caveinspiredmusic.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC

FINGAL’S CAVE OVERTURE 1909 to 1939

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RECORDINGS OF

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE In chronological order by release dates

CL-FG-P1-1 United Kingdom 1909

[FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE] CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: ORCHESTRA DEL TEATRO ALLA SCALA

Cond: Carlo SABAJNO

Prod. Co: The Gramophone Co. Ltd.; Milan Time: (?) Label: Gramophone Monarch (?) Spec: 12" 78rpm Notes: This is the earliest known recording of the Fingal’s Cave Overture and it is also probably the second oldest recording of cave-inspired music; the first known being “Grotto March” by the Zon-o-phone Concert Band in 1905 (see under Popular Music – United Kingdom & United States – G to Z). Ref: Arnold, Claude Graveley 1997, The Orchestra on Record, 1896-1926, Greenwood Press Carli, Philip 2015, Message on Contact Page dated June 2, 2015 Carlo Sabajno, Bio, AHRC Research Centre for the History & Analysis of Recorded Music, rhul.ac.uk Carlo Sabajno, Bio, Wikipedia

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-2 United Kingdom 1913

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE CL – Band

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: BLACK DIAMONDS BAND

Cond: Eli HUDSON

Prod. Co: British Zonophone Co. Ltd.; London Rec. Loc: London Rec. Date: May 14, 1913 Time: (?) Label: Zonophone Z-040105 Spec: 12" 78rpm (Double-sided) (Sd 1 & 2) Notes: A band version of the overture where the brass and other wind instruments are predominant was ideally suited to

the early totally acoustic recording process. The string instruments of a large symphony orchestra were not suitable and as a result all the subtle and nuanced passages of the symphonic score as written by Mendelssohn are lost here. However, this recording has not been seen or heard. Eli Hudson recorded numerous double-sided discs for Zonophone in 1913-14 Season. “Eli Hudson was the original music director [of the Black Diamonds Band] and the band is known to have played at The Royal Albert Hall in 1914.” (Gleeson 2006) Judging from a photo in the Zonophone Records Catalogue (see above left) of the Eli Hudson who conducted the Black Diamonds Band, it is very clear that this is one and the same with the Eli Hudson, the orchestral flute player & piccolo virtuoso (on right) who had recorded earlier for the Gramophone Company.

This recording has not been seen or heard. Ref: Anon. 2013b, History of Sound Recording, Wikipedia

Gleeson, John 2006, The Black Diamonds Band (aka. The Royal Guards Band), coldstreamguardsband Kelly 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p; 1, rhull.ac.uk Zonophone Record Catalogue, 1913-14 Season, (Does not list this disc), sounds.bl.uk

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-3 United States 1919

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Cond: Cesare SODERO Prod. Co: Thomas A. Edison Laboratories; New York, NY Rec. Date: Feb. 10, 1919 Matrix: 6618-A & 6618-B Time: (?) Label: Edison 80587-R Flip Sd: (Both) Der Tambour der Garde Overture

Spec: 10" 80rpm (Vertical Cut – Thick Disc) Notes: This is the earliest known orchestral recording of the Fingal’s Cave Overture. The conductor, Cesare Sodero (1886-1947), was the Edison Company’s principal conductor until 1926. (Carli 2015) During the first three decades of recorded sound up until the advent of electric recording in 1924 there were numerous logistic and technical problems connected with acoustical recordings of a full symphony orchestra, so this may well be the first recorded version of Mendelssohn's overture. One side of a 10-inch disc could only provide about 5 minutes of music; so two sides would be needed to release a recording of the complete overture. Edison diamond discs were completely different from other early records – “Victor and most other disc record companies used side to side or lateral motion of the stylus in the record groove,

whereas in the Edison system the movement was up and down or vertical (also known as "hill-and-dale" motion), as in a cylinder record. An Edison Disc Phonograph [record player machine] is distinguished by the diaphragm of the reproducer being located parallel to the disc surface. The Victor (or similar) diaphragm is located at a right angles to the surface of the disc such that the diaphragm is more or less parallel to the groove.” (Anon. 2013) “As the Edison groove pitch (or "TPI", i.e. "threads per inch") was 150, a much finer grooving than that on lateral discs, Edison's 10-inch discs played considerably longer than Victor's or Columbia's -- up to nearly five minutes per side. The Edison Disc is also ¼-inch thick (supposedly to prevent warping), and was filled with wood flour, and later, china clay.” (Anon. 2013) “From 1912 to mid-1921, Edison relied on ‘molded labels.’ A prepared plate was pressed into the record surface, leaving an engraved impression.” (Gracyk 2006) Without an Edison diamond disc player equipped with a vertical groove diaphragm it was not possible to audition this particular disc.

