Leopold Stokowski - Philadelphia Orchestra Recordings in 1935
Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded 7 major works in 1935,
and all of them in only three days of recording: Monday November 25, Monday
December 16, and Monday December 30, 1935 in the Academy of Music. In
this brief period, Stokowski recorded the Franck d minor symphony, Stravinsky's
Firebird Suite, a new symphony by University of Pennsylvania composer Harl
McDonald, Stokowski's 'Symphonic Synthesis' from Tristan und Isolde, as well as
lesser pieces by Handel, McDonald, and Shostakovich. All of these works
Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra had performed in concerts in Philadelphia,
New York City, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. in October, November and December.
This practice of performing in concert prior to recording is the norm, today, and
Stokowski found it efficient, then.
1935 - Stravinsky - Suite from 'The Firebird'
I recall reading a magazine article about the Philadelphia Orchestra
in about 2001 stating that the music from Stravinsky's Firebird had become a
featured 'orchestral showpiece' for the Philadelphia Orchestra. The
article indicated that the Philadelphians had performed either the suite,
or the complete ballet more than 500 times in the recent decades.
However, when Stokowski first recorded music from The Firebird in 1924,
using the acoustic process,
and then recorded it in 1927 with the new electrical process, this music
was still considered avant-garde and controversial.
In this 1935 recording of the Firebird Suite, Stokowski continued his
practice of making an important change to the finale. To those
familiar with the Firebird, this change might seem startling, if they
are not forewarned. As well as his usual minor cuts
and instrumentation
changes, Stokowski has made an extensive cut in the finale of the last
movement of the Suite. This was the same cut made by Stokowski
in the 1924 acoustic performance. Such cuts in any score
recorded during the acoustic era were the norm because of the 4 minute time
limit of the 78 RPM side, and also the difficulty of recording
acoustically. However, this same cut of than one minute in the
Finale was also made in 1927, and in this 1935 recording, where time
seems not to have been a factor.
This cut became Stokowski's practice during his career.
As well as 1924, 1927, and 1935, Stokowski made this same cut in his
the November, 1940 recording with the All-American Youth Orchestra
and also with the NBC Symphony Orchestra recording of April, 1942.
The musical effect of this change to the conclusion of this remarkable
work is notable. Apparently, Stokowski felt that the somewhat
repetitive nature of the build-up to the finale was better
omitted. Yet others, presumably including Stravinsky, believed
that this progression adds to the cumulative impact of this
thrilling finale.
Stravinsky was vocal in his resistance to the changes to his work in
performance, and he likely did not condone this one, either,
although I have seen no record of any specific comment by him.
Stravinsky was usually careful to avoid any actions which might
reduce his royalties (well earned) on his compositions !
In this recording, there is beautiful playing by Walter Guetter, bassoon
in this Suite from the Firebird.
Stokowski's 1935 recording of the Suite from the Firebird was released
by Victor on three 12 inch (30 cm) Red Seal disks Victor Victor 8926,
8927 and 8928 a (with the Shostakovich Prelude opus 34 no 14 in e flat minor
as orchestrated by Stokowski on side 8928 b). Matrices
were: CS 92865-2, CS 92866-4, CS 92868-3, CS 92869-3 (later CS 92869-2A),
and CS 92870-5. The Jeu des Princesses and
Danse Infernale split matrix CS 92868-3.
Stokowski at this
time was in the habit of recording and releasing one take of a recording
session, if he was happy with the playing of a familiar work. The
continued difficulty of Stravinsky's Firebird in this era, even for a
group such as the Philadelphia Orchestra is indicated by the high number
of 'takes' necessary before Stokowski was satisfied with the result.
