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Currently available transfers 2011
Jan - June 2011 transfers still available
July - Dec 2010 transfers still available
Jan - June 2010 transfers still available
December 22nd 2009
November 16th 2009
Rousseau’s “Le Devin du Village” with Micheau, Gedda and Roux, conducted by Louis de Froment
Selections from Rameau operas, conducted by Nadia Boulanger
Renee Chemet plays Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
Eugene Goossens conducts the RAHO in selections from Tosca
October 25th 2009
Landon Ronald conducts the New World Symphony (abridged acoustic recording from 1919-22)
Albert W Ketelbey conducts Irish Jigs arranged for band (1920)
David McCallum plays traditional Scottish fiddle pieces (late 1920s)
Peter Miles, actor, sings two pop songs from 1958
October 3rd 2009
September 6th 2009
Landon Ronald conducts Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (1922 acoustic recording)
Thomas Beecham conducts Berlioz and Johann Strauss II (acoustic recordings)
Carlo Sabajno conducts Elgar (1906 recording)
August 28th 2009
Landon Ronald conducts Glazunov Chopiniana, Mendelssohn Songs without words and Grieg Lyric Suite (1925 and 1933 recordings)
De Greef plays Liszt Piano Concerto 1, Saint-Saens Piano Concerto 2, Landon Ronald conducting
Daisy Kennedy plays Beethoven Romance in G, Hamilton Harty conducting
August 13th 2009
Landon Ronald conducts Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony
Franz André conducts French overtures, Bolero, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Rhapsodie Dahoméenne by de Boeck, Suites from Coppélia and Sylvia
Theo Olof plays Mozart Violin Concerto No.5, Walter Goehr conducting
Carl Bamberger conducts Mozart Symphony No.32
Frank Titterton sings Schubert Lieder in English
August 3rd 2009
Landon Ronald conducts Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Wagner, Svendsen and Bizet.
Eugene Goossens conducts Tchaikovsky
Mary Law plays operatic fantasias for violin
Excerpts from Il Trovatore with Carrie Lanceley and Gwilym Richards
Daisy Kennedy interviewed on radio
July 24th 2009
Arthur de Greef plays Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasia (acoustic and electric versions) conducted by Landon Ronald
De Greef plays solo works by Grieg and Liszt
Thor Johnson conducts Grieg’s Sigurd Jorsalfar
July 10th 2009
Franz André conducts Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Meyerbeer
Landon Ronald conducts Capriccio Italien
Jan - June 2009 transfers still available
2008 transfers still available
LP transfers still on site
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December 22nd 2009 - Check out my blog, for more frequent updates of what I’m working on or listening to.
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I’ve now acquired a better source for Susskind’s Pye recording of Handel’s Messiah, which I present here in rather better sound than its previous appearance. I repeat below the full details of this recording:
This Pye recording from 1958 is announced on the blue folder it was issued in as “Handel’s Messiah - the original manuscript.” This is perhaps misleading - while the performance observes the traditional cuts for the period (with Part III particularly abbreviated), Susskind has removed the two centuries of orchestral accretions to the score, giving us an early attempt at Handel’s original scoring. It’s still very much a mid 20th century account of the work though, with nothing in the way of double-dotting, ornamentation or the fast tempos to which we are now more accustomed.
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Mediafire link for Messiah Part 1 - Susskind
Mediafire link for Messiah Part 2 - Susskind
Mediafire link for Messiah Part 3 - Susskind
(These are zip files – left click the link, download the files, then unzip when downloaded)
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Handel - Messiah
Pye Golden Guinea GSGL 10062
Matrices GSGL 10062 A-1L, B-2L, C-2L, D-2L, E-1L, F-1L
Recorded 1958
The London Orchestra, Walter Susskind
London Philharmonic Choir (Choirmaster Frederick Jackson)
April Cantelo, soprano
Helen Watts, contralto
Wilfred Brown, tenor
Roger Stalman, bass
George Malcolm, harpsichord
Harold Darke, organ
This set of three stereo LPs (auto coupling) was in rather variable condition, with side 4 being particularly noisy. There are one or two places where the stereo focus drifts. I have corrected occasional pitch variations (in particular at an edit in “But who may abide.”) “The London Orchestra” is so named on the records, and is likely to be the London Philharmonic.
This recording was reviewed in Gramophone in November 1960, and its reissues on Pye’s budget Marble Arch label (both in full and as a single disc of highlights) were reviewed more briefly in February 1966.
More details
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There’s more from Daisy Kennedy this month. Several of the raw transfers here were provided by Cheniston Roland of Violinland , and one disc comes from my collection.
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Mediafire link for Daisy Kennedy - more acoustic Columbias
(These are zip files – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Drdla - Dance Op.96
Ethel Barnes - Swing Song (L’Escarpolette)
Columbia 2697
Matrices 35882, 35885
Recorded 1916
Available from September 1916
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
Kosloff - Idylle Finnoise
Zimbalist - Slavonic Dance No. 2 (Hebrew song and dance)
Columbia 2698
Matrices 65490, 65492
Recorded 1916
Available from October 1916
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
(from the collection of Cheniston Roland)
d’Ambrosio - Canzonetta
Kosloff - Melodie tartare
Columbia D1371
Matrices ??
