A Very Pristine Christmas. A Collection of Historic Recordings
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
PRISTINE AUDIO XR PAMX005 [67:50]
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
A festive feast from Pristine Audio … see Full Review