Lilian Bryant conducts and plays the piano

This update is by way of tribute to one of the significant contributors to the UK recording industry. Lilian Bryant was a pianist and conductor, and was the musical director of the Pathéphone Company, Ltd. in London. There are numerous orchestral recordings on which she is the conductor, including several popular overtures. She is likely to be the conductor or piano accompanist on numerous British Pathé vocal recordings, often uncredited. She also recorded piano solos for Columbia (and Regal) several of which were issued in Holland, where she was known as the accompanist of violinists Alfred Indig and Boris Lensky (and is credited as such on the record labels). She also crops up on the unusual Chantal de Luxe label (manufactured by Crystalate), conducting for the baritone Louis Lynel. This unusual recording and a number of her piano records are given below. The piano solos are mainly of popular songs of the day, very much in lighter mood, though she did record some popular classical pieces as well. These include the only electrical recording in the current batch, of Wagner’s Bridal Chorus, and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. I also have several English Pathés which she may appear on as uncredited accompanist, but I’ve not yet restored them.

Drigo – Les Millions d’Arlequin – Sérénade
Toselli – Serenade
Orchestra, Lilian Bryant
Louis Lynel,
baritone

Drigo – Arlequin – Serenade – Lynel, Bryant

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Toselli – Serenade – Lynel, Bryant

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

Chantal de Luxe No 1175
Matrices 2489, 2490
Recorded 1920s

Vliegpostmarsch
Slavische Serenade
Lilian Bryant,
piano

Vliegpostmarsch – Lilian Bryant

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Slavische Serenade – Lilian Bryant

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

Columbia D9061
Matrices 68965, 68966
Recorded 1923?

M Yvain – Pays de Rêve
Otto Helmburgh-Holmes – Electric Girl (Shimmy Fox-Trot)
Lilian Bryant,
piano

Yvain – Pays de Rêve – Lilian Bryant

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Helmburgh-Holmes – Electric Girl – Lilian Bryant

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

Columbia D9063
Matrices 68990, 68991
Recorded 1923?

Kálman – Die Bayadere – Wenn die Sterne am Himmel leuchten (Fox-Trot)
Hugo Hirsch – Wenn du einmal eine Braut hast
Lilian Bryant,
piano

Kálman – Wenn die Sterne – Lilian Bryant

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Hirsch – Wenn du einmal – Lilian Bryant

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

Columbia D9064
Matrices 68992, 68993
Recorded 1923?

Gaston Gabaroche & Fred Pearly – Je n’peux pas vivre sans amour
Theo A Körner – Wenn man allein ist
Lilian Bryant,
piano

Gabaroche & Pearly – Je n’peux pas – Lilian Bryant

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Körner – Wenn man allein ist – Lilian Bryant

Audio Player

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

Columbia D9066
Matrices 68996, 68997
Recorded 1923?

S Ehrlich – Willst du eine kleine haben (Shimmy Fox-Trot)
Armandola – Hawaiian Memories, Wals
Lilian Bryant,
piano

Ehrlich – Willst du eine kleine haben – Lilian Bryant

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Armandola – Hawaiian Memories – Lilian Bryant

Audio Player

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

Columbia D9085
Matrices F6, F7 (15896, 15897)
Recorded 1923?

Wagner – Bruidskoor (uit Lohengrin)
(Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, Act 3)
Mendelssohn – Hochzeits Marsch
(Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Lilian Bryant,
piano

Wagner – Bridal chorus (Lohengrin) – Lilian Bryant

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Mendelssohn – Wedding March – Lilian Bryant

Audio Player

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

Columbia D9846 (electrical recording)
Matrices WF236, WF237 (21546, 21547)
Recorded 1926?

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