This orchestra should not be confused with American Symphony Orchestra the New York based American orchestra founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski. Ref: Anon. 2013, Edison Disc Record, Wikipedia Arnold, Claude Graveley 1997, The Orchestra on Record, 1896-1926, Greenwood Press Barr, Steven C. 1992, The Almost Complete 78 RPM Dating Guide (II), Huntington Beach, CA, p. 62 Carli, Philip 2015, Message on Contact Page dated June 2, 2015 Cesare Sodero, Bio, findagrave Cesare Sodero, Bio, Wikipedia ENHS & Loughlin, Mike 2003, Edison Diamond Disc, Truesound Online Discography Project, truesoundtransfers or edisondd.xls Edison Diamond Disc, Edison Label Dating Guide, diamond-disc-info Gracyk, Tim 2006, Edison Diamond Discs: 1912-1929, grecyk

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-4 United Kingdom 1920

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE CL – Band

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: COLDSTREAM GUARDS BAND

Cond: Lt.-Col. John MACKENSIE ROGAN Prod. Co: (?) Rec. Loc: London Rec. Date: Jan. 10, 1920 Time: (?) Label: (?) 0251 Spec: 12" 78rpm (Sd 1 & 2) Notes: Another band version of the overture. The Band of the Coldstream Guards is “is one of the oldest and best known bands in the British Army, having been officially formed on 16 May 1785.” (Anon. 2013) “For 20 years Lt-Col Rogan was the senior director of music of the Brigade of Guards, and he was responsible for the massed bands of the Brigade at the funeral of Queen Victoria [and] the coronation of King George V… After leaving the Army in 1920 he continued his musical interests particularly with the British Legion of whom he became Honorary Director of Music. He took considerable part in the arrangements for the Armistice Night music festival at the Albert Hall. This recording has not been seen or heard. Ref: Anon. 2013, Band of the Coldstream Guards, History, Wikipedia Band of the Coldstream Guards, History, military-bands.co.uk John Mackenzie Rogan, Short Bio, historic-recordings.co.uk Lieutenant Colonel John Mackenzie Rogan, Bio, queensroyalsurreys Kelly 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 1, rhul.ac.uk

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CL-FG-P1-5 United Kingdom ca.1920

[OVERTURE FINGAL'S CAVE] CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: ROYAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Cond: Joseph BATTEN Prod. Co: E.Hough Ltd. Edison Bell Works, London Rec. Loc: London Time: (?) Label: Edison Bell Velvet Face 603 (Old Series) Flip Sd: Finlandia Spec: 12" 78rpm (Sd 1) Notes: Another very early symphony orchestra version. Joseph Batten was a central figure in the early history of the gramophone in England. He was the artistic director for Edison Bell's Velvet Face label between 1918 and ca.1926 (Anon 2009) and he led most of that company's in-house classical recordings. (Carli 2015) Ref: Anon. 2009, Joseph Batten, Bio, AHRC Research Centre for the History & Analysis of Recorded Music, rhul.ac.uk Arnold, Claude Graveley 1997, The Orchestra on Record, 1896-1926, Greenwood Press Carli, Philip 2015, Message on Contact Page dated June 2, 2015 Lloyd-Davies, Michael 2012, Researching Joe Batten, demon.co.uk Stone, Peter n.d., Edison Bell, The Stone Collection, 78-records

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-6 United Kingdom 1921

OVERTURE FINGAL'S CAVE CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: ROYAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Cond: Sir Dan GODFREY Prod. Co: E.Hough Ltd. Edison Bell Works, London Rec. Loc: London Time: (?) Label: Edison Bell Velvet Face 503 (New Series) Flip Sd: Finlandia

Spec: 12" 78rpm (Sd 1) Notes: A second recording of the overture by the Royal Symphony Orchestra released by Edison Bell in London. The photo of Dan Godfrey dates to 1906 and was taken by Miell & Miell in Bournemouth. Nothing further could be learned about this recording. I had purchased a copy of this rare 78 from an eBay record dealer in England and he sent it Air Mail without a tracking number. Well, it got lost in the mails somewhere over the English Channel. Ref: Arnold, Claude Graveley 1997, The Orchestra on Record, 1896- 1926, Greenwood Press

Barr, Steven C. 1992, The Almost Complete 78 RPM Dating Guide (II), Huntington Beach, CA, p.144 Carli, Philip 2015, Message on Contact Page dated June 2, 2015 Dan Godfrey, Bio, Wikipedia

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-7 Germany 1923

DIE HEBRIDEN (THE HEBRIDES) THE HEBRIDES OVERTURE “FINGAL'S CAVE” CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: PHILHARMONISCHES ORCHESTER, BERLIN [aka. BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER ORCHESTER] (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)

Cond: Bruno WALTER [aka. Bruno SCHLESINGER] Prod. Co: Polydor Rec. Date: Aug. 1, 1923 Rec. Loc: Berlin Matrix: 82az & 83az Time: 9:30 A. German Releases: 1. Original Acoustic 78: Polydor 65030 & 60589 12” 78rpm 2. Reissue on West German LP: (?) Deutsche Grammophon 2740 259 12” 33rpm 3. Reissue on CD: (Title ?) Deutsche Grammophon POGC 2127 4. Reissue on CD: (Title ?) Deutsche Grammophon DG 459 000-2

Deutsche Grammophon DG 459 065-2 4. Reissue on CD: RECORDING PIONEERS (1998) Deutsche Grammophon DG 459 002 (Tk 20) B. British Releases: 1. Original Acoustic 78: Grammophon 65930 & 69589 2. Reissue on Compilation CD: MUSIC IN THE WEIMER REPUBLIC – BERLIN 1929 (2003) Symposium SYMPCD-1340 (Tk 1) Notes: One of the earliest known orchestral recordings of Mendelssohn’s overture. Since it was recorded before the advent of electrical recording with microphones in 1924, it had to have been an acoustic recording. Gray at the AHRC Research Centre gives August 1, 1923 as the recording date, but other sources gave later dates. “The earliest methods of recording arbitrary sounds involved the live recording of the performance directly to the recording medium. This was an entirely mechanical process, often called ‘acoustic recording.’ The sound of the performers was captured by a diaphragm with the cutting needle connected to it. The needle made the groove in the recording medium. To make this process as efficient as possible the diaphragm was located at the apex of a cone and the performers would crowd around the other end.” (Anon. 2013b)