Recorded c1917
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
(from the collection of Cheniston Roland)
Kreisler - Liebesfreud
Zimbalist - Russian Dance
Columbia D1373
Matrices ??
Recorded c1917
Daisy Kennedy, violin
with piano
(from the collection of Cheniston Roland)
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November 16th 2009 - Check out my blog, for more frequent updates of what I’m working on or listening to.
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La Guerre des Bouffons reaches my site today, with works from opposing sides of the French operatic conflict. Rousseau is better known as a philosopher, but fancied himself as something of a musician, and his “Le Devin du Village” was extremely influential in its day. It was later parodied by Mozart in “Bastien und Bastienne.” Rousseau was a proponent of Italian operatic style as exemplified by Pergolesi’s “La serva padrona,” and wrote articles supporting the Italian as opposed to the French style espoused by Rameau. Rousseau’s own amateur attempt at opera, though hugely popular at the time, sounds somewhat trite and pedestrian now, though it is given as good a performance as one could hope for in the recording below. Gedda is perhaps too strong for the role of Colin sometimes. The Rameau excerpts, to me, win out easily, directed by Nadia Boulanger.
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Mediafire link for Rousseau - Le Devin du Village - de Froment (1956)
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Rousseau - Le Devin du Village
Columbia 33CX 1503
Matrices XPTX 394 21, 395 21 (M6 176329/30)
Recorded April 1956
Issued February 1958
Orchestre de Chambre Louis de Froment, Louis de Froment
Nicolai Gedda, tenor (Colin)
Janine Micheau, soprano (Colette)
Michel Roux, bass (Le Devin)
Choeurs Raymond Saint-Paul
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Mediafire link for Rameau - Operatic excerpts - Boulanger
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Rameau - Operatic Excerpts
Brunswick AXTL 1053
Matrices MC 3135-1B, MC 3136-3B
Issued 1954
Instrumental Ensemble, Nadia Boulanger
Dardanus - Act 2. Introduction - Tout l'avenir... Suspends ta brillante carrière... Hâtons-nous!... Nos cris ont pénétré
Doda Conrad, baritone with vocal ensemble
Castor et Pollux - Prologue: Minuet... Naissez, dons de Flore
Paul Derenne, tenor
Jean Maciet, tenor
Nadine Sautereau, soprano
Flore Wend, soprano
Hippolyte et Aricie - Act 5. Rossignols amoureux
Flore Wend, soprano
Dardanus - Act 3. O jour affreux!
Irma Kolassi, mezzo-soprano
Les Indes Galantes - Entrée 2. Clair flambeau
Bernard Demigny, baritone with vocal ensemble
Hippolyte et Aricie - O disgrâce cruelle - Overture and Fanfare
Irma Kolassi, mezzo-soprano with vocal ensemble
Hippolyte et Aricie - Ballet figuré
Castor et Pollux - Act 4. Séjour de l'éternelle paix
Paul Derenne, tenor
Les Fêtes d'Hébé - Prologue: Volons sure les bordes de la seine;
Acanthe et Céphise - Entr'acte;
Les Fêtes d'Hébé - Entrée I. Je vous revois
Nadine Sautereau, soprano
Flore Wend, soprano
Platée - Chantons Bacchus!
Paul Derenne, tenor with vocal ensemble
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In the early years of his recording career, Eugene Goossens frequently recorded operatic pots-pourris, though it was something he did more often for Columbia than for HMV as here with the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra
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Download - Puccini/Tavan - Tosca - selection - Goossens
(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as”)
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Puccini arr. Tavan - Tosca - Selection
His Master’s Voice D 913
Matrices Cc 2668-IV, 2669-II (single side numbers 4-0592/3)
Recorded 19th January 1924, 7th March 1923, Hayes
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Eugene Goossens
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The French violinist Renée Chemet is a virtually unknown name to most, but she did record extensively for the Gramophone Company. Her recorded repertoire consists mostly of minor works which were the staple fare for violinists on record at the time. She did however record a number of sonata movements, an arrangement of a Vivaldi concerto, a Mozart concerto with Goossens conducting (albeit the doubtful No.6, K268), and this favourite Saint-Saens work.
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Download - Saint-Saens - Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso - Chemet
(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as”)
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Saint-Saens - Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso
His Master’s Voice DB 887
Matrices Cc 6789-I, 6790-II (single side numbers 4-07955/6)
Recorded 28th September 1925, Hayes
Renée Chemet, violin
Harold Craxton, piano
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October 25th 2009 - Check out my blog, for more frequent updates of what I’m working on or listening to.
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This latest update brings a rather mixed bag of recordings, and some departures from my usual fare.
The series of Landon Ronald recordings continues with his acoustic account of Dvorak’s New World Symphony. The recording amounts to just 8 sides, two for each movement. All except for the Scherzo are cut slightly:
First Movement: Bars 76-83, 106-113, 285-288, 301-308, 335-342
Second Movement: Bars 5-6, 27-35, 53-63, there is also a slight omission at the very end. (Only about twenty bars in all.)
