Sir Edward German (1919-1939)
I do not own this album, but Robert Morrison has provided the following information.
Contents
1. NELL GWYN - Overture 3' 39"
Plaza Theatre Orchestra conducted by Frank Tours
(Recorded c. Sept. 1926. Matrix no. WAX 1917; Catalogue no. Columbia 9167)
2. PAVANE (from "Romeo and Juliet") 2' 58"
Hastings Municipal Orchestra conducted by Basil Cameron
(Rec. c. Nov. 1930. Mat. HA 1199; Decca K 518)
3. GLORIOUS DEVON (words - Harold Boulton) 2' 52"
Peter Dawson, baritone, with orch.
(Rec. c. June 1929. Mat. Bb 17171: HMV B 3280)
4. HENRY VIII - Overture 7' 18"
Symphony Orchestra conducted by the Composer
(Rec. c. Nov. 1919. Mat. HO 4182/3af; HMV D 527)
GIPSY SUITE
5. (a) Valse (Lonely Life) 3' 26"
6. (b) Allegro (The Dance) 2' 25"
7. (c) Minuetto (Love Duet) 3' 51"
8. (d) Tarantella (The Revel) 3' 47"
Plaza Theatre Orchestra conducted by Frank Tours
(Rec. c. March 1927. Mats. WAX 2532 - 5; Col. 9241/2)
9. TOM JONES - Selection 8' 31"
(Intro.: Hurry, bustle, serving men and wenches; Today my
Spinet; Wisdom says 'Festina Lente'; Finale - Act 2; A Soldier's
Scarlet Coat; The Green Ribbon; For Aye, My Love; Waltz Song)
New Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Malcolm Sargent.
(Rec. c. June 1932. Mats. 2B 1530/1; HMV C 2442)
10. THE ENGLISH ROSE (from "Merrie England") 2' 43"
Webster Booth, tenor with orch. conducted by Clifford Greenwood
(Rec. c. July 1939. Mat. OEA 8027; HMV B 8947)
11. THEME AND SIX DIVERSIONS 14' 58"
Symphony Orchestra conducted by the Composer
(Rec. c. Sept. 1919. Mat. HO 4065/66/69/78af; HMV D 546/50)
12. ROLLING DOWN TO RIO (words - Rudyard Kipling) 2' 05"
Peter Dawson, baritone, with orch.
(Rec. c. March 1929. Mat. Bb 16292; HMV B 3023)
13. VALSE GRACIEUSE (from "Leeds Suite") 4' 03"
Symphony Orchestra conducted by the Composer
(Rec. c. March 1920. Mat. HO 4279af; HMV D 579)
14. BERCEUSE (from Suite "The Tempter") 2' 57"
Symphony Orchestra conducted by the Composer
(Rec. 1929. Mat. M 79-2; Metropole A 1010)
15. MARCH RHAPSODY ON ORIGINAL THEMES 9' 09"
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Malcolm Sargent
(Rec. c. March 1932. Mats. 2B 1098/9; HMV C 2411)
Total playing time: 76' 25"
Rob Morrison's comments: A good selection of vintage recordings of German's orchestral and vocal music, especially valuable for the opportunity to hear the composer's own acoustic recordings of the "Henry VIII" overture, the "Theme and Six Diversions" and the "Valse Gracieuse" from the "Leeds Suite", (which are very vivid in sound despite their age), together with his rare electrical recording of the "Berceuse" from "The Tempter" Suite, (one of only four electrical record 'sides' that German conducted.)
However a word of warning for audiophiles - this CD was issued before "Pearl" adopted the use of audio restoration and filtering techniques, hence the ear is assailed by the usual 78 rpm sourced surface hiss, pops, clicks, crackles and swish, (more intrusive on some tracks than others), which Pearl used to euphemistically refer to as the "original, real sound".
Publication: E. Wadhurst, Sussex, England
Issue History
1919-1939 [details not given]
1993 Pearl/Pavilion Records; Gemm cd 9024
