1. Christmas Overture (Coleridge-Taylor) - BBC Wireless Orchestra/Percy
Pitt, UK Columbia 9137, rec. 23/2/1926 [6:23]
2. Joy To The World (Watts) - Siena Pianoforte played by Grace
Castagnetta, Counterpoint CPT 1503, rec. 1957 [2:13]
Quatre Visages (Milhaud) - Michael Mann (viola), Dika Newlin (piano),
DGG EPL 30295, rec. 1957
3. 1. La Californienne [2:24]
4. 2. The Wisconsonian [1:25]
5. 3. La Bruxelloise [3:54]
6. 4. La Parisienne [2:24]
7. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Brooks) - Siena Pianoforte played
by Grace Castagnetta, Counterpoint CPT 1503 [2:19]
8. In Ecclesiis (G. Gabrieli) - Alexander, Deller, Wynton, Riley,
Dawkes, Chorus and Goldsbrough Orchestra HMV HMS.29, rec.1950
[8:19]
9. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn) - Siena Pianoforte
played by Grace Castagnetta, Counterpoint CPT 1503 [2:52]
10. Hansel and Gretel - Overture (Humperdinck) - Symphony Orchestra/Albert
Coates, HMV D.1261, rec. 26/10/1926 [6:49]
11. I Saw Three Ships (Trad.) - Siena Pianoforte played by Grace
Castagnetta, Counterpoint CPT 1503 [1:32]
12. Te Deum in G (Vaughan Williams) - St George's Chapel Choir,
Windsor Castle, directed by Harris, Columbia LX.1289, rec. 1949
[7:20]
13. What Child Is This (Trad.) - Siena Pianoforte played by Grace
Castagnetta, Counterpoint CPT 1503 [3:12]
14. Adeste Fideles (Wade, arr. Ponchon) - Flonzaley Quartet, Victor
1352, rec. 18/10/1928 [3:21]
15. Deck The Halls (Trad.) - Siena Pianoforte played by Grace
Castagnetta, Counterpoint CPT 1503 [2:02]
16. Gloria in excelsis (Weelkes) - Westminster Abbey Special Choir,
HMV H.1083, rec. 1925 or 1926 [3:58]
17. Oh, Holy Night (Adam) - Siena Pianoforte played by Grace Castagnetta,
Counterpoint CPT 1503 [4:45]
18. The First Nowell (Trad. arr. Ponchon) - Flonzaley Quartet,
Victor 1352, rec. 18/10/1928 [2:38]
Transfers and remastering:
1, 14, 18: Mark Obert-Thorn
2, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17: Dr. John Duffy
3-6: Peter Harrison
8, 12, 16: Andrew Rose
10: Ward Marston
A phalanx of re-mastering’s finest has been engaged to produce
this festive feast from Pristine Audio. It contains an oddball
selection of cuts interspersed by some serious minded ones, tracks
that are hard to come by, or are just appropriate. That said it
wears its programming quite lightly, leavening things throughout
with the sound of Grace Castagnetta’s Siena Pianoforte and its
seasonal interludes.
It’s appropriate to start there. Since the instrument is something
of a rarity, let me briefly quote Pristine’s on-line notes: ‘The
Siena Pianoforte has an intriguing history, though reading references
one finds some are sceptical about the later segments! (see
article)
This highly ornate keyboard instrument was built in 1800 as a
wedding present for a Siena farmer and his wife. After being sent
to the Paris Exhibition of 1867, it was given to Crown Prince
Umberto the following year again as a wedding present. It surfaced
in the North African desert during the Second World War and was
taken to Palestine, where it again vanished and resurfaced. Several
LPs were issued in the mid-1950s, including one made by Charles
Rosen, and the one used here made by Grace Castagnetta in which
she plays a selection of Christmas carols and tunes, used here
as interludes to the whole programme. The instrument produces
an interesting sound, and may well steer some listeners to the
other discs.’ I should add that in addition to the Rosen LP others
were made by Anatole Kitain, no less, as well as Marisa Regules
and Kathryn Deguire.
Its sound is a cross between a fortepiano, Landowska’s Pleyel
harpsichord, Diana Poulton’s thwacking lute - as thunderously
recorded on those early electric John Goss recordings for HMV
- and a soupçon of Sidonie Goossens’s harp. The recordings are
often rollickingly done, as befits the behemoth of an instrument;
sonorous is the word I’m looking for, though subtle isn’t.
There are some interesting things to acquire. Percy Pitt dishes
out Coleridge-Taylor’s Christmas Overture on an early electric.
This festive tapestry may have influenced such things to come
as Quilter’s Children’s Overture for example. One oddball offering,
and not a very seasonal one really, is Milhaud’s
Quatre Visages,
adroitly characterised by violist Michael Mann and pianist Dika
Newlin on a 1957 DGG. Milhaud’s charm is evident, and these national
character sketches are whimsically done. The Californian lady
is suitably laid back, the one from Wisconsin is a busy-bee; the
lady from Brussels is phlegmatic, possibly even frumpish, whilst
the Parisienne is something of a goer.
The Goldsbrough Orchestra’s Gabrieli – recorded in 1950, with
Deller in the ranks - has a hefty grandeur. Combustible Albert
Coates is on hand with a less well known item from his discography
– the overture to Hansel and Gretel, a recording made in 1926.
The Weelkes
Gloria in excelsis is sung by the Westminster
Abbey Special Choir in another early electric and a valuable reclamation.
There are also two performances by the august Flonzaley Quartet
from 1928, beautifully done with their usual ineffable lightness.
Most of the numbers have been transferred using ‘Ambient Stereo’.
It imparts warmth at least. So, a
very different offering
indeed. You’ll be amused by the Siena Pianoforte (I think), take
succour from the vocal pieces, and enjoy the Flonzaley. For next
year this writer suggests a backbone employing the Flonzaley methodology;
the US Decca sides of Christmas tunes recorded by the London String
Quartet in arrangements, some of which were by Anthony Collins.
Gorgeous playing – and never reissued.
Jonathan Woolf
PRISTINE AUDIO XR PAMX005 [67:50] 