Re: [ARSCLIST] The First Symphony Orchestra in the World to Make Real Recordings of Classical Music

[Dave Lewis <dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Steve -- all that was great.

David N. "Uncle Dave" Lewis
Assistant Editor, Classical

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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