*BEETHOVEN. Serenade in D major for Flute, Violin and Viola, On. 25. Julius Baker (flute), Joseph Fuchs (violin), Lillian Fuchs (viola). Trio in C minor for Violin, Viola and 'Cello, Op. 9, No. 3. Harry Fuchs ('cello), Joseph Fuchs (violin), Lillian Fuchs (viola). Brunswick AXTL1033 (12 in., 36s. 51d.).

The Record rear 2, after listing a Danish special order (SP) recording of Beethoven's D major Serenade, sniffs at the work in the following sentence : " A clean, efficient performance of a dull work." Now, conscious though I am of showing insufficient loyalty, I must cry shame ; A dull work, these six movements light as air and bubbling with melody ? No, a delightful work, delightfully played on this disc, and perfectly recorded. It is new to LP, and welcome.

The String Trio is available in another form : the Allegro disc ALX3ot5, where it is coupled with No. 2 of Opus 9, the D major Trio. The C minor is the finest of these three trios—profound works, even more so, perhaps, than the Opus t8 Quartets. On the Allegro disc the three Pasquiers give a more thoughtful performance than the three Fuchses do for Brunswick ; they also get the better recording (a review appears on page 81 of the September, 1952, THE GRAMOPHONE). On the whole, Opus 25 charms notwithstanding, I should make for the Opus 9, Nos. 2 and 3, coupling. A.P.