FEATURES
TCHAIKOVSKY SPEAKS AND WHISTLES
In 1890, three years before the end of his life, Tchaikovsky put his name to a cylinder recorder owned by a Mr Julius Block, and also spoke into it along with some friends including the famous pianist Anton Rubenstein.
Also present were Elizaveta Lavrovskaya (singer), Vassily Safonow (pianist and conductor), and Alexandra Hubert (pianist).
Marston Records sells a compilation of Block's cylinders.
Here is a copy of the "tape" (also on Youtube). It is made louder for impact. Tchaikovsky speaks (the higher voice) at 0:19, speaks some more, then whistles what sounds like a foretaste of the Rachmaninoff "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini".
The words spoken are
Rubinstein: What a wonderful thing [the phonograph]
Block: Finally
Lawrowskaja: Ah disgusting... how he dares slyly to name me
Safonow: (sings a scale incorrectly)
Tchaikovsky: This trill could be better!
Lawrowskaja: (sings)
Tchaikovsky: Block is good, but Edison is even better
Lawrowskaja: (sings)
Safonow: (in German) Peter Jurgenson in Moskau
Tchaikovsky: Who just spoke? It seems to have been Safonow (whistles a theme)
BRAHMS ON RECORD IN 1889!
Brahms at right (with waltz king Strauss)
In 1889, a guy called Pettifer recorded Brahms speaking and playing piano. Here it is... note that the quality is little, well, 19th century
SATYRICON SPOTTED IN AUSTRALIA
The less shy members of Satyricon, Norwegian metal band, pose near the Opera House...
These guys are the touring members of the band. The two pivots of the band stood
off-camera!
Photo: Copyright Simon J Harper
ELVIS PRESLEY "HARBOR LIGHTS"
Elvis' first sessions were the famous "Sun Sessions" in 1954/55, at Sam Philip's Sun Studio
Recorders, Memphis. From the sessions in 1954 is "Harbor Lights", an early 1950s crooner
favorite. Keith Richards has said that he never goes anywhere without a copy of the Sun Sessions.
HAMMOND B3 KINGS
Those in the know are into Hammond B3 organ! I recently went to The American Legion
at West 132nd Street, Harlem, to hear Seleno Clarke, Hammond maestro. He wasn't the
only Hammond player there: Michael Torsone featured on the B3 too. Seleno is at the
venue every Sunday night.
See the film of the night, made by MyMusicDiscovery
The master B3 player Dr Lonnie Smith had turned up a week or so before.
NEIL YOUNG'S "HARVEST" ALBUM
This album, from 1972, is like a live concert in front of you, but from your speakers. Some
of the tracks actually are live, such as "The Needle And The Damage Done", although it is
not immediately obvious. The latter track was recorded live at UCLA's (often classical)
concert venue Royce Hall.
The album has ten tracks, and they are all brilliant. The hit "Heart Of Gold" is one. Most
tracks are acoustic, but the legendary "Alabama" is a Young electric band classic. Two
tracks move into the world of classical orchestra arrangements, courtesy of arranger and
pianist for the album, Jack Nietsche: "A Man Needs A Maid" and "There's A World".
COMPOSER MEDTNER
Brief comments and scherzo by pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin
LA BELLA CLASSICAL GUITAR STRINGS
"CONCERT SERIES"
Just wanted to say that Newburgh, New York company La Bella make excellent guitar
strings: I bought a couple of packs at Mannys in Manhattan and have put them on a Harmony sixties spanish acoustic guitar.
I bought La Bella 2001 Medium tension silver plated wound strings. They are nice and
thick, and feel and sound great.
There is also a more expensive line that is said (by Mannys) to be great for studio
recording.
La Bella make strings in five different tensions for classical guitar and three for flamenco.
That's variety.
Some famous artists use LaBella strings: they are plucked, says the website, by no less
than the following...
Ron Carter
Gipsy Kings
Gilberto Gil
Bryan Adams
Allan Holdsworth
Tony Iommi
John Pizzarelli
Stanley Clark
Bunny Brunel
Brian Bromberg
Lincoln Goines
An interesting aspect is the page where the company lists artists who use LaBella strings...
the double bass list is impressive:
John Adams
Robert Amster
Phil Bowler
Ron Carter (Heard by MMD with the Michel Legrand Trio at Birdland, New York)
James Cammack (Ahmad Jamal Trio: heard by MMD at The Blue Note, New York)
Jeff Chambers
Bob Cranshaw
Kyle Eastwood
David Enos
Ed Friedland
Nire Masahiro
Victor Miranda
Massimo Moriconi
Martin Pizzarelli
Nat Reeves
Mike Richmond
Harvie S
Avery Sharpe (McCoy Tyner Trio: heard by MMD at The Jazz Cafe, London)
Giovanni Tommaso
Mads Vinding
Miroslav Vitous
Buster Williams
John B. Williams
The electric bass list is interesting too: Stanley Clarke, Jason Newstead
(Metallica/Ozzy Osborne) and Nikki Sixx (!) use LaBella strings.
The website is