Fourth Movement: Bars 1-9, 49-59, 100-114, 128-167.
Percy Scholes gives a detailed study of this work and recording in his Second Book of the Gramophone Record.
It is worth noting that two different takes of the first part of the Slow movement were issued - my set contains the later version. Scholes notes that in the earlier version the A flat on the Cor Anglais hoots noticeably (possibly due to recording horn resonance, though Scholes blames the instrument!). This defect is not apparent in the later take. There is, however, a fluff in the triplet flute passage in the second side of the movement which was not re-recorded. On the whole the cuts do not have a major impact, except in the final movement where the loss of the first 9 bars makes for a startling opening after the Scherzo.
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Mediafire link for Dvorak - New World - Landon Ronald (1919-22)
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Dvorak - Symphony No.5 (No.9) in E minor Op.95 “From the New World”
First Movement - Adagio - Allegro molto (2 sides)
Second Movement - Largo (2 sides)
Third Movement - Scherzo - Molto vivace (2 sides)
Fourth Movement - Allegro con fuoco (2 sides)
His Master’s Voice D 536, 537, 587, 613
Matrices HO 4065af, HO 4068af, Cc 2248-II, HO 4064af, Cc 454-III, Cc 455-IV, Cc 723-I, Cc 724-I (single side numbers 3-0589/92, 3-0669/70, 3-0712/3)
Recorded 1st November 1919 (sides 1, 2, 4), 7th October 1921 (sides 5, 6), 29th November 1921 (side 7, 8), 6th December 1922 (side 3), Hayes
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Landon Ronald
The originally issued take of the first part of the first movement was HO 4063af, recorded at the same session as the rest of the first two movements.
The first side of the first movement ends with emphatic cadential chords to round out the side. This ending is included as an extra in the folder containing these files.
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Albert Ketelbey was to the Columbia Graphophone Company what Landon Ronald was for the Gramophone Company. However, as a composer of light music, his recorded repertoire is very different to that of Ronald. As well as recordings of his own music, he conducted numerous brass band arrangements - in this case of a selection of Irish jigs. It may be that Ketelbey arranged these himself.
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Download - Irish Jigs - Ketelbey
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as”)
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Traditional - Irish Jigs
Part 1 (Introducing: Hunting the Hare; Rory O'More; Sprig of Shillelagh; Paddy's Brallagann; Irish Washerwoman)
Part 2 (Introducing: Haste to the Wedding; Rakes of Mallow; Paddy O'Rafferty; Dublin Lasses; Drops of Brandy; St. Patrick's Day)
Regal G 7585 (10” 78rpm)
Matrices 35807, 35808 (9798, 9799)
Recorded 1920
Available from December 1920 to January 1943
Silver Stars Band, Albert W Ketelbey
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Mention of the name David McCallum is more likely for most people to conjure up images of the actor, star of The Men from U.N.C.L.E., Sapphire and Steel and other cult TV shows. While he has made recordings, as singer, conductor and arranger, he inherits his musical interest and ability from his violinist father. David McCallum senior was the leader of the Scottish Orchestra in the 1930s before Beecham approached him to replace Paul Beard at the LPO from 1936. During the war McCallum lead the National Symphony Orchestra, and after it Beecham approached him to lead his new RPO. The present record, however, is from the early years of McCallum’s career - a disc of Scottish fiddle pieces and Auld Robin Gray, recorded for Vocalion in the late 1920s and issued on their Broadcast label.
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Download - Scottish fiddle pieces - David McCallum
Download - Auld Robin Gray - David McCallum
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as”)
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(a) Inverness gathering (b) Deil among the Tailors (c) East Neuk o’ Fife
Auld Robin Gray
Broadcast S.6 (8” 78rpm, “long-playing”)
Matrices Z309, Z310
Recorded late 1920s
David McCallum, violin
George Short, piano
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A complete change of pace comes with a “pop” record. This curiosity was recorded in 1958 by Peter Miles, a young British actor, singer and guitarist of the time. The reason I came to buy it is that Miles appeared several times in my favourite television programme, “Doctor Who.” His most famous role was as Nyder, the Kaled Security Commander in the story “Genesis of the Daleks.” Nyder is a nasty piece of work, as were Miles characters in “The Silurians” and “Invasion of the Dinosaurs.” So it’s startling to hear him singing these songs so charmingly in a lovely falsetto. One of the sides is a song he wrote himself.
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Download - Peter Miles - My Little Girl
Download - Peter Miles - Goodnight, God bless, sleep tight
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as”)
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Peter Miles - My Little Girl
Roberts - Goodnight, God bless, sleep tight
Columbia DB 4117 (10” 78rpm)
Matrices CA 24380-1, 24381-1
Recorded 1958
Peter Miles, singer
Tony Osborne and his Orchestra
with the Rita Williams Singers
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October 3rd 2009
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As a companion to the late 1920s recording of Peer Gynt with Schneevoigt conducting the New Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra (now available to download from Historic Recordings), it seemed fitting to hear an acoustic recording of some of the same pieces, made just a few years earlier, with Alick Maclean conducting. Maclean trims the second repeat from Anitra’s Dance, ending at the first time bar, allowing the Hall of the Mountain King (or Dance of the Imps as the label has it) to fit onto the same side. This means the fourth side of the set can be used for Solveig’s Song (which is taken slowly enough that the coda, a repeat of the opening, is omitted.) The orchestra is clearly smaller, to fit into the Columbia acoustic studio, and there is substantial rescoring to allow for the acoustic process. Anitra’s Dance has noticeable added woodwind, and the Mountain King gains a rather effective bell! Some of the string lines in Solveig’s Song receive woodwind support (including a lovely oboe solo.)
