Landon Ronald – New World Symphony (acoustic recording,1919-22); Ketelbey – Irish Jigs; David McCallum – traditional Scottish fiddle pieces; Peter Miles, actor, sings two pop songs

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.

Dvorak – Symphony No.5 (No.9) in E minor Op.95 “From the New World”

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)

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.

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.

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)

Download – Irish Jigs – Ketelbey

(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)

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

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.

(a) Inverness gathering (b) Deil among the Tailors (c) East Neuk o’ Fife
Auld Robin Gray

Download – Scottish fiddle pieces – David McCallum

Download – Auld Robin Gray – David McCallum

(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)

Broadcast S.6 (8” 78rpm, “long-playing”)
Matrices Z309, Z310
Recorded late 1920s
David McCallum, violin
George Short, piano

A complete change of pace comes with a “pop” record. Peter Miles, not to be confused with the British actor of the same name (as I previously did), was, in fact, Henry Miles, who won ITV’s “Find the Singer” contest in 1958, aged 24. The prize was £100 and a recording contract with Columbia. Miles wrote “My Little Girl”, and sang it throughout the contest. Miles sings these songs charmingly in a lovely falsetto.

 

Peter Miles – My Little Girl
Roberts – Goodnight, God bless, sleep tight

Download – Peter Miles – My Little Girl

Download – Peter Miles – Goodnight, God bless, sleep tight

(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)

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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