Violin Concerto I: Allegro ma non troppo ~ II: Scherzo (vivo) ~ III: Introduzione: Andante sostenuto - Allegro deciso (in modo zingaro)
Theme & Cadenza for Violin & Orchestra 2 files zip FLAC Mega Download
Alfredo Campoli, violin ~ London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Arthur Bliss
Decca ACL 317 1969 LP/matrices: ARL 2938 -3A / ARL 2939 -3A Recorded: 9-11 November 1955 - Kingsway Hall
A Colour Symphony I: Purple (Andante maestoso) ~ II: Red (Allegro vivace) ~ III: Blue (Gently Flowing) ~ IV: Green (Moderato)
Introduction & Allegro 2 files zip FLAC Mega Download
Decca ACL 239 1964 LP/matrices: ARL 2948 -5K / ARL 2949 -5K Recorded: 23/24 November 1955 - Kingsway Hall
"Things to Come" Suite: Ballet for Children, Attack, Pestilence, Reconstruction, Machines, March / "Welcome the Queen" 2 files zip FLAC Mega Download
Decca / RCA SB 2045 STEREO 1960 LP Matrix: J2RY 5253-D -1K Rec: 30 April 1957 - Kingsway Hall / 21 May 1957 - Walthamstow Assembly Hall
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Arthur Bliss
Sleeve-notes, etc >>> TTC slightly re-edited: Dec.2013 (Violin Concerto is the original version: Philip Stuart's Decca discog has reversed the 'cut'..)
Can't thank you enough. I am playing the VC now and it sounds amazingly lifelike. Again, thanks for your painstaking efforts to transfer these LPs.
ReplyDeleteHello Joe.
ReplyDelete'Painstaking' is the word - and a Wonderful LP (can't think of anything finer in Decca's mono catalogue - and this pressing isn't too commonplace - also have the 'stereo' Eclipse - but there's, apparently, a few minutes 'missing').
PS: apologies for removing your comment (the only one... despite, now, substantial downloads), on the Horenstein/Beethoven - but thought my uploaded files were defective..
Great compilation of Sir Arthur Bliss at his finest.
ReplyDeleteYour transfers are really fabulous. I have some of these already on the commendable Michael J. Dutton transfer (Bliss conducts Bliss) but I think I am swayed over to yours. The Dutton has a few minor conflicts with some of your dates & venues ..... Intro & Colour cited as 22/23 Nov and the stereo 'TtC' is credited as 17 June 1957 and in Walthamstow Town Hall.
BTW - the FLAC link for Colour Symphony is missing its 'h' in http. None of this deflects from bothy your efforts and generosity in sharing these wonderful (and too often neglected) scores.
Have corrected the file link (all this uploaded late at night..though did see the 'rogue' 'h').
ReplyDeleteRe: the 'conflicts' with Mr.Dutton...I'm going by the recent CHARM Decca discography: but now notice the 'Welcome the Queen' (better-sounding) is actually Walthamstow Assembly Hall
A wonderful collection of Bliss and Campoli for which a thousand thanks.
ReplyDeleteHave been previously tempted (despite CD issues of most: even if from LP dubs) to upload more Campoli: Elgar VC (from LXT or ACL) - Lalo - S.Saens - Tchaikovsky VC (original 1958 'CS' [SXL]) + the Paganini VC1 (SPA) + a few more, as they all have good LP transfers.
ReplyDeleteThe Bliss: Elgar P&C might get uploaded (have a later transfer) with either his Readers Digest 'odds & sods' - or Sargent's LSO Enigma, etc.
Glad you liked the above (I think they are pretty good dubs!!) - though have no idea how 'popular' they are as MegaUpload (again) is showing no downloads since mid-July..).
Stunning post, Tin Ear
ReplyDeleteBTW - does anyone know of the later stereo re-make of the Vln Con with Campoli (Bliss conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra) from a concert in Dec 1968. I think it was available for a brief window on the short-lived BBC Classics label - unfortunately, no longer with us ;-(
I got this from Amazon only last week, its recorded along with his less well known ballet music "The Lady of Shallot
DeleteHi;
ReplyDeletejust a very belated thanks for your efforts in making all this valuable music available. The Colour Symphony is especailly a work Ive always enjoyed;
best regards,
Andrew
There may be some more - as have the Bliss Piano Concerto (Mewton-Wood / Goehr - Concert Hall/Nixa) and was thinking of teaming it with Tippett: Double Concerto (Philh/Goehr) & Argo: Tippett: Pears/Mewton-Wood + Pears/Philh/Markevitch: Britten YPGTTO on Columbia..
ReplyDelete...all dating from around 1952: just depends how much Toil is involved..!!