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Mediafire link for Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite (1923) - Alick Maclean
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Grieg – Peer Gynt Suite
New Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra, Alick Maclean
Columbia L 1516-7
Matrices 75010-6, 75011-3, 75012-6, 75023-6 (3896/9)
Recorded 9th May 1923, London
Available from January 1924 to February 1928
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September 6th 2009
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A varied selection of acoustic orchestral recordings to start the autumn now. Landon Ronald’s 1926 recording of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony has already appeared at this site, so it’s interesting to hear his 1922 acoustic recording of the same work. There’s very little difference in the performance, though the French style bassoons are more obvious in this early recording.
Thomas Beecham has not appeared here before, though his recorded legacy is well known. His acoustic recordings, however, have had little attention on CD. A Symposium double CD issue from 1991 included a selection of them, including the Fledermaus overture given here, and focusing on material that Beecham did not re-record. The Berlioz sides, superseded in the 1930s, have therefore had limited circulation.
The coupling for HMV’s double sided issue of Beecham conducting the overture to Die Fledermaus is of particular interest. It provides a rare chance to hear an Italian conducting Elgar in 1906. Carlo Sabajno was the Gramophone Company’s house conductor in Italy. Salut d’amour was not the only Elgar work that Sabajno recorded. In 1909 he recorded a single sided version of “In the South”, the first recording of the work (or at least of its final section). In Salut d’amour the extensive use of portamento may be startling to modern listeners!
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Mediafire link for Beethoven - Symphony No.5 - Landon Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Beethoven - Symphony No.5 in C minor Op.67
First Movement - Allegro con brio (2 sides)
Second Movement - Andante con moto (2 sides)
Third Movement - Allegro (Scherzo) (1½ sides)
Fourth Movement - Allegro (Finale) (2½ sides)
His Master’s Voice D 665/8
Matrices Cc 1812-IV, 1813-III, 1814-IV, 1815-I, 1948-II, 1949-I, 1950-II, 2017-I (single side numbers 3-0798/0804)
Recorded 24th October 1922 (sides 1, 2, 8), 10th October 1922 (sides 3, 5, 6, 7), 12th September 1922 (side 4), Hayes
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Berlioz and Strauss - Beecham, with Elgar - Carlo Sabajno
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
Mediafire link for previously available recordings by Carlo Sabajno
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Berlioz - A Roman Carnival - Overture (abridged)
Berlioz - Damnation of Faust - March
Columbia L1105
Matrices 6907-1, 6924-1
Recorded 1916
Available from December 1916 to May 1928
The Beecham Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Beecham
The overture is substantially abridged, shorn of its first part. The recording contains bars 78-157 and 255-440 (the end of the work), and is very dimly recorded at the beginning. Details of matrix 6906 in Beecham’s 1916 sessions are not available, leading the suggestion that it may have contained the first part of the overture, which remained unissued. The March from Faust is given complete.
The two sides play at 82.5 and 81rpm respectively.
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Strauss II - Die Fledermaus - Overture (abridged)
Beecham’s Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Beecham
Elgar - Salut d’amour
La Scala Symphony Orchestra, Carlo Sabajno
His Master’s Voice C431
Matrices 381ac (4360f-II, 0627), 921c (0546)
Recorded London 28th July 1910 (Beecham), Milan 1906 (Sabajno)
Available from September 1915
The overture is heavily cut. The recording contains bars 1-11, with bar 12 changed to unison B rather than E, to lead to b200-208, then b225-420 (the end of the overture). In the run out area of the record, an attempt has been made to scratch out the matrix number 4360f II. This is because 4360f was also assigned to an unpublished Evan Williams recording, This Beecham recording, when the duplication was realised, was renumbered 4360f-II, and later (May 1911) as 381ac.
The Beecham plays at 80rpm and the Sabajno at 74rpm.
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August 28th 2009
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The flurry of Landon Ronald recordings continues, again with accompaniments for Belgian pianist Arthur de Greef (1862 - 1940). De Greef’s recording of Liszt’s 1st Piano Concerto was not the first ever (that honour fell to Anderson Tyrer on Edison Bell Velvet Face, with Adrian Boult conducting), but is important as a recording of a significant work by a pupil of Liszt, despite the acoustic recording. After Liszt’s death, de Greef worked with Saint-Saens in Paris, so it is also significant that he recorded the 2nd Piano Concerto. The present transfer is of de Greef’s 1928 electrical recording. De Greef in fact made the first recording of this work, with Landon Ronald, on just four sides. A few years before, Ronald had conducted the 2nd movement on record for Irene Scharrer.