Bruno Walter was appointed Kapellmeister of the Stadttheater (municipal opera) in Breslau in 1896 on the strength of a recommendation from Gustav Mahler. During his career he would work with several orchestras from Berlin, Vienna, Munich, and New York, then later in Chicago and Los Angeles. In 1923 he spent part of his time with the New York Symphony Orchestra, but returned to Germany to make his debut with several orchestras there. Then in 1938 as German Jewish conductor he was driven into exile by the Nazis. (Anon. 2013a) Felix Mendelssohn himself was also Jewish and therefore during the Nazi anti-Semitic period his music was banned from all public presentations. The 30-second Allmusic audio clip was somewhat muddy. The Amazon sample is slightly better. Ref: Altena, James; Reveyoso, Steven; & Ryding, Erik ca.2006, Recorded Performances of Bruno Walter, bwdiscogarphy Anon. 2013a, Bruno Walter, Bio, Wikipedia Anon. 2013b, History of Sound Recording, Wikipedia Berlin Philharmonic, History, Wikipedia Deutsche Grammophon, History, Wikipedia Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 1 & 3, rhul.ac.uk & rhul.ac.uk Music in the Weimer Republic – Berlin 1929, Allmusic (◄AUDIO SAMPLE) Music in the Weimer Republic – Berlin 1929, Amazon (◄AUDIO SAMPLE)

Music in the Weimer Republic – Berlin 1929, CDUniverse

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-8 United States 1925

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE LA GRUTA DE FINGAL CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Cond: Rudolph GANZ

Prod. Co: RCA Manufacturing Co. Inc.; Camden, NJ Rel. Date: Dec. 5, 1925 Time: (?) A. American 78:

Victor (Red Seal) 9013 A & B B. British 78: (1927) His Master's Voice (Gramophone) D 1299 C. Spanish 78: Disco Gramofono (?) [as by

Orquesta Sinfónica de San Luis] Spec: (Both) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: One of the earliest known recordings of the complete overture. The newly invented Western Electric system of electric sound recording was used. For large symphony orchestras this method was vastly superior to the acoustical recording process used previously. From 1921 to 1927 Rudolph Ganz was the conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and did much to raise it to the top rank of orchestras. (Anon. 2013a) Ref: Anon. 2013a, Rudolph Ganz, Bio, Wikipedia Anon. 2013b, Victor Talking Machine Company, Wikipedia RCA Red Seal Records, Wikipedia Rudolph Ganz, Bio, Naxos Saint Louis Symphony, History, Wikipedia

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The Etude Music Magazine, Sept. 1937 Chatterbox, 1905

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CL-FG-P1-9 United Kingdom 1927

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: MAYFAIR ORCHESTRA

Cond: George W. BYNG Prod. Co: The Gramophone Co. Ltd.; London Rec. Loc: Hayes, Room 1, Middlesex Rec. Date: June 22, 1927 Time: (?) Label: (?) His Master’s Voice (HMV) (?) Spec: 12" 78rpm (? Sides 1 & 2) Notes: Following the two British band recordings of the Fingal’s Cave Overture this is the first British symphony orchestra recording. Since we are told that this recording was made on June 22, 1927 at “Hayes, Room 1,” one can assume that this was an HMV record because HMV had their studios and factory at Hayes in Middlesex, West London. George “Byng first conducted for recordings at Thomas Edison's London studios from 1909 until the studio closed in 1914. In 1915 Byng became staff conductor for HMV and conducted a great number of recordings made at their recording studios in Hayes, Middlesex. These featured many well-known artists of the time, for example the singers Elisabeth Schumann, Peter Dawson, the Black Diamonds (Brass) Band and the Mayfair Dance Orchestra.” (Anon. 2013) Incidentally, in 1917, George Byng took over the Black Diamonds Band (from Eli Hudson – see above) and he remained the leader until 1926. (Gleason 2006) Ref: Anon. 2013, George W. Byng, Bio, Wikipedia Gleeson, John 2006, The Black Diamonds Band (aka. The Royal Guards Band), coldstreamguardsband His Master’s Voice (HMV), History, Wikipedia Kelly 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), p. 1, King’s College London, rhull.ac.uk

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-10 France 1927

LA GROTTE DE FINGAL CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: GRAND ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE

Cond: François RUHLMANN Prod. Co: Pathé Matrix: N 300036 & N 300037 Time: A. French 78: Pathé X.5474 B. British 78: Edison Bell (electric) X516 Spec: (All) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: After working with orchestras in Paris and elsewhere in France, François Ruhlmann transferred in 1919 to the Opera at the Palais Garnier in Paris, where he remained until 1938. He was long associated with Pathé Records, for whom he made many recordings, including six complete operas after 1910. (Anon. 2013) A very impressive Art-Deco label designed by F.-L. Schmied which includes a motif with two clusters of red stalactites and small stubby stalagmites, seen here in the upper right center. Ref: Anon. 2013, François Ruhlmann, Life & Career, Wikipedia Pathé Records, History, Wikipedia Répertoire Phonographique, Mai 1932, Paris, p. 196

