The Orchestra on Record, 1896-1926: An Encyclopedia of Orchestral Recordings Made by the Acoustical Process (Discographies) [Hardcover]

Claude Graveley Arnold (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0313300992 | ISBN-13: 978-0313300998 | Edition: First Edition

In the history of sound recording, the years from 1896 to 1926 mark the transformation of a carnival toy into a serious means of musical reproduction. This work documents for the first time an index of this transformation: the expansion of the repertoire from the marches and potpourris of the 1890s to the symphonic recordings of the late acoustical period. The data assembled bring together and organize materials that have lain scattered in archives, private collections, catalogues, trade journals, and in the research of more than three dozen discographers to provide as complete a survey of classical and light classical orchestral music recorded acoustically on cylinders and discs as sources allow. In this work, band records are excluded (except in the case of works originally written for winds). Where it is known and where it is pertinent to the recordings, biographical information about conductors and historical information about orchestras are added, as are all available discographic data, including reissues. The work is fully indexed. Of interest to historians and students, private collectors, archivists, and discographers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I know of no other book that could be called a predecessor or a competitor to this one, and I doubt that one will appear anytime soon. Claude Arnold has given us a much-needed reference, and he has done his work very well indeed.”–The New Amberola Graphic

About the Author

CLAUDE GRAVELEY ARNOLD, C.S.B., a member of the Congregation of St. Basil, is a Roman Catholic Priest.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 728 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; First Edition edition (September 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313300992
• ISBN-13: 978-0313300998
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,052,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a definitive reference book, April 3, 1998

By 

Jerome F. Weber "jfweber6" (Utica, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Orchestra on Record, 1896-1926: An Encyclopedia of Orchestral Recordings Made by the Acoustical Process (Discographies) (Hardcover)

This is one of the most detailed general discographies ever published. The author lists orchestral music recorded before 1926 by composer, establishing the authoritative title of the work, the precise identification of the performers, the recording date, issue date, original 78rpm issue numbers, and all LP and CD reissues (the last in footnotes). This is so much more than copying catalogue data. The information is authentic, the result of many years of research, not only by the author, but in consultation with a broad range of experts who have assisted. The format is readible. The author has left no stone unturned.