As well as these concerto recordings, there are several purely orchestral recordings here by Landon Ronald. He recorded Grieg’s Lyric Suite 3 times - the first was an acoustic recording in 1912, and he then recorded it twice electrically. These electrical recordings are from 1925 and 1933, both to be heard here. Also presented below is a 1933 recording of movements from Glazunov’s Chopiniana - orchestral arrangements of well-known works of Chopin, which became the basis for the ballet Les Sylphides. These are coupled with recordings of two of Mendelssohn’s Songs without words, also in orchestral guise. The Spring Song and Spinning Song were a popular combination - Ronald also recorded these same pieces acoustically in 1912 and 1923. The latter of these will appear here in due course.
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Mediafire link for Glazunov - Chopiniana, and Mendelssohn - Landon Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Glazunov - Chopiniana Op.46
Mendelssohn - Spring Song Op.62 No.2; Spinning Song (Bees’ Wedding) Op.67
His Master’s Voice C 2638/9
Matrices 2B 4639-IIIA, 4641-II, 4642-II, 4643-I (single side numbers 32-3919/22)
Recorded 1933
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Grieg - Lyric Suite - Landon Ronald 1933
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Grieg - Lyric Suite Op.54
His Master’s Voice C 2642/3
Matrices 2B 4638-I, 4636-II, 4640-I, 4637-II (single side numbers 32-3917, 3915, 3918, 3916)
Recorded 1933
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Grieg - Lyric Suite - Landon Ronald 1925
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Grieg - Lyric Suite Op.54
His Master’s Voice D 1081/2
Matrices Cc 7229-II, 7230-II, 7254-II, 7255-I (single side numbers 4-0813/6)
Recorded 10th November 1925 (Nos. 1 & 2) and 13th November 1925 (Nos. 3 & 4), Hayes
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Saint-Saens Concerto - De Greef, Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Saint-Saens - Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor Op.22
1st movement - Andante sostenuto (2½ sides)
2nd movement - Allegro scherzando (1½ sides)
3rd movement - Presto (2 sides)
His Master’s Voice D 7458/60 (issued on standard coupling as D 1590/2)
Matrices CR 2110-I, 2111-IA, 2112-IIIA, 2114-I, 2113-IA, 2115-IIA (single side numbers 2-05644, 05645, 05646, 05648, 05647, 05649)
Recorded 26th June 1928, Queen’s Hall, London
Arthur de Greef, piano
New Symphony Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Liszt Concerto No.1 - De Greef, Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Liszt - Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat major
1st movement - Allegro maestoso (1¾ sides)
2nd movement - Quasi adagio (1¼ sides)
3rd movement - Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato (1½ sides)
4th movement - Allegro marziale animato (1½ sides)
His Master’s Voice D 890/2
Matrices Cc 1804-III, 1805-III, 1806-III, 1810-IV, 1822-V, 1823-V (single side numbers 05803/8)
Recorded 7th November 1922 (sides 1, 3), 11th September 1922 (side 2), 21st November 1922 (sides 4, 6), 21st September 1923 (side 5), Hayes
Arthur de Greef, piano
New Symphony Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
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Another recording of the Australian violinist Daisy Kennedy, again with orchestra. This was the first recording, and the only acoustic one, of Beethoven’s Romance No.1 in G major for violin and orchestra. The recording is conducted by Hamilton Harty. Many thanks to Cheniston Roland of Violinland for providing the source for this recording.
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Mediafire link for Beethoven Romance No.1 - Daisy Kennedy, Hamilton Harty
(This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file)
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Beethoven – Romance No.1 in G major Op.40
Columbia L1340
Matrices 76560-2, 76561-2
Recorded 1919
Available from August 1920 to July 1924
Daisy Kennedy, violin
Orchestra, Hamilton Harty
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August 13th 2009
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Thanks to a recent email containing a substantial, though unfinished Franz André discography, I now know that a number of his stereo recordings are out of copyright, so it seemed apt to post a selection of mainly French music. Also, there’s more Tchaikovsky from Landon Ronald, a Mozart Violin Concerto with Theo Olof, and two Schubert songs by Frank Titterton, accompanied by Lev Pouishnoff
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Mediafire link for French overtures - Franz André
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Hérold - Zampa - Overture
Adam - Si j’étais Roi - Overture
Auber - La Muette de Portici (Masaniello) - Overture
Berlioz - Le Carnaval Romain - Overture
Thomas - Mignon - Overture
Auber - Fra Diavolo - Overture
Telefunken SMA 13 (12” stereo LP)
Matrices STE-010355-2D, 010356-2D
Recorded October 1955 (Zampa, Muette de Portici), 15th July 1956 (Carnaval Romain, Fra Diavolo), 16th July 1956 (Si j’étais Roi), 17th April 1957 (Mignon), Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels
L’Orchestre Symphonique de la Radiodiffusion National Belge, Franz André
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Mediafire link for Ravel, Dukas de Boeck - Franz André
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Ravel - Bolero
Dukas - L’apprenti sorcier
De Boeck - Rhapsodie Dahoméenne
Telefunken SLB 12001 (12” stereo LP)
