Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1, No. 5 (1927-02)

The Phonograph Monthly Review 223 va n - ing in Great Britiain in recording rare chamber music and other works unobtainable in any of the recording companies' catalogues. For the benefit of those who do not know of the N. G. S., as it is called among collectors, we take pleasure in reprinting the Society's prospectus and the list of works already issued or planned. The prospectus well defines the Society’s history and aims and gives full information for the prospect- ive members. We understand that Mr. William Braid White, President of the Phonograph Art Society of Chicago, at 5149 Agatite Avenue, Chicago, 111., is collecting names of enthusiasts in this country who wish to join the N. G. S. By clubbing to- gether, American members may secure much better transportation facilities, etc., than other- wise would be the case. Mr. White is one of the leaders of this movement in America and no doubt will be glad to assist prospective members with any information they need. Unfortunately, as no N. G. S. recordings have been sent to the Studio for review, it is not pos- sible to give an official estimation of their merits here. But for the several works heard unoffi- cially through the kindness of American mem- bers we can have nothing but praise. Through the Society it is possible to obtain beautiful and rare works, unavailable elsewhere, and in addition the members have the privilege of assisting in the choice of works to be recorded. We cannot praise too highly the courageous initiative of Mr. Compton Mackenzie and his able associates in establishing and maintaining this Society which has such an important effect on recorded music and which is issuing such val- uable additions to the libraries of chamber music lovers. As stated in the booklet, when the size of the membership warrants, more ambitious works will be undertaken and a greater variety of choice will be given. We hope that American enthusiasts may help to make this possible in the near future. The following prospectus and alphabetical list of works issued explain vividly the history and achievements of the Society. Truly a record to be proud of! The object of this Society was outlined by Compton MacKenzie in The Gramophone of September 1923. “My ambition,” he wrote, “is to incorporate a number of enthusiasts for good music on the gramophone in a society which will aim at achieving for gramophone music what such societies as the Medici have done for the reproduction of paintings and for the printed book.” The response to this suggestion was sufficiently encouraging to lead to the development of the scheme, and the Society was formed during the following summer. An Advisory Committee, consisting of Mr. W. R. Anderson (Editor of the Music Teacher ), Mr. W. W. Cobbett. F.R.C.M. (Editor of the Cyclopedia of Chamber Music), Mr. Spencer Dyke and Mr. Alec Robertson, consented to assist in deciding what works were to be recorded and to pass the “test records” when made as being suitable for publication; but in the choice of works the votes of members have been followed as far as was practicable. The Society was fortunate from the beginning in securing the services of the Spencer Dyke String Quartet, which had already established a high position among lovers of Chamber — ■■■' — - - — a s* music, and had previously experienced the rigours of a recording room; fortunate, too, in obtaining the co-operation of the recording companies, who spared no effort to make the scheme a success. The first records issued to members in 1924 were Beethoven’s Quartet in E flat {“Harp”), Op. 74, and Debussy's Quartet in G minor , Op. 10 These were followed in 1925 by Schubert’s Piano Trio in E flat, Op. 100, played by Spencer Dyke (violin), Patterson Parker (‘cello), and Harold Craxton (piano); and by Schonberg’s String Sextet, Verklarte Nacht, Op. 4, in which James Lockyer (violin) and E. J. Robinson (’cello) were added to the Spencer Dyke String Quartet. Then came Beethoven’s Quartet in F major (Rasoumovsky), Op. 59, No. 1, and Brahms’s String Sextet in B flat major, Op. 18, this completing the output for the first year, twenty-four twelve- inch records. An odd side of the Brahms’s Sextet was filled with By the Tarn of Eugene Goossens, played by the Music Society String Quartet under Andre Mangeot, and passed for publication by the composer. In addition to these records, the first 300 members were presented, at the beginning of 1925, by Mr. W. W. Corbett with a record containing the Allegro from Rubinstein’s Quartet in F, Op. 17, No. 3, and The Declaration from Raff’s Maid of the Mill Suite, Op. 192, No. 2, played by the Corbett String Quartet. This unexpected gift was much appreciated by members all over the world, who wrote to thank the giver. The second year, which started on October 1, 1925, saw the issue of Mozart’s Quartet for Oboe and Strings (K 370), played by Spencer Dyke (violin), Ernest Tomlinson (viola), B. Patterson Parker (‘cello), and Leon Goossens (oboe). On the odd side was the Sinfonia from Bach’s Cantata 156. Other Works in the programme for 1925-26 are some Fantasies of Orlando Gibbons, the Jack O’Lantern of Eugene Goossens, and some Fantasies of Purcell, all played by the Music Society String Quartet; Elgar’s Piano Quintet and Brahms’s Clarinet Quintet played by the Spencer Dyke String Quartet with Mrs. Hobday (piano) and Mr. Thurston (clarinet) respec- tively; Schubert’s Quintet in C major, Op. 163, with two ’cellos, played by W. W. Corbett and others; and a Lament by Ernest Tomlinson, played by the Spencer Dyke String Quartet. Mozart’s Quintet (clarinet), and some Purcell Fantasies will also be included. It will be seen that the works so far issued have been all of Chamber music. They cover a wide range and, except in one instance, cannot be obtained on gramophone records otherwise than through the Society. Duplication with issues of the recording Companies has been sedulously avoided where it has been possible to obtain informat on. A very high standard of playing and of recording has been obtained. Apart from their intrinsic merit the records of the Society have the merit of rarity. Only 500 sets of the works issued in the first year were pressed, and most are now out of stock. From the outset membership of the Society was limited to 1.000, so that in no event will more than a thousand copies of these works be in existence, without allowing for the wastage of wear and accident. If the roll of members should ever reach a thousand it will be possible to undertake more ambitious works and to allow alternative choices, so that each member may choose, for instance, the works which he wishes to have to make up his twenty-four out a possible forty records issued. But this is a development which is not yet within sight. The commercial side of the Society is in the hands of Gramophone (Publications) Ltd., 58, Frith Street, London, W. 1, the publishers of The Gramophone, a monthly review edited by Compton Mackenzie (subscription, 14s. a year, post free), in which N.G.S. Notes appear every month. The current year began on October 1st. The annual subscription for members of the N. G. S. is 5s. a year. This covers expenses for printing and postage of circulars and pamphlets; one of the latter, issued in 1925, was a List of Recorded Chamber Music, to which supplements will from time to time be added. The “record subscription” is £6 a year for a minimum of twenty-four twelve-inch, double-sided records. If members who cannot fetch the records from 58, Frith Street, wish them to be sent to them the charge for packing and postage is 10s. a year in the British Isles, 25s. a year overseas. These subscriptions can be paid either (i) in a lump sum on October 1st, or the date of joining the Society—