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CL-FG-P1-11 France 1928 LA GROTTE DE FINGAL THE HEBRIDES OVERTURE “FINGAL'S CAVE” CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Perf: L'ORCHESTRE PHILHARMONIQUE DE PARIS

Cond: Gustave CLOËZ Prod. Co: Disques Odéon Rec. Loc: Salle Gaveau Rec. Date: Nov. 21, 1928 Matrix: Ki 1967; Ki 1968; Ki 1969 Time: A. French 78: Odéon 165428 & 165429 B. British 78: Odéon 166428 & 166429 Spec: 2 X 10" 78rpm (Sides 1, 2, & 3) Notes: Gustave Cloëz “conducted at the Opéra-Comique in Paris between 1922 and 1946, at Radio Paris and with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra during World War II,.. Cloëz also conducted numerous purely orchestral recordings with many of the Paris orchestras.” (Anon. 2009) The photo by a French photographer was taken near the door to the orchestra pit at the Grand Ballet de Monte-Carlo in 1949. Ref: Anon. 2009, Gustave Cloëz, Career, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, kcl.ac.uk Disques Odéon, History (in French), Wikipedia Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 1, rhul.ac.uk Répertoire Phonographique, Mai 1932, Paris,p.196

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-12 Germany 1928

DIE HEBRIDEN CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: BERLINER PHILARMONIKER (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)

Cond: Hans PFITZNER Prod. Co: Polydor Rec. Loc: Hochschule für Musik; Berlin Rec. Date: Jan. 1, 1928 Matrix: B21279 & B21280 Time: (?) A. German 78: Polydor 27292 B. British 78: Decca LY 6093 C. French 78s: Polydor 95372 D. Unknown Source 78: Polydor 19905 Spec: (All) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: As a conductor in Nazi Germany, who embraced Nazism but whom Hitler disliked, Hans Pfitzner had great difficulties. He “had managed to gain a stable conducting contract from the Munich opera in 1928, but ran into demeaning treatment from chief conductor Hans Knappertsbusch and intendant Franckenstein. In 1934 he was forced into retirement and lost his positions as opera conductor, stage director and academy professor.” (Anon. 2013) Yet somehow he managed to make this recording in 1928. The King’s College site lists two recording dates of this overture by Pfitzner: this one in 1928 and a second one a year later on Jan. 1, 1926. This is probably a typo error. Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsch Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924. (Anon. 2013) Ref: Anon. 2013, Hans Pfitzner, Bio, Wikipedia Berliner Philharmoniker, Geschichte (in German), Wikipedia & Berlin Philharmonic, History (in English), Wikipedia

Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 1, rhul.ac.uk Polydor Records, Company History, Wikipedia Ross, Alex 2007, The Rest Is Noise, Picador, New York, p. 346-347

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-13 Germany 1928

DIE HEBRIDEN CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: BERLINER PHILARMONIKER (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)

Cond: Julius PRÜWER Prod. Co: Polydor Rec. Loc: Hochschule für Musik; Berlin Rec. Date: Jan. 1, 1928 Matrix: Time: (?) A. German 78: Polydor 19905 B. American 78: Brunswick 90017 Spec: 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: Clearly a case where the record producer took advantage of the presence of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hochschule für Musik on that day to record two different versions of the overture using two different conductors, Julius Prüwer and Hans Pfitzner. It would have been very interesting to be there and hear this. We are told – “1925 wählten ihn die Berliner Philharmoniker zum Dirigenten ihrer populären Konzerte, er dirigierte bis 1933 an mehr als 700 Abenden.“ (Anon. 2013) [In 1925 he was elected conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for their pops concerts, which he conducted until 1933, more than 700 nights.] “In Weimar war man auf der Suche nach einem Generalmusikdirektor für das Nationaltheater. Prüwer sagte zu. Nach nur einer Saison jedoch folgte er dem Ruf auf eine Professorenstelle an der Staatlichen akademischen Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. Prüwers Ehefrau gibt rückblickend antisemitische Pöbeleien gegen ihren Mann als Grund für den raschen Abschied aus Weimar an… Im Sommer 1925 wählte ihn darüber hinaus das Berliner Philharmonische Orchester zu seinem ständigen Dirigenten. Er leitete die Populären Konzerte, die in leicht abgewandelter Form die Programme der großen Sinfoniekonzerte für ein weniger gut betuchtes, dafür aber sehr musikbegeistertes Publikum wiederholten.” (Kalcher 2013) [In Weimar (in the early 20s) they were looking for a music director for the National Theatre. Prüwer spoke for it. After only one season, however, he was appointed to a professorship at the State Academic College of Music in Berlin. Looking back, Prüwer’s wife said that the anti-Semitic bullying against her husband was the reason for his rapid departure from Weimar… In the summer of 1925, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra chose him as its permanent conductor. He headed the pops concerts, the programs of the major symphony concerts, music restated in a slightly different form, for the less well-heeled, but very enthusiastic audience.] At the end of 1939, Prüwer decided to immigrate to the United States. Ref: Anon. 2013, Julius Prüwer, Bio (in German), Wikipedia Berlin Philharmonic, History, Wikipedia Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 2, rhul.ac.uk Kalcher, Antje 2013, Julius Prüwer, Biographie (in German), uni.hamberg.de