Matrices XLP - Ste - 10168-IV, 10217-VI
Recorded 2-7 April 1958, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels
L’Orchestre Symphonique de la Radiodiffusion National Belge, Franz André
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Mediafire link for Delibes ballet suites - Franz André
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Delibes - Coppélia Suite
Delibes - Sylvia Suite
Telefunken TCS 18006 (12” stereo LP)
Matrices STE-010393-1, 010392
Recorded 16th (Sylvia) and 17th (Coppélia) April 1957, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels
L’Orchestre Symphonique de la Radiodiffusion National Belge, Franz André
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Mediafire link for Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.5 - Landon Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.5 in E minor Op.64
His Master’s Voice D 1511-16 (Album 73)
Matrices CR 1773-IA, 1774-I, 1775-III, 1776-IA, 1777-I, 1778-I, 1779-III, 1780-I, 1770-IA, 1781-II, 2006-IIA, 2007-I (single side numbers 5-0848/9, 5-0879, 5-0850/1, 5-0986, 5-0881, 5-0852, 5-0853, 5-0880, 5-0981/2)
Recorded 18th April 1928 (sides 1, 2 and 4), 19th April 1928 (sides 5, 6, 8 and 9), 2nd May 1928 (sides 3, 7, 10, 11 and 12) Queen’s Hall, London
I. Andante - Allegro con anima (4 sides)
II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza (3 sides)
III. Valse: Allegro moderato (2 sides)
IV. Finale: Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace - Andante maestoso - Moderato assai e molto maestoso (3 sides)
New Symphony Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
There was some slight variation in recording speed (particularly on the 2nd day).
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Mediafire link for Mozart - Violin Concerto - Theo Olof
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Mozart - Violin Concerto No.5 in A major K219
Theo Olof, violin
Classics Club Symphony Orchestra, Walter Goehr
Mozart - Symphony No.32 in G major K318
Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, Carl Bamberger
The Classics Club: Collector 67
Matrices CCHN 67 A-1P, B-1P
Recorded early 1950s
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Mediafire link for Schubert songs - Titterton
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Schubert - On the water (Auf dem Wasser)
Schubert - The Erl King (Erlkönig)
Columbia 9431
Matrices WAX 3250-4, 3251-1 (8512/3)
Recorded 4th April, 13th February 1928, London
Available from mid-August 1928 to August 1934
Frank Titterton, tenor
Lev Pouishnoff, piano
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August 3rd 2009
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People are probably starting to wonder just how many Landon Ronald recordings I have. There are still plenty more to come, and a few early transfers which I’m keen to revisit. So, for the summer, a selection of Tchaikovsky, Svendsen, Wagner and Bizet, including a bonus side by Eugene Goossens.
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Mediafire link for Schumann - Carnaval - Landon Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Schumann - Carnaval
His Master’s Voice D 1840/2
Matrices Cc 18734-III, 18735-I, 18736-III, 18745-III, 18746-II, 18747-II (single side numbers 32-1373/8)
Recorded 8th (sides 1 and 2) and 11th (sides 3 to 6) April 1930, Kingsway Hall, London
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
Side 1: (1) Preambule (2) Pierrot (3) Arlequin
Side 2: (4) Valse Noble (5) Eusebius (6) Florestan
Side 3: (7) Coquette (8) Papillons (9) Lettres dansante (10) Chiarina
Side 4: (11) Chopin (12) Estrella (13) Reconnaissance
Side 5: (14) Pantalon et Colombine (15) Valse Allemande (16) Paganini (17) Aveu
Side 6: (18) Promenade (19) Pause (20) Marche des Davidsbundler contre les Philistins
Schumann’s piano suite is orchestrated variously here by Glazunov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liadov, Tcherepnin and Arensky. After Coquette, Replique is omitted, and Paganini includes the reprise of the Valse Allemande
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Mediafire link for Tchaikovsky - Theme and Variations, Chanson sans paroles - Landon Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Tchaikovsky - Theme and Variations from Suite No.3 in G
Tchaikovksy - Chanson sans paroles (Song without words)
His Master’s Voice D 1798/1800
Matrices Cc 17901-II, 17902-I, 17904-III, 17903-II, 17905-IA, 17906-IIA (single side numbers 32-1028/33)
Recorded 3rd December 1929, Kingsway Hall, London
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
Side 1: Theme (Andante con moto) & Variations 1, 2, & 3
Side 2: Variations 4, 5, 6 & 7
Side 3: Variations 8, 9, & 10
Side 4: Variations 11 & 12 (First Record)
Side 5: Variation 12 (Second Record)
Side 6: Chanson sans paroles
The Chanson sans paroles may well be Ronald’s own orchestration.
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Mediafire link for Svendsen - Carnival in Paris, Tchaikovsky - Polonaise - Landon Ronald, Eugene Goossens
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Svendsen - Carnival in Paris
Tchaikovksy - Eugene Onegin - Polonaise (Act 3)
His Master’s Voice DB 1759/60
Matrices Cc 19735-II, 19736-II, 19737-II, 2B 598-I (single side numbers 32-1767/9, 32-2303)
Recorded 17th September 1929, Kingsway Hall, London (Svendsen)
Recorded 24th June 1931, Kingsway Hall, London (Tchaikovsky)
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald (Svendsen)
London Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Goossens (Tchaikovsky).
