P.S. Somewheere I have a commercial CD of Colonne's records. I don't know if it's the same or another set of transfers. The CDs are at home so I'll have to dig 'em out to be sure. I'll let you know.
Steve
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Lewis" <dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] The First Symphony Orchestra in the World to Make Real Recordings of Classical Music
Thanks Steve -- all that was great.
David N. "Uncle Dave" Lewis Assistant Editor, Classical
www.macrovision.com www.allmusic.com www.allmovie.com www.allgame.com
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-----Original Message----- From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steven Smolian Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:10 PM To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] The First Symphony Orchestra in the World to Make Real Recordings of Classical Music
In an article appearing in Classic Record Collector, I identify the first orchestra to make commercial cylinder recordings as "The New York Symphony Orchestra," probaly unde Damrosch, for Harms, Kaiser & Hagen in 1898. They were advertised in a number of issues of "Phonoscope." None have yet shown up, as far as I know. This orchestra merged with the "New York Philharmonic Orchestra" in 1928 to become "The New York Philharmonic-Symphony." This has become shortened to "New York Philharmonic " but its lineage is as above.
In 1901, the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra recorded for Leeds and Catlin led by Nahan Franko. One of these turned up in Bill can't remember- he wrote very full postcards-'s collection. When he died, I have no idea who got the cyliner. I have a cassette- somewhere. The advertisement for these is on the back of an L&C catalog which I no longer own. It includes a letter of authentication on Grau's staionery signed by Lionel Mapleson.
In June, 1903, Victor Herbert's Orchestra made 3 12" sides for Victor. I have two of them. This is actually the "Pittsburgh Orchestra." For legal reasons related to the cloud under which Herbert left Pittsburg, the Orchestra denied permission for the use of its name at the Willow Grove Concerts that year although the same group appeared there the year before as the "Pittsburg Orchestra." I've seen the correspondence confirming this
identification for 1903 at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.
In 1903, August or September, Damrosch's orchestra again recorded, this time on flat discs for Columbia. A group were made but only 1208, part of the Carmen Act 1 Prelude was issued. Eventually it came doubled as well.
In Europe, the first real orchestra I've been able to identify as recording is that of La Scala under Sabajno in 1905, possibly a year earlier for operatic accompaniments. A group of the orchestral pieces made in that year and shortly thereafter came on G&T and some were also issued on Victor.
Later in 1905, Herman Fink recorded in London with the Palace Theater Orchestra for Odeon.
In 1905, H. de Breuyne made records with the French Lamoureux Orchstra, these for Zonophone.
The Colonne records were made in 1907, as near as I could tell, Pathe data being an espcially thorny discographic jungle.
Some of the later data is drawn from Claude Arnold's book.
My xerox of the two consecutive articles clip off the issue date. Sorry. I'll try and get a better citation next week.
I gave this as an ARSC presentation a while ago.
Steve Smolian
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Lewis" <dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:18 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] The First Symphony Orchestra in the World to Make
Real
Recordings of Classical Music
David N. "Uncle Dave" Lewis Assistant Editor, Classical
Macrovision Solutions Corporation 1168 Oak Valley Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Tel: 734.887.8145 | Fax: 734.827.2492 dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.macrovision.com www.allmusic.com www.allmovie.com www.allgame.com
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I am reviewing a 2-disc set of historical recordings by the Orchestre Colonne which states that this body was "the first symphony orchestra in the world to make a real series of classical recordings." Included are some Pathe recordings of the Colonne, under its founder, made in 1908-1909.
That's pretty early; I realize the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra was recorded, not well and mostly without their knowledge, by Lionel Mapleson in 1901-04. But apart from that, was there a full-fledged symphony orchestra in the world that committed itself to making commercial recordings than the Colonne? Is everyone comfortable with that milestone, or are there exceptions? What say ye?
Thanks,
Uncle Dave Lewis Ann Arbor MI