This album was inspired by my friend Charles Nixon's set of the Brahms Symphony Recorded April of 1927. I have utmost respect for the recording technicians from the 78 rpm days. I was always disappointed to hear the re-issues being done on LP - they seemed to lack the oomph that the original had. I found that by playing slow,and using a modern Shure cartridge, the sylus would have time to follow the mid-range more faithfully. What I seem to hear on a lp is crisp highs and the bass would be ok too - but the mid-range and dynamics were compromised, due to the flexing of the cantilever assembly. By playing at 33 1/3 everything becomes a low frequency, more easily tracked. You have a sense of becoming the microphone and the presence of these early electrically recorded discs is quite amazing. I have devoted this entire disc to the work of Leopold Stokowsi - born in 1882 and raised in London, England. He sang with the choir of St.Marylebone Parish Church, and later was the assistan organist with Sir Walford Davies at the Temple Church. By 1898, at the age of sixteen he was awarded a membership with the Royal college Of Organists. 1905 found him in New York, U.S.A.,and interested in conducting the Cincinnati Symphony which followed in 1909. His first official conducting position was of the Colonne Orchestra of France, performing Tchaikowsky's Piano Concerto #1. with his wife-to-be, pianist Olga Samaroff - born Lucy Mary Agnes Hickenlooper from Galveston, Texas. A well-known musician in her own right who also recorded for Victor Records. Stokowsky's tenure with the Philadelphia Symphony started in 1912, until Eugene Ormandy took over in 1936. Returning in 1960. Stokowski is credited as the first conductor to adopt the seating plan used by most orchestras today, with first and second violins together on the conductor's left, and the violas and cellos to the right. Enjoy the music ~Mickey Clark
Symphony #3 Leopold Stokowsky and the Philadelphia Orchestra CD272C
Symphony #1 in C minor - Brahms
1-Un poco sostenuto-allegro VIC 6658 04/25/27 CVE-37483-37484 04/26/27 6659A 37485
2-Andante sostenuto VIC 6659B CVE-37486/6660A CVE-37487 04/26/27
3-Un poco alegretto e grazioso VIC 6660B CVE-37488 04/26/27
4-Adagio, piu andante, allegro VIC 6662 37491/37492-6663 29052/29053 04/28/27
Symphony #8 (Unfinished) Schubert 04/30/27 29056/29057
The Swan Of Tuonela VIC 7380 05/02/29 47973-05/03/29 47980
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Bach HMV D-1428 04/06/27 37468/37469
Prelude to Afternoon of a Fawn DEBUSSY VIC 6696 03/10/27 21057/21058 Available Options:
Compact Disc: Ship
