN & PIANO (Jascha Heifetz and Arthur Rubinstein; Victor: 6 sides). Polished performance by a perfectly matched pair of virtuosos.

BRAHMS: SONATA No. 3, IN D MINOR. FOR VIOLIN & PIANO (Joseph Szigeti and Egon Petri; Columbia: 6 sides). An unbeatable sonata team plays a great and proverbially difficult work superbly.

MOZART : SONATA IN D MAJOR FOR TWO PIANOS (K. 381), and CLEMENTI: SONATA No. 1 IN B FLAT MAJOR FOR Two PIANOS (Grace Castagnetta and Milton Kaye; Timely Recording Co., 1600 Broadway, Manhattan: 6 sides). Mozart has been recorded by bigger names, but seldom as well. Clementi, Mozart's contemporary, has been added for contrast.

Popular

DON'T YOU MISS YOUR BABY? (Count Basie; Decca). Blues displaying the extraordinary rhythmic talents of the No. 1 black band.

I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART (Benny Goodman; Victor). In a more authoritative musical posture (see above), Goodman swings the reeds against the brasses, once more proves his the No. 1 white band.

DON'T BE THAT WAY (Bing Crosby and John Scott Trotter's band; Decca). Good torch song warmed by a hot accompaniment.

I SEE YOUR FACE BEFORE ME (Mildred Bailey; Vocalion). The Schwartz & Dietz ballad taken through darktown by the ablest white blues singer.

JONGO (Elsie Houston; Liberty Music Shop, 795 Madison Ave., Manhattan). Brazilian magic song, proving that the infectious American rhythm is Pan-American.

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