- Prelude
- Dance of the young Maidens
- Final Dance, Act 2
Philadelphia Orchestra April 7, 1937
This is a Stokowski arrangement eliminating the chorus.
The music is far more extensive than his 1925 arrangement on only two
78 RPM sides.
1937 - Stravinsky - Petrushka (1911 version)
In 1937, following the concert performance of the music from Stravinsky's 1911 ballet 'Petrushka'
on April 16 and 17 April, 1937, Stokowski recorded the music on April 19. Stokowski had
not performed Petrushka in Philadelphia often, the only previous performances being the concert
pairs of January 14, 15, 1927 and November 12, 15, 1935. This recording is of the 1911 version
of the ballet, with fuller, more ample orchestration. Stokowski seems to have preferred
the 1911 version throughout his career, even after Stravinsky introduced the 1947 revised
version, scored for a smaller orchestra (and also providing Stravinsky with a new flow of
well-earned copyright income.)
This recording is beautifully played and is one of the best sounding recordings of 1937.
The balance and impact are significantly better than what had been achieved during the
excellent period 1926-1929. Listen for example to the bite and impact of the tuba parts.
I have tried to correct some problems of intonation of the otherwise superb playing of the
trumpets in a few places. Stokowski generally performs the score 'straight' except for
some minor changes, such as the altered drum roll part at the introduction to the Dance of the
Ballerina at about 15:10 in this recording. Also listen to the beautiful interplay among
the bassoon, trumpet and flute (Sol Schoenbach, Saul Caston and William Kincaid) at this point.
I decided to keep the 1937 recording of Petrushka in one continuous
mp3 recording, because of the disruptive effects of breaking it into parts.
However, as a result the mp3 file is large - slightly less than 30MB, so
it will take several minutes to download, depending on your internet
access speed.
Click here to listen to - download the 1937 Stravinsky Petrushka (caution - large
30MB file)
1937 - Franck - Grand pièce symphonique in f sharp minor opus 17 - Andante
Following the Petrushka recording, on April 19, 1937, Stokowski also recorded his
orchestration of the Andante, the second movement of César Franck's Grand pièce symphonique
in f sharp minor opus 17. This organ work was originally written by Franck
(1822-1890) in about 1861, and was part of Stokowski's repertoire as an organist.
The 'Grand Pièce Symphonique' is a large work, which prepared the way for other
massive organ works such as It also seems to be a precursor to Franck's
most successful work, the Symphony in D Minor. Vincent d' Indy (1851-1931),
Franck's student and admirer wrote '...his Grand Pièce in F sharp minor, is
really a symphony in three movements, and displays all the characteristics of
this form of composition: the first movement is built on two ideas in sonata-form
proceeded by an introduction which reappears in the course of the development;
the Andante is in the form of a song, the second section of which, by reason of
its rapid tempo may be regarded as taking the place of a Scherzo (the composer
returned to this plan of construction later in his Symphony in D.)...' 1
Stokowski's reading of this work seems to me somewhat maudlin and sentimental,
although the orchestration seems effective. This recording was issued on the A
side of Victor 12 inch (30 cm) Red Seal disk 14947, matrix CS 07602-1. It was
coupled with Stokowski's November 16, 1936 recording of his orchestration of a
Tchaikovsky song, which Stokowski called 'Solitude'.
Click here to listen to - download the 1937 Franck's Grand pièce symphonique - Andante
1937 - Harl
McDonald - Concerto for Two Pianos
Harl McDonald (1899 - 1955)
Concerto for 2 Pianos
Alexander Kelberine and Jeanne Behrend, pianists
Written in 1936
Recorded April 19, 1937
1937 - Weber - Invitation to the Dance
During the April 19, 1937 recording session, Stokowski and the Philadelphians re-recorded
one of their most successful recordings of the early electrical era: The 'Invitation to the
Dance' ('Aufforderung zum Tanz'), opus 65 by Carl Maria von Weber. This performance
seems to be based on an orchestration which is a combination of the Felix Weingartner
orchestration, with changes by Stokowski.
The performance, although well-played and in agreeable sound is another example of the works
recorded with dazzling inspiration in the gold Philadelphia era 1926-1929, which, when
re-recorded in the 1930s seem to lack the full measure of the inspiration of the earlier
recordings. The earlier recording of May 2, 1927 was one of the finest (and also one
of the best-selling of Victor Red Seal recordings of that era.
1937 - William Byrd - Earl of Salisbury Pavane and Gigue
In 1937, Stokowski recorded his arrangement of two works by William Byrd
(1543-1623). These were a Pavane written for the Earl of Salisbury, joined
to a gigue. These were two dance pieces originally composed for clavichord,
one hundred years before Bach, and sumptuously orchestrated by Stokowski.
William Byrd (1543-1623)
Although not at all following what we now regard as 'authentic'
performance principles, Stokowski's arrangement of this music is light, elegant
and enjoyable. Have a listen by clicking on the link, below.
This arrangement was issued on Victor 10 inch (25 cm) disk 1943 and in Europe
on HMV DA 1637, matrices BS 07603-1, BS 07604-1.