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-14 United Kingdom 1929

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE ("THE HEBRIDES") CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: NEW QUEEN'S HALL ORCHESTRA

Cond: Sir Henry WOOD Prod. Co: Columbia Graphophone Co. Ltd.; London

Rec. Loc: (?) Rec. Date: March 4, 1929 Matrix: AX 4731, AX 4732, & AX 4733 Time: (?) A. British 2X 78: Columbia 9843 & 9844 B. American 2X 78: Columbia 67692 D & 67693 D Spec: (Both) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1, 2, & 3) Notes: Sir Henry Wood was “an English conductor best known for his association with London's annual series of promenade concerts, known as the Proms. He conducted them for nearly half a century, introducing hundreds of new works to British audiences. After his death, the concerts were officially renamed in his honour as the ‘Henry Wood Promenade Concerts,’ although they continued to be generally referred to as ‘the Proms.’ " (Anon. 2013) The manager of Queen’s Hall in London where the Proms were held, Robert Newman, was co-founder of the Promenade Concerts with Henry Wood. Newman stated his policy early on – "I am going to run nightly concerts and train the public by easy stages. Popular at first, gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music.” (Orga 1974) “Originally founded in 1895 in London as the Queen’s Hall Orchestra, for the purpose of introducing the Promenade concerts, it kept the same name until 1915, when its name was changed to the current one. The 1920s brought substantial changes, consistent with the intensely changing classical music scene across the United Kingdom, the decade being significant in the development of many prominent ensembles.” (Anon. n.d.) The King’s College site lists three sides WAX 3911, 3912, & 3913 that were recorded at Central Hall, Westminster; London but never released. Ref: Anon. 2013, Henry Wood, Bio, Wikipedia Anon. n.d., New Queen’s Hall Orchestra, orchestranet.co.uk & Wikipedia Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), p. 4, King’s College London, rhul.ac.uk Henry Wood, Bio, bach-cantatas Henry Wood, Discography, damians78s.co.uk Orga, Ateş 1974,. The Proms. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, p. 44 (Quoted in Anon. 2013)

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-15 Germany 1930

DIE HEBRIDEN (DIE FINGALSHÖHLE) FINGAL’S CAVE OVETURE LES HEBRIDES – OUVERTURE

(LA GROTTE DE FINGAL) ---------------------- OVERTURE “THE HEBRIDES” (REHEARSAL) CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: BERLINER PHILARMONIKER (Berlin Philharmonic

Orchestra)

Cond: Wilhelm FURTWÄNGLER Prod. Co: Polydor Rec. Loc: Hochschule für Musik; Berlin Rec. Date: Jan. 1, 1930 Matrix: 1098B1 & 1099½B1 & (Rehearsal) 1100 biI Liner Notes: (US–LP) Robert Angus, 1974 Time: (CD) 12:23 & (Rehearsal of the last part on CD-No.A3 & C3) 2:51 and (CD No. F) 9:50 A. German Releases: 1. Original 78: Polydor 95470

2. Reissue on LP: WILHELM FURTWANGLER CONDUCTS (Late 1950s)

Heliodor 88 012 12” 33rpm (Sd 2 – Bd 1) 3. Reissue on CD: THE FASCINATION OF FURTWÄNGLER (2004)

Deutsche Grammophon 00289 477 5238 (mono) (Set 2 CDs) (CD 2 – Tk 4)

B. British Releases: 1. Original 78: Decca CA 8090 2. Another 78: Brunswick 90401 C. French Releases: 1. LP: [Mendelssohn & Wagner] (1970) Deutsch Grammophon 88.012

2. LP: [Weber & Mendelssohn] (1979) Deutsch Grammophon 25358221 3. Reissue of Rehearsal on Boxed Set CDs: A TRIBUTE TO WILHELM FURTWÄNGLER (1994)

Tahra FURT 1008-1011 (4XCDs) D. Austrian Reissue on:CD: THE EARLY RECORDINGS 1926-1937 (1995) Koch International Classics (?) (2XCDs) (Disc 1 – Tk 5) E. American Reissue on LP: WILHEIM FURTWÄNGLER CONDUCTS (1974)

First Edition FER-2 12” 33rpm (Sd 2 – Bd 1)

