The traces of the war have begun to disappear little by little, and the ties that bound the world together in times past have begun to knit firm anew; Europe, and the world, are no longer scattered units. Thus the exchange between the countries has begun, and the people of Britain, who kept to their island a long while, have started to leave it with their music in their company. Nor will the musical exchange be confined to Europe alone — though Europe is the most important of the centers — but will pass beyond it to all the lands that wish to develop musical relations with our country.
Yes, this exchange has actually begun; and never on any day have we British, or the rest of the nations, been more interested in foreign music than is the case today. Six years have gone by with musical production — little though it was — shut up within each country's borders, and this is the source of today's intense longing.
We in Britain know that valuable works have appeared during this period, and most likely this is the case in most parts of Europe. But we know nothing of the situation in Germany; perhaps production there was confined to the music of war propaganda. In saying this, we hope the days will prove us wrong.
There is no doubt that the music of France has stayed alive: many songs and anthems went round, springing from the ranks of the men of the resistance, written by Francis Poulenc and carried over to Britain shortly after the invasion of Europe. No news has yet come from Italy. As for America, we know something of her, for a part of her entertaining musical production reached us during the war.
All these musical contacts will grow in effect after the great festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music, which will be held in London during the coming summer.
The moment the restrictions on the journeys of orchestras were lifted, the London orchestra seized the opportunity, and I have learned that its journey aroused great admiration throughout the Continent. Its journey resulted in an exchange of orchestras: while the London orchestra was in Paris, the orchestra of the Paris Conservatoire was playing in London. In a few weeks another orchestra will come from Amsterdam.
All these journeys are a happy sign that the frontiers between the nations are beginning to disappear once more, and that free exchange — in music at least — is on the point of returning again.
Small boats that can hold out however bad the weather
The British Warwick "Ambition" Company has selected a type of small boat made of a light-weight metal. Its design was drawn up especially for use by the armed forces in the tropical zones and in all regions with bad weather. The boats are fitted with two-cylinder engines and run on gasoline. They cover 14.4 km an hour and consume one liter of gasoline for every 8.4 km.
A modern precision screw-cutting lathe
The Gauge and Instrument Company of Coventry has announced the invention of a modern screw-cutting lathe of first-class precision workmanship. It is so precise that in use it turns out screw threads less than 1/1000 of an inch in thickness, and it is therefore very well suited to the production of such articles as lead screws and the like.
The machine is made in three sizes, and it includes a device for setting graduated speeds from 7 to 70 kilometers an hour.
Woolen covers (blankets)
The result of the showing of the new woolen blankets at the London exhibition was that orders poured in from all parts of the world to import large quantities of them. Their chief distinction is that they are light in weight and very warm: a single one weighs no more than 33 ounces, or half the weight of the famous "Witney blankets," yet they are warmer than these. These blankets were made especially for travel by air, but it is expected that they will meet with great favor for household use, and particularly for use in children's beds.
There are other kinds weighing between 51 and 53 ounces, in no way inferior in merit to the kind just mentioned. One London company owns the only machines for the manufacture of these blankets, which are also distinguished by beautiful designs made by hand.
Among the exhibits at this show were also silk covers (blankets) known as "Gossamer blankets," which are painted by hand. On the whole, the exhibition gives us an idea of the fine workmanship of these new covers.