Click here to listen to (download) the Firebird - part 1 Introduction,
Danse De L'Oiseau De Feu, Jeu des Princesses
Click here to listen to (download) the Firebird - part 2
Danse Infernale, Berceuse, Finale
1935 - Handel - Chandos Anthem no 2 in d minor 'In the Lord put I my trust' HWV 247 - Sonata
On December 16, 1935, Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra returned for their second recording
session back in the Academy of Music. This recording was of Stokowski's arrangement of the
first movement, Sonata, from Handel Chandos Anthem no 2 in d minor 'In the Lord put I my trust',
HWV 247. The need for Stokowski's arrangement of this sublime music may be open to question,
since Handel wrote this music for a full instrumental group, if not the size of the Philadelphia
Orchestra. The original score indicates and orchestra of strings, plus oboe, bassoon and
two recorders (or perhaps equivalent winds). The result is a full and
satisfying sound in Handel's original orchestration. Stokowski's arrangement features
a larger string section, including violas, and a heavier sound. In the link below, listen
to half a minute of this beautiful work by Handel played as we would hear it in
concert today, compared with the same section in the Stokowski arrangement.
(note: the Stokowski has been re-pitched to be closer to the tuning of the modern
performance.)
Click here to listen to (download) part of the Chandos Anthem no 2, modern versus
1935 Stokowski
This 1935 recording benefits from the sound and atmosphere of the full
Philadelphia orchestra returned to their home in the Academy of Music.
This recording was issued in 1936 on two sides of a Victor 10 inch (25 cm)
Red Seal recording Victor 1798, matrices BS 94621-1, BS 94622-1. In
Europe, it was issued on HMV DA 1556.
Click here to listen to (download) the 1935 Sonata from Chandos Anthem no 2 in d minor
1935 - Wagner - Tristan & Isolde - Acts 2 and 3 with Liebesnacht
On December 16, 1935 and the following December 30, Stokowski recorded
a new, extended arrangement (sometimes call a 'Symphonic Synthesis', but
not apparently not called that by Stokowski) of the 'Liebesnacht' music
from Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde. As we have seen in the
1932 section, Stokowski recorded in April, 1932 excerpts from Tristan
und Isolde Act 1, concluding with the Love Music (Liebesnacht) from
Act 2. In this 1935 recording of his symphonic arrangement,
Stokowski expands the music from Acts 2 and 3, and concludes the
arrangement with a transition from the Act 3 music back to the
concluding finale of Act 2 in which Tristan is killed by King
Marke.
In this arrangement, Stokowski has given the singing of the two protagonists
to the orchestra. The celli play Tristan's music and violins play Isolde's
music, with the interplay retained.
It seems that critics and the public were outraged that Stokowski had
changed the conclusion of this musical arrangement, or synthesis, from
a conclusion with the favorite music of the Act 3 'Liebestod' aria,
instead, in Stokowski's version, concluding with the Act 2 finale.
Therefore, in April, 1939, Stokowski re-recorded this section substitution
the 'Liebestod' music as an ending. The mp3 musical links below are
of the December, 1935 recording, with the Act 2 finale as an ending.
You can hear the 1939 'Liebestod' conclusion by going to the 1939-1940 page
of this stokowski.org site. Note that the mp3 music file of the link,
below is some 23 minutes long. It seemed important to have maintained
this music as one, continuous musical experience, and for this reason,
it is very large (21 MB), so may take a long time to download,
depending of the speed of your internet link.
This recording of the Tristan und Isolde music of Acts 2, 3 with 'Liebesnacht'
and Finale to Act 2 was released on six sides of Victor Red Seal 12 inch (30 cm)
disks 15203 B, 15204, 15205, 15206 A. The other side of 15206 was left
blank during 1930s, and later, 'Adoramus te' added filler as 15206 B in about
1946. These were in Victor Musical Masterpiece album in M-508. In
Europe, this music was issued on 3 HMV 30 cm disks, HMV DB 3087, DB 3088,
and DB 3089. Matrices were CS 94624-2, CS 94625-1, CS 94626-1, CS 94627-1,
CS 94628-1, and CS 94629-2.
Click here to listen to (download) the 1935 Stokowski arrangement of Act
2 and 3 music of Tristan & Isolde
1935 - Franck - Symphony in D
The Gramophone in their September, 1937 review of this recording found it more
episodic, rather than continuous in performance: '...There are some grand key-moves
in the recapitulation, on side 4. When Stokowski keeps the ball rolling, he
does it magnificently but there are too many pot-holes in his sentiment. I
rarely feel his work as one whole-all-through adventure...'
1
Click here to listen to (download) the 1927 Franck D minor Symphony - Mvmt 1