F. Japanese Reissue on:CD: WILHELM FURTWANGLER CONDUCTS ROMANTIC MUSIC (Polydor Recordings 1) (2003)

Opus KURA 2036 (Tk 1) Spec: (Nos. A1, & B1 & B2) 12" 78rpm (Sds 1 & 2) (No. C1) 12" 33rpm (Sd 1 – Bd 2) (No. C2) 12" 33rpm (Sd 2 – Bd 1) Notes: “Probably the most respected of all German musicians during his lifetime” (Angus, Liner notes 1974) When working, “control and balance were prominent characteristics of his conducting. His interpretations, though full of life and vitality, were always carefully thought out, and his personal manner at the podium was much more restrained than that of his successor in Berlin, Herbert von Karajan.” (Angus 1974) A French critic comments on this rendition – "La féerie, la souplese, la légèreté de Furtwängler rendent à merveille l'atmosphere fantastique et poetique de cette ouverture célèbrissime." [Furtwängler's magic, ease, and levity wonderfully render the fantastic and poetic atmosphere of this very celebrated overture.] (Anon. 1988) However, another French critic felt – "Il y a, comme souvent chez Furtwängler, une excessive lenteur qui pour Mendelssohn alourdit une musique qui aurait besoin d'une certaine transparence." [There is here, as often with Furtwängler, an excessive slowness that weight down Mendelssohn's music, which needs instead a certain transparency.] After World War II Furtwängler was much criticized for his work during the Nazi regime. “He was the leading conductor who remained in Germany during the Second World War and, although not an adherent to the Nazi regime, this decision caused controversy for the rest of his life. The extent to which his presence lent prestige to the Third Reich is still debated.” (Anon. 2013) When this 1930 recording was remastered and released on CD in 2004 a short extract from the rehearsal of just the last part of the overture (2:51) was included. It’s worth asking why this rehearsal was included here for it detracts from the accepted version. Ref: Anon. 1952, Guide Français du Disque, Tome 1 Anon. 1988, Diapason Dictionnaire du Disques et des Compacts, p. 559 Anon. 2013, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bio, Wikipedia Charles, Antony 2011, Wilhelm Furtwängler et la musique sous le Troisième Reich, counter-currents The Fascination of Wilhelm Furtwängler CD, Rehersal & Overture, deutschegrammophon (◄AUDIO SAMPLES) Furtwängler, Elisabeth 1983, Furtwängler, Harmonie – Panorama Musique, 19e année, n. 30, Avril 1983, p. 50-58 Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), p. 2, King’s College London, rhul.ac.uk Hyafil, Olivier, Hifi Stéréo, Fév. 1979, p. 133 Mendelssohn, Hebrides Overture “Fingal’s Cave,” Compilation CD, Released 2013, Tk 1, Apple

Scherchen’Thémine 2004, Furtwängler une CD-graphie (in French), furtwangler A Tribute to Wilhelm Furtwängler: For the 40th Anniversary of His Death, worldcat Wilhelm Furtwängler, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Fingal’s Cave Overture by Seven Conductors (9:20), YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Wilhelm Furtwängler, The Early Recordings, 1926-1937, Amazon Wilhelm Furtwängler, Essential Recordings, Société Wilhelm Furtwängler, furtwangler Wilhelm Furtwängler Conducts Romantic Music CD, Allmusic (◄AUDIO SAMPLE)

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-16 United Kingdom 1930

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE LA GROTTE DE FINGAL CL – Band

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: THE HOME GUARDS BAND

Cond: (?)

Prod. Co: British Homophone Co. Ltd., London Time: (?) 1. 78: Sterno TF 505 2. 78: Sterno 8005 Spec: 12" 78rpm (Sd 1 & 2) Notes: This was the third band version of the overture to be recorded. “The Sterno label was used by the British Homophone Company, launched in 1926, and recorded by the Gramophone Company at its studios in Middlesex, UK.” (Stone n.d.) In a slightly different story concerning British Sterno Records, Weindling wrote that a building in Kilburn was – “a recording studio for the British Homophone Company Ltd. William Sternberg was the director of a company that had been selling gramophones under the trade name of Sterno for some years. They had used the masters and distributed records of the Homophon Company of Berlin since 1906, and also produced Sterno records from 1926 to 1935.” (Weindling 2013) The Sterno label shown here is not this piece of music; it is only shown to illustrate the label style. Ref: Barr, Steven C. 1992, The Almost Complete 78 RPM Dating Guide (II), Huntington Beach, CA, p.144 Esmetron Records, 78 Record Catalogue, esmetronrecords Field, Norman 2012, British Record Labels – The First 25 Years, 1898-1923: H, normanfield Stone, Peter n.d., Sterno 78 Label, The Stone Collection, 78-records Weindling, Dick 2013, Making Music in West Hampstead and Kilburn, blogspot.fr

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CL-FG-P1-17 United Kingdom 1930

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE ("THE HEBRIDES") LA GROTTE DE FINGAL CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: THE ORCHESTRA OF THE STATE OPERA HOUSE, BERLIN

Cond: Josef ROSENSTOCK Prod. Co: The Parlophone Co. Ltd.; London Rec. Date: June 3, 1929 Matrix: 2-21469; 2-21470; & 2-21471 Time: Approx. 9:00 A. British 78: (Part 1) Parlophone E11053 (Part 2) Parlophone E11053

(Part 3) Parlophone E11054 B. French 78: Parlophone 57062, 57063, & 57064 Spec: (Both) 2X 12" 78rpm (Sides 1, 2, & 3)

Notes: As a Polish Jew in Berlin Josef Rosenstock had to leave in exile in 1938 and during World War II he conducted the Japan Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. Then in 1948 he went to New York to work as a conductor with the New York City Opera. It is assumed that the Orchestra of the State Opera House in Berlin is none other than the Staatskapelle Berlin, the orchestra of the Berlin State Opera (Berliner Staatsoper Unter den Linden). Ref: Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), p. 2, King’s College London, rhul.ac.uk Josef Rosenstock, Bio, Wikipedia Josef Rosenstock, Orchestra of the State Opera House, Berlin, honkingduck Répertoire Phonographique, Mai 1932, Paris, p.196 Settlemier, Tyrone & Lachowitz, Robert 2012, Numerical Listing pf Parlophone (British) 78rpm E105000-11000, 78discography Staatskapelle Berlin, Wikpedia

