The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar-Dec 1907)

10 EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. ADVANCE LIST EDISON GRAND^OPERA RECORDS SUPPLEMENT No. 7, AUGUST, 1907. RECORDS listed below will be shipped from Orange in time to reach all Jobbers in the United States and Canada before July 27, 1907, all things being favorable, but they must not be placed on sale by Jobbers or leave their places of business, or be reshipped to Dealers before 8 A M. on July 27, 1907. Supplements will be shipped with Records. These may be distributed to Dealers after July 20th, but must not be circulated among the public before July 27. Jobbers are required to place orders for Grand Opera Records on or before June 10th. Dealers should place Grand Opera orders with Jobbers before June 10th to insure prompt and complete shipment when Jobbers stock is received. B. 51 — Ich grolle nicht ("I'll not complain") Schumann -Ich grolle nicht ( I'll not complain") By OTTO GORITZ, Baritone Sung in German Orchestra accompaniment The one great romance of Schumann's life was his love for Clara Wieck, the daughter of Friederich Wieck, an eminent teacher of piano playing, to whom young Schumann had come as a pupil. Schumann fell desperately in love with Clara Wieck, but her father opposed the match. Schumann was, at that time, without great means, and he had not yet achieved the great fame as a composer, that afterward came to him. For four years the parental objection prevailed, and Schumann finally, in 1840, won Clara Wieck for his bride. From this year dates the greatest of his songs, including the present one, "Ich grolle nicht." This famous song is one of the set "Poet's Love," the text by Heinrich Heine. The first line: "I'll not complain, tho' break my heart in twain" sounds the keynote of this beautiful song. It rises to dramatic heights in its noble climaxes, but the mood of fine resignation is the controlling one. B. 52 — Brindisi ("Drinking Song"), "Cavalleria Rusti cana," Mascagni By FLORENCIO CONSTANTINO, Tenor Sung in Italian Orchestra accompaniment Mascagni's one act opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" — "Rustic Chivalry" — is one of the greatest of all operatic successes. It was written in competition for a prize offered by the Italian publisher Sonzogno, and besides winning the prize it earned immediate fame for its composer. The action of the work is based upon Verga s drama, and the swiftness of its dra ■ matic incidents had much to do with the success of Mascagni's opera. The "Brindisi" — Drinking Song — is sung by Turiddu just after the villagers stream out of church. He calls to them and invites them to drain a cup with him. Raising his cup he sings this stirring song, the words of which begxn: "See the wine, so freely flowing, In our brimming goblets glowing, Red as roses newly blowing, Bringing friendship, love and joy." It is one of the most attractive numbers in the entire opera, its melody being marked by a rousing, impulsive spirit. B. 53— In quelle trine morbide (In those soft silken curtains"), "Manon Lescaut" Puccini By SIGNORINA GARAVAGUA, Soprano Sung in Italian Orchestra accompaniment This excerpt from Puccini's dramatic opera, "Manon Lescaut," occurs in the second act. Manon has been torn by her scheming brother from the companionship of her penniless beloved Chevalier des Grieux. She is now ensconced in the sumptuous mansion of an old doting admirer, Geronte, who has lavished upon her all the luxuries that are purchasable. When the curtain rises upon this act she is in the hands of her hairdresser. Her brother enters and reminds her that he rescued her from a life that was "rich in kisses but short in money." In return Manon confesses that she longs for tidings of the Chevalier des Grieux; and then admits that the luxury of her present abode is not an index to her bliss. Her plaint begins: "In those soft silken curtains, in that gilded alcove, there's a silence, there's a chill that freezes." This episode is lovely in its lyric tunefulness, and the pensive beauty of the concluding portion is very charming. B. 54 — Io son l'amore, ("I Am Love") Tosti By GIUSEPPE CAMPANARI, Baritone Sung in Italian Orchestra accompaniment The composer calls this graceful song a "canzone notturna" — a nocturnal song, and this title describes its character and its mood. The sentimental poem underlying this musical text is by Francesco Cimmino. Tosti, one of the most popular of present day song composers, has chosen to garb this poem with music that is melodiously attractive. The curve of the melody employed is very graceful, and the rhythm is a swinging one. At the conclusion of the song comes the refrain: "Io son l'amore" — "I am love!" — both times dramatically uttered. About some portion of this attractive song there is a charm of simplicity that resembles the characteristic of a folk song. B. 100 — Cujus Animam ("Lord! vouchsafe Thy loving kindness,"), Stabat Mater" Rossini By ANGIOLO PINTUCCI, Tenor Sung in Latin Orchestra accompaniment The "Stabat Mater" was written after the opera "William Tell," the failure of which drove Rossini into a resolve never to compose again. Although Rossini lived almost forty years after the premiere of "William Tell," he, in the main, was true to his resolve, and he broke this silence but a few times, "Stabat Mater" being the most notable instance. In "Stabat Mater" Rossini has been accused of being more theatrical than religious in his mood. Certainly, the work is more brilliant, and the present Cujus Animam is a very fine example of this composer's vivid melody. To the text: "Lord, vouchsafe Thy loving kindness, hear me in my supplication, and consider my distress," Rossini has furnished a musical setting that is famous for its melody and its brilliancy. PUSHING GRAND OPERA RECORDS. The new list of Edison Grand Opera Records, Supplement No. 7, given in full on page 9, has been made by noted artists from the works of the most famous composers, and is a very fine one. The new artists are Otto Goritz, a German baritone, who sang in the Metropolitan Opera Company, last winter ; Signora Garavaglia, an Italian soprano, who has been engaged by Mr. Hammerstein for next season, and Angiolo Pintucci, a tenor, who has recently triumphed in Mexico. Dealers who make special efforts to push the sale of Grand Opera Records will find the effort worth while. It is incontestable that there is a demand for this high class music among people of cultured tastes. Most of these people, as Dealers should know very well, seem to think that all phonographic music is of the "coon" variety. You, as a Dealer, are quite right to specialize in these popular lines because of the profits to be made; but you should be careful not to think that you cannot just as well combine the two varieties. A customer coming in for Ada Jones' latest, will not accept the beautiful "Flower Song," from Gounod's "Faust," even if sung by Madame Jacoby, by way of substitution; for her, there is nothing "just as good." But it is quite as likely that among your customers, or among the musically cultured of your town, there are those who would buy the Edison Grand Opera