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Album Cover
Paul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Solow
Wind Song / Overture To The Wasps / Children's Corner Suite

Compil. US 1974 on Everest label
Classical (Modern, Impressionist)

Matrix-run-out data distinguishes this release from a very similar reissue from 1978. Further research identifies many specific characteristics, documented here (see also Submission Notes) that may or may not apply to the 1978 reissue. "Bellsound + Bre (looks like SRE)" is the signature of Joe Brescio: Joe Brescio The 1974 release date is derived from the date portion of this matrix sequence included in Bell Sound masters. "ARC" identifies Allentown Record Company inc. as the pressing facility for this release, as described at: https://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/324904 and https://www.discogs.com/lists/US-Record-Pressing-Plants/213755 (#23) A COMPILATION? The original source(s) of these performances is a fascinating study. The first work, track A, "Wind Song," is a new composition by Paul Chihara, first performed in 1972, with Gerhard Samuel conducting the America Symphony Orchestra. This establishes an earliest-possible release date. The conductor and orchestra for the second work, track B1, "Overture to The Wasps," by Ralph Vaughan-Williams, is not stated. The ASO is given top billing for the recording as a whole. "Vaughan Williams" is mis-spelled in several references, omitting the second "a" in "Vaughan." The last work, tracks B2-B4, are three movements of "Children's Corner Suite," by Claude Debussy. Other sources identify the arranger/orchestrator of these piano works as Andre Caplet (1911). The front and back covers state: "Leopold Stokowski and Gerhard Samuel conducting the America Symphony Orch.," but the back cover track credits directly contradict this, stating, "Leopold Stokowski conducting the Stadium Symphony Orchestra." Only one recording of Stokowski performing the Children's Corner Suite is documented in most sources: http://www.stokowski.org/Stokowski_Discography_1941-1959.htm This source identifies "RCA WDM 1327 (45 RPM)" as Stokowski conducting "his Symphony Orchestra, recorded at the Manhattan Center, New York City on March 2 and 30, 1949. This sources cites many re-issues, but Everest SDBR 3327 is not among them: (78) RCA Victor 10-1488, 10-1489, 10-1490 in album DM-1327 (33) RCA Victor LM-9023 Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A and Debussy Children's Corner Suite (33) RCA Victor LM-9 The Children's Corner Suite (33) RCA Red Seal ANL1-2604 electronic stereo digital remaster with 1950 Nutcracker Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A And Children's Corner Suite (45) RCA Victor WDM 1327 (45) RCA France A 95 235 Artistique The Little Shepherd only with L'Arlésienne Suite no 1: Adagietto and Bach-Stokowski 'Siciliano' from Sonata for Violin and Clavier BWV 1017 and 'Sarabande' from Partita no 1 in B minor BWV 1002 (CD) Cala Records CACD 0548 https://www.calarecords.com/acatalog/The_Art_of_Stokowski.html (CD) Bearac Reissues CD BRC 2950 http://www.classicalcdreview.com/LSS.html The identity of the orchestra is also a mismatch. In the home page preamble of the Discography source, the contributor indicates that "Stadium Symphony Orchestra" is a pseudonym for the New York Philharmonic. This is confirmed by Discogs: The Stadium Symphony Orchestra Of New York A third fact further disqualifies this family of releases as the possible source. The timings given for LM-9023 are markedly-different from those provided for two of the three movements on Everest 3327: Jimbo's Lullaby: 3:06 on RCA LM-9023 there; 4:37 on Everest 3327. Golliwog's Cakewalk: 2:55 on RCA LM-9023; 3:07 on Everest 3327. ______________________________________________________________ In contrast to the 1949 recording, we are looking for a different (later?) performance and recording by Stokowski conducting a different orchestra. Here is a release that fits the bill: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=17683&album_group=14 The data for this release closely matches all known data for Everest 3327, and confirms that the "Stadium Symphony Orchestra New York" is a pseudonym for the New York Philharmonic. The timings for the three Debussy movements differ by only 2-3 seconds from the Everest timings. This recording was first released in 1961, recorded at "Belock Recording Studio, Bayside, NY," and confirms that the "Stadium Symphony Orchestra New York" is a pseudonym for the New York Philharmonic, closely matching all known data for this Everest release. Since Belock Instrument Corporation was the parent of the Everest label from 1958 to 1960, this provides strong evidence to identify this Everest release as a combination of elements from the 1961 release as Side B supporting the 1972 new composition as Side A. Belock Instrument Corporation Belock Recording Further searching establishes as fact that Stokowski did record the Debussy again with this orchestra, including the Vaughan Williams. The proof is found in the following scholarly Archive, cited on page 44 of the Finding Aid (MS Coll 1169): http://dla.library.upenn.edu/cocoon/dla/pacscl/ead.pdf?id=PACSCL_UPENN_RBML_PUSpMsColl1169 Leopold Stokowski sound recordings, 1912-1982 (bulk 1930-1977), Ms. Coll. 1169, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania This entry identifies the following repertoire as having been preserved on a 7-inch reel-to-reel recording (Box 5, Item 2): Stadium Symphony Orchestra (Prokofiev "Peter and the Wolf;" Vaughan Williams "Wasps Overture;" Debussy "Children's Corner Suite;" Bach "Aria;" Gluck "Reigen seliger Geister;" Purcell "Hornpipe;" Boccherini "Minuet;" Turina "La Oracion del torero;" Tchaikovsky "Andante Cantabile;" and Berger "Rondino Giocoso"); Stokowski Number: 4M, undated. The date of this recording, and its usage as a source by Belock/Everest, are not yet proven directly, but the high correspondence of known characteristics makes it nearly-certain that this recording is the source for Side B of Everest 3327. Documentation of this has not yet been added to the Stokowski Discographies cited above. As a conclusion, Stowkowski and the "Stadium Symphony" are credited with track A1. The recording venue for Side A is not stated, but the premiere performance was with these performers on February 2, 1972, at New York's Town Hall. Since new compositions often receive no further recordings whatsoever, it is probable that either the source is a recording of the premiere, or that it was recorded in the same venue within weeks of the premiere. This compilation combines a newly-recorded world-premiere work (not a reissue) with a remastered re-issue of a recording circa 1959-1961. The Bell Sound mastering credits indicate that the earlier recording was remastered for this release. While "Joe Jorgensen" is clearly identified as one of the Recording Engineers, it is by no means certain that this is the same identity cited in Discogs. The career of that individual began in the early 1970's but has continued into the present, and includes no other classical releases. It may be best to identify this individual as Joe Jorgensen (2), despite the fact that both were/are recording engineers. Similarly, the Doug Botnick in Discogs began his carer in the mid-1970's and has only 2 other classical releases to his credit. Neither individual could have been responsible for the 1959-1961 Stokowski recording session.