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Paddle Steamer S.S. Fusilier – Valentine postcard – ca.1909

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CL-FG-P1-18 Germany 1932

“DIE HEBRIDEN” FINGALS-HÖHLE CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: BERLINER PHILARMONIKER (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)

Cond: Leo BLECH Prod. Co: Telefunken Rec. Date: Apr. 5, 1932 Matrix: 018299 & 018300 Time: A. German 78: Telefunken E 1090 & Ultraphone E 1090 B. French 78: (1933) Ultraphone EP 859 C. Other 78: Polydor 95470 Spec: (All) 12" 78rpm (Sd 1 & 2) Notes: Leo Blech was yet another German Jewish conductor who, starting in 1926, worked with the “Staatsoper unter den Linden (Berlin State Opera), where he remained until Adolf Hitler’s anti-Semitic policies forced him in 1937 into exile in Riga [capital of the Baltic state of Latvia], where he conducted the Latvian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.” (Anon. 2013)

Ref: Anon. 2013, Leo Blech, Bio, Wikipedia Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, History, Wikipedia Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 4, rhul.ac.uk Répertoire Phonographique, Mai 1932, Paris, p.196 Telefunken, History (in German), Wikipedia & (in English) Wikipedia Zwarg, Christian 2012, Die Hebriden, Leo Blech, Telefunken Matrix Numbers – 18204 to 18999, phonomuseum

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-19 Italy Prior.1932 LA GROTTA DI FINGAL – OUVERTURE ("LE EBRIDI") CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: ORCHESTRA DEL TEATRO "LA SCALA"

Cond: Ettore PANIZZA Prod. Co: Societa Anonima Nazionale del Grammofono; Milan Rec. Date: Apr. 1, 1928 Matrix: (Le Voce del padrone) CF 1641 & CF 1642

(Grammofono) 5-0888 & 5-0889 Time: (?) A. Italian Releases:

1. 78: Le Voce del padrone (?) 2. 78: Grammofono AW 3984

B. German 78: Electrola EJ 353

Spec: (Both) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: Ettore Panizza was an Argentinean conductor, one of the leading conductors of the early 20th century. Panizza possessed technical mastery and was popular and influential during his time, also widely admired by Richard Strauss. (Anon. 2013) “By 1908 Panizza was conducting at La Scala, Milan, reappearing there during World War I; and when, after the war, a new management structure was created at the theatre, he conducted half of the first season’s productions (five out of ten) alongside Toscanini, who conducted the balance and retained a controlling influence over all of La Scala’s activities…. Throughout Toscanini’s period as chief conductor, which ended in 1929, and beyond, until 1932, Panizza remained as a devoted assistant to him, conducting numerous productions at La Scala.” (Patmore 2013)

The German release is shown here. Ref: Anon. 2013, Ettore Panizza, Bio, Wikipedia Ettore Panizza, Grotta di Fingal, Grammofon, culturaitalia.it & internetculturale.it Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM), p. 1, King’s College London, rhul.ac.uk Patmore, David 2013, Ettore Panizza, Naxos A-Z of Conductors, naxos

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-20 United Kingdom 1934

OVERTURE “FINGAL'S CAVE” CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: B.B.C. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Cond: Sir Adrian BOULT

Prod. Co: The Gramophone Co. Ltd.; London Matrix: 2B 4688 - 2B 4165 (US) 2B4687-II & 2B4688-IIA

Rel. Date: Apr. 1934 Time: 8:57 or 9:01 A. British Releases: 1. 78: His Master's Voice (Gramophone) DB 2100 2. Reissue on CD: BOULT’S SCHUBERT (2001) Beulah 3PD12 (Tk 6) B. American 78: Victor 11886 Spec: (Both) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: “When the British Broadcasting Corporation appointed him [Boult] director of music in 1930, he established the BBC Symphony Orchestra and became its chief conductor. The orchestra set standards of excellence that were rivalled (sic) in Britain only by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), founded two

years later.” (Anon. 2013) The Worldcat site gives the recording date as Oct. 20, 1933. Ref: Adrian Boult Discography, Wikipedia Adrian Boult, Fingal’s Cave Overture, BBC Symphony Orch., worldcat Sir Adrian Boult, Fingal’s Cave Overture, BBCSO, 1934, Extract sample (4:37), YouTube (◄AUDIO SAMPLE) Sir Adrian Boult, Fingal’s Cave Overture, BBCSO, RCA Victor Release (8:57), (Hear surface crackles), 78rpmcommunity (◄COMPLETE AUDIO SAMPLE) Anon. 2013, Adrian Boult, Bio, Wikipedia Boult’s Schubert CD, CDUniverse (◄AUDIO SAMPLE) Mendelssohn, Hebrides Overture “Fingal’s Cave,” Compilation CD, Released 2013, Tk 2, Apple

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-21 United Kingdom Prior 1933

[HEBRIDES OVERTURE (FINGAL'S CAVE)] CL – Orchestral

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: (BERLIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA)