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Mediafire link for Bizet - Carmen - Preludes Act 1 & 2 - Landon Ronald
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Bizet - Carmen - Preludes to Act 1 and 2
His Master’s Voice E 461
Matrices BR 936-IA, 937-II (single side numbers 6-830/1)
Recorded 21st January 1927, Queen’s Hall, London
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Wagner - Die Meistersinger Overture - Landon Ronald
(This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file)
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Wagner - Die Meistersinger - Overture
Opera Disc Company 65365
Matrices ac6117f, ac6119f (single side numbers 040760/1)
Recorded 2nd March 1912, London
New Symphony Orchestra, Landon Ronald
This recording has appeared here before, but is now presented in an improved transfer.
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Mary Law was a young British violinist, born 1889, died 1919, possibly from tuberculosis. She recorded a number of sides for Zonophone in 1915, primarily of operatic fantasias - those arrangements that provided audiences the tunes they knew. In November 1915 she began a tour of Australia. The Melbourne Argus of November 23rd 1915 contains the following:
Just Arrived, Direct from London, Under Special Engagement and First Appearance in Australia of Miss MARY LAW, The Notable English Violinist. Miss Law has been honoured with Royal Commands galore, and can claim the distinction of having played before most Members of the Royal Family.
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Mediafire link for operatic fantasias with Mary Law
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Verdi - Rigoletto, Fantasia
Rossini - William Tell, Fantasia
Zonophone Record The Twin - Serial A 187
Matrices z8393f, z8398f (single side numbers 047922/1)
Recorded 5th August 1915, London
Mary Law, violin with piano
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The next item is the very traditional coupling on record of Ai nostri monti and the Miserere from Il Trovatore. This is a record on the short lived Pioneer label, which came into being in 1914, and lasted only until 1915. It’s on an earlier black label pressing, making 1914 the likely date. The two soloists are Australian soprano Carrie Lanceley and Welsh tenor Gwilym Richards. For more information on each, go to their respective pages.
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Mediafire link for Verdi - Il Trovatore - duets with Lanceley and Richards
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Verdi - Il Trovatore - Home to our mountains; Miserere
Pioneer 135
Matrices 2522, 2523
Recorded 1914, London
Carrie Lanceley, soprano
Gwilym Richards, tenor
with Orchestra
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Daisy Kennedy, the Australian violinist has already appeared here, playing Saint-Saens. The present recording, is somewhat of a departure. This is an interview with Daisy Kennedy, broadcast on the BBC as the interval feature for a concert by Rafael Kubelik. The dates of the concert or the original interview are unknown. Many thanks to to Cheniston K Roland for providing a copy of this interview. Kennedy reflects on how she began to learn the violin, playing for Jan Kubelik, studying with Sevcik, and working with Landon Ronald, Percy Pitt and Henry Wood.
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Mediafire link for Daisy Kennedy interview
(This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file)
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Daisy Kennedy, interviewed by Irene Slade
A full transcript can be found on my Daisy Kennedy page.
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July 24th 2009
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Yet more from Landon Ronald now - this time conducting accompaniments for the Belgian pianist Arthur de Greef (1862 - 1940), in music by Liszt and Grieg. As a bonus there’s also a disc of two De Greef solos, by the same composers. The recordings are of some significance, as De Greef was one of Liszt’s pupils, and was a friend of Edvard Grieg, who endorsed his performances.
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Mediafire link for Grieg’s Piano Concerto - Arthur de Greef, Landon Ronald (electrical recording)
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Grieg - Piano Concerto in A minor Op.16
His Master’s Voice D 1237-40
Matrices CR 918-I, 919-II, 920-I, 921-IA, 922-II, 923-IA, 924-IA, 925-IA (single side numbers 05982/9)
Recorded 18th January 1927 (except side 2, 21st January) Queen’s Hall, London
I. Allegro molto moderato (4 sides)
II. Adagio (1½ sides)
III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato (2½ sides)
Arthur de Greef, piano
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
Side 2 was noticeably off pitch compared to the other sides, beginning somewhat below speed for a fraction of a setting, before rising to 80rpm and slowly returning to 78rpm.
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Mediafire link for Grieg’s Piano Concerto - Arthur de Greef, Landon Ronald (acoustic recording, and solo items)
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Grieg - Piano Concerto in A minor Op.16 (abridged acoustic recording)
His Master’s Voice D 551-2
Matrices Cc 78-I, 79-I, 80-II, 81-II (single side numbers 05663/6)
Recorded 19th April 1921, Hayes, Room 1
I. Allegro molto moderato (2 sides)
II. Adagio (1 side)
III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato (1 side)
Arthur de Greef, piano
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
This recording is cut to about half of its original length to fit on just four sides, rather than the eight of the electrical version.