     
Musicians
PortraitPaul Chihara syn, *1938 US
album by, composed by
PortraitRalph Vaughan Williams voc, 1872-1958 GB
album by, composed by
PortraitClaude Debussy p, 1862-1918 FR
album by, composed by
PortraitLeopold Stokowski p, 1882-1977 GB
album by, conductor
PortraitGerhard Samuel , 1924-2008 US
album by, conductor
PortraitThe American Symphony Orchestra ,
album by, orchestra
PortraitJeffrey Solow vc, *1949 US
album by, cello
PortraitThe Stadium Symphony Orchestra Of New York ,
orchestra
PortraitAndré Caplet , 1878-1925 FR
orchestrated by
Producers
Doug Botnick engineer, recording
Joe Jorgensen engineer, recording
Joe Brescio mastered by
Sheila Keats sleeve notes
Album Tracks
No Title Artist Composer Duration
1Windsong For Cello & OrchestraPaul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey SolowPaul Chihara15:41
2Overture To "The Wasps"Paul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey SolowRalph Vaughan Williams10:25
3Excerpts From "The Children's Corner Suite"Paul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey SolowClaude Debussy
4Jimbo's LullabyPaul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Solow4:37
5Little ShepherdPaul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Solow3:02
6Golliwog's CakewalkPaul Chihara, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Claude Debussy - Leopold Stokowski, Gerhard Samuel, The American Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Solow3:07
External Links
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
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