Cond: Fritz SWEIG Prod. Co: British Homophone Co. Ltd., London Time: (?) Label: Homochord 4-8972 Spec: 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: Fritz Sweig’s career is yet another case of a Jewish conductor who was Czech and had to flee Nazi Germany. In 1932 he was at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. Then – ”1933 verlor er seine Arbeitsmöglichkeit in Deutschland und floh zunächst nach Frankreich. Ab 1934 wirkte er als Dirigent am Deutschen Theater in Prag, musste jedoch 1938 erneut fliehen und ließ sich in Paris nieder. Dort dirigierte er an der Oper und bei Gastspielen u. a. in London und Moskau. Nach der Besetzung Frankreichs ging er schließlich ins Exil in die USA, wo er seine Tätigkeit als Dirigent erfolgreich fortsetzte.” (Anon. 2013) [In 1933, he lost his job opportunity in Germany and fled first to France. From 1934 he worked as a

conductor at the German Theater in Prague, but had to flee again in 1938 and settle in Paris. There, he conducted at the Opera and did guest performances including London and Moscow. After the occupation of France, he eventually went into exile in the United States, where he successfully continued his activity as a conductor.] From this brief biographical sketch it is clear that he had to record this version with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra sometime before 1933-34. The Homochord label shown here is not this piece of music; it is only shown to illustrate the label style. There is considerable confusion regarding the Homochord label. Some discographers say it’s a German label and others say it’s a British label, actually it’s a bit of both.

“The gramophone records by Homokord (after 1923 some labels say also Homocord) were manufactured by German company Homophon Company GmbH established in 1905. The company headquarters was located at Alexandrienstrasse in the part of city of Berlin known as Kreuzberg. .... It is said that a big English company The Gramophon Company Ltd had disliked the Homophon label very soon because of too close similarities with their own label Zonophone. Consequently, Homophon has been forced by the court to change the name and also the graphical label on its own recordings. Recordings of this company were then published with changed label Homokord.” (Anon. n.d.) A British discographer, Norman Field, provides the history of the British Homophone Company – “In 1921 or 1922 a new British Homophone Company was founded by one William Sternberg, who had been involved in the gramophone trade for some years. The label, unsurprisingly, was Homochord. The discs were pressed at the Universal Music Co., factory at Hayes, Middlesex, and drew on material available from the Aeolian Co’s Vocalion masters, which allowed U.S. material to appear. But they also made their own recordings too, soon gaining a good reputation for the quality of their piano discs, the piano being notoriously difficult to record well. 10" discs were in a H-100 series, and the quite elusive 12" were in an HB-2000 series. The new company kept up, at least to start with, the old tradition of putting dates in the wax of their own recordings, though now handwritten. They are probably not recording dates, but e.g. a stamper plating date; still, they give us a ball-park date for the disc. The company made Homochord records until about 1933, then Sterno (which they began in 1929) until about 1936/7.” (Field 2012) Ref: Anon. 2013, Fritz Sweig, Bio (in German), Wikipedia Anon. n.d., Homocord Records, songster.de Dordick, Johanna 2010, Los Angeles Opera Theater Dedicates Its Third Season, Fritz Zweig, laoperatheater Field, Norman 2012, British Record Labels – The First 25 Years, 1898-1923: H, normanfield Fritz Sweig, Biographie, uni-hamburg.de Fritz Sweig, Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek, dnb.de 78 Record File Card ca.1978, Fingal’s Cave Overture, Gramophone Exchange Store, 80 Wardour St., London W1

________________________________ CL-FG-P1-22 United Kingdom 1938

THE HEBRIDES OVERTURE (FINGAL'S CAVE) CL – Orchestral – Cave Pic Cover

Comp: Felix MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Perf: LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Cond: Sir Thomas BEECHAM

Prod. Co: The Columbia Graphophone Co. Ltd.; Hayes, Middlesex Rec. Loc: EMI Studio No. 1, Abbey Road; London Rec. Date: Oct. 3, 1938 Matrix: CAX 8171 & CAX 8172 (Take 3A) Time: 9:00 A. British Releases: 1.Original 78: Columbia (London) LX 747 2. Reissue on EP: MENDELSSOHN – OVERTURE THE HEBRIDES (1958) (PC-RE# ) Fontana CFE 15004 7” 45 rpm (Sd 1) B. French 78: Columbia LFX 556 C. Italian 78: Columbia GQX 10988 D. American Releases on 78s: 1. Columbia 69400-D 2. Columbia 71621D 3. Part of Set: Columbia M552 E. Argentine 78: Columbia 264945 Spec: (All) 12" 78rpm (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: One of Sir Thomas Beecham's greatest achievements was the founding of the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932. He remained at the head of this orchestra until 1940, so it is safe to say that this recording was made sometime during those 8 years. Ref: Anon. 2013, Thomas Beecham, Bio, Wikipedia Gray 2009, Mendelssohn – Fingal’s Cave Overture, AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of

Recorded Music (CHARM), King’s College London, p. 4, rhul.ac.uk Sir Thomas Beecham, The Hebrides Overture, London Philharmonic Orch., deezer (◄AUDIO SAMPLE)

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FURTHER RECORDINGS OF

FINGAL'S CAVE OVERTURE This discography continues in Part 2, 3, 4, & 5

caveinspiredmusic.com