Side 1 starts at bar 1, runs to 12 after A, then cuts to 21 after E (Animato), continuing through to the pause before the cadenza. The cut is from the Animato section of the Exposition to that in the Recapitulation.
Side 2 runs from the cadenza through to the end of the movement. Curiously, de Greef adds an extra half bar in the cadenza in bar 8, just before the descending octave passage leading to the fff repeat of the main theme. He does not do this in the electrical recording, so it must be a slight memory slip.
Side 3 starts 2 before A and runs to the end of the movement
Side 4 runs from the beginning(!) through to C, cuts to 8 before H, runs to 27 after H, cuts the 3/4 section, and resumes at K, continuing to the end of the movement.
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Grieg - Norwegian Bridal March (Pictures from Folk Life Op.19 No.2)
Liszt-Schubert - Soirée de Vienne S247/6
His Master’s Voice D 1412
Matrices Cc 11773-II, 11800-I (single side numbers 2-05561, 2-05577)
Recorded 7th and 10th November 1927, C Studio, Small Queen’s Hall
Arthur de Greef, piano
The Liszt is played without repeats, and with cuts to both A major sections. The Grieg is uncut, and in fact, De Greef slightly extends the final cadence, by repeating the E major chord an octave higher, followed by a low E in the bass.
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Mediafire link for Liszt - Hungarian Fantasia - Arthur de Greef, Landon Ronald (electrical recording)
(This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file)
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Liszt - Hungarian Fantasia
His Master’s Voice D 1306-7
Matrices CR 914-III, 915-II, 916-IA, 917-III (single side numbers 05978/81)
Recorded 21st January 1927 (except side 3, 18th January) Queen’s Hall, London
Arthur de Greef, piano
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
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Mediafire link for Liszt - Hungarian Fantasia - Arthur de Greef, Landon Ronald (acoustic recording)
(This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file)
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Liszt - Hungarian Fantasia (acoustic recording, slightly abridged)
His Master’s Voice D 523, 528
Matrices HO 4573af, 4574af-II, 4575af, 4576af-III (single side numbers 05654, 05655, 3-0582, 3-0583)
Recorded 27th October 1920, Hayes
Arthur de Greef, piano
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Sir Landon Ronald
This acoustic recording omits one of the first three bars. As they’re identical, it’s hard to say which. It seems a bizarrely pointless cut - the side runs to just over 4 minutes, and could easily have accommodated the few extra seconds required.
De Greef elaborates slightly on the solo part, when compared to the score.
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Thor Johnson was the youngest American-born conductor to be music director of an American orchestra when he took over the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He recorded three LPs for English Decca (through its London label in the USA) in 1951, before moving on to record for Remington in 1953 and 1954.
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Mediafire link for Grieg’s Sigurd Jorsalfar Suite - Thor Johnson
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Grieg - Sigurd Jorsalfar
DECCA LW 5124 (10” LP)
Matrices TRL 275-1B, 276-1B
Recorded c1951
No.1 - In the King’s Hall (Prelude)
No.2 - Borghild’s Dream (Intermezzo)
No.3 - Homage March (Triumphal March)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Thor Johnson
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July 10th 2009
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Yet more from Franz André - the contents of two mid 1950s 10” Telefunken LPs, with music by Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Meyerbeer.
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Mediafire link for Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Meyerbeer - Franz André
(This is a zip file – left click the link, download the file, then unzip when downloaded)
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Tchaikovksy - Capriccio Italien Op.45
Tchaikovksy - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Telefunken LGM 65005
Matrices LP 36720-1A, 36721-1B
Recorded 12th and 14th April 1952, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels
Released 1955
Le Grand Orchestre Symphonique de L’I.N.R. Belge, Bruxelles, Franz André
Meyerbeer - Fackeltanz No.1 in B flat major
Glazunov - Valse de Concert No.1 in D major Op.47
Telefunken TM 68014
Matrices MRL 28-1B, 27-1B
Recorded 2nd October 1953, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels
L’Orchestre Symphonique de la Radiodiffusion Nationale Belge, Franz André
These two LPs are in poor condition, so there is a significant amount of noise and distortion.
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To give another view on one of the scores recorded by Franz André, and a welcome return to one of my favourite conductors, here is Landon Ronald’s abridged 1917 recording of Capriccio Italien.
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Mediafire link for Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien - Landon Ronald
(This is an mp3 file – left click the link, download the file)
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Tchaikovksy - Capriccio Italien Op.45
His Master’s Voice D 124
Matrices HO 2891af, 2892af (single side numbers 2-0837, 2-0842)
Recorded 29th September 1917, Hayes
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Landon Ronald
The sides run at various speeds - the first side runs from about 80 down to 77rpm, while the second is around 75rpm
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Recordings digitized using Stanton ST.150 turntable with Stanton 500 cartridge. Various styli supplied by Expert Stylus Company. Digital sound processing, including equalization, filtering to remove rumble and hum, speed adjustments and dehissing, using DC6, by Diamond Cut productions. Declicking and decrackling using ClickRepair. Re-equalisation using HarBal.
All recordings remastered from original analogue recordings, out of copyright in the UK (1959 or earlier), and hosted in the UK.
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