EMG's July 1956 comment re: the 1922 Colour Symphony was amusing: "Little more than Film Music' ...
"Little more than Film Music'
ReplyDeleteA good deal more than most film music, I think. I find this is a work that definitely grows on one. I think Elgar admired it, which is good enough for me. I see occasional complaints about Bliss not coming up with "memorable" themes. Personally I find the material of this piece very memorable.
I'd be pleased to hear any or all of the items you mention, and thanks again for all your efforts;
best regards,
Andrew
(Nothing inherently wrong with film music anyway, if it can stand on its own without the images...)
Many thanks for making these Bliss recordings available. Can anything be done about the interference in the Reconstruction movement of the 'Things to Come' Suite (at about 8:12 and 8:37 in the file) or is it on the original LP?
ReplyDeleteI can't hear anything 'unusual' @ those two points on my saved WAV file: that, plus the FLAC, being directly derived from the live' edited Audacity file.
ReplyDeleteWAV - or FLAC affected?
Will download to check.
The LP was an early stereo mastering: wasn't too sure about its technical quality in the first place (as originally noted on the post text)
I've tried both file types and it is there on each of them. I can hear two hissing sounds on the left channel at those points; the first lasts for 15 seconds, the second (quieter) for 11. Thanks for checking anyway. Roger
ReplyDeleteWithout re-checking the LP, I think I recall this is 'a burst of hiss'...not especially audible via the laptop.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the Ace of Diamonds 1970 reissue - so don't know if this was a recording fault ('open' mixing-desk fader) - or just that particular mastering...where it resides: ie, not my fault!
Many thanks - listened to the VC today and it really is wonderful - sound & al. i was marvelling at the 'dryness' and verisimilitude of the sound.
ReplyDeleteDecca cartridge: hand-made - now $1000 or more....bit of 'hum', too, with that design...
DeleteJust went (to another window...) and read a couple of reviews of the said - nice.
DeleteYour offerings really are something unique.
I try to upload good performances/transfers - mostly of stuff not easily available.
DeleteBut I don't consider them 'anything special' as have demanded a certain-standard since a teenager.
I rarely see/find 'online comments' of anything I've done; and suspect they are only considered 'unique' (despite the 16/44 CD-RW source) as I don't damage the sound with noise-reduction ; which renders performances quite boring (also use some decent equipment - even if it was cheap!)
Shame I'm not likely to re-record (24/96) some of the 'better' LP's - but maybe someone-else will do 'proper' (manual) editing; instead of 'the quick fix' ??
Quite - i've just really only recently begun to learn what exactly sets your offerings apart. i've never been 'undemanding' myself but am just now beginning to hear how apart from most these are. Excellent.
DeleteAvantGardeProject (whch seems to be available again after Copyright problems) doesn't use/much 'noise-reduction' - and has very good equipment (not downloaded anything from there: maybe try the Hindemith 'Kammermusik'; I have those DHM LP's - not my idea of good sound/tape-to-LP transfer (as with so many German LPs..)
DeleteOnce again, many thanks! Downloading already...
DeleteRe. the 'missing minutes' in the Violin Concerto: Bliss at some point sanctioned a cut in the 2nd movement, mentioned at the beginning of the score, but stated that the recording (LXT 5166) was complete. By the time of the Eclipse reissue (ECS 783) the cut had been made, presumably by the Decca engineers. The passage concerned is from 4:31 to 5:42 in the Scherzo. The later BBC recording also makes the cut, as well as a further one in the finale, apparently requested by Campoli. All of which makes your transfer all the more valuable, as ACL 317 is complete. Since the Beulah CD transfer incorporates the cut, I'm very grateful to you to have the extra bars! Roger
ReplyDeleteWell..that's comprehensively cleared things up! Only saw mention of 'missing minutes' on some site - so assumed it was bad-editing. Bizarre thing to do.
DeleteHave begun editing Mewton-Wood's Bliss Piano Concerto LP - sounds massively superior to Mr.Pristine's transfer (and Crimp's, no doubt)...but I'll possibly make a small-charge, except for those who'd donated - and just put an mp3 hereabouts (the post coupling will be Goehr/Philh doing Tippett's Double Conc for strings - already edited - Not on CD, either)...and as mentioned above (Sept.2011.....)
Stuart's discography now corrected (mentioned this...).
DeleteHis new note: "after completing the recording, the composer decided to cut twelve bars (just over a minute) from the scherzo. Decca retained the tape, labelling it: “section removed from original master...at request of Sir A. Bliss".
The original LXT's had the cut: side 1 became ARL3048 instead of ARL2938 (as on this ACL): side 2 is ARL2939 in both LXT/ACL releases.