Mengelberg's Dutchman

[beaumonde]

Here is an early (October, 1925) Orthophonic recording of Willem Mengelberg and the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra in Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" Overture. Just transferred this afternoon! 76.6 rpm. Oh, see if you can hear the side join (what I always ask my friends)...

Flying Dutchman Overture Victor 6547 (CVE-29791-6/29922-7; 6-Oct-25)

[transformingArt]

I happen to have same recording - very impressive for a very early electrical orchestral recording.
Thanks for sharing this.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

I've always liked this one. Thanks for posting it! But I've always wondered what that sound is at bout 5:14 minutes in. Cooling wax? Cutter noise?

Jim

[beaumonde]

Some odd sort of whistling, it doesn't sound like the typical whistling one hears in slightly later Victors, supposedly from the wax cooling too quickly. I have no idea, but it's definitely in the master.

English Columbias from this period also had a weird rumbling or LF distortion.

[AZ*]

Very respectable transfer. Thanks for sharing, Adam.

I also have that recording around here somewhere, but where? Hmmm.....

[Henry]

Some odd sort of whistling, it doesn't sound like the typical whistling one hears in slightly later Victors, supposedly from the wax cooling too quickly. I have no idea, but it's definitely in the master.

It's the trombone players fooling around in the back row. Typical behavior
Henry--retired symphony trombonist.

[larryh]

I also have most of Mengelberg's acoustic and early electric recordings. He is one of the best. I recently ran into the late Telefunken of the Frank symphony in D by him on 78's and the sound and technique is amazing. Made me go back and pull out some of the old acoustics to see if they had the detail the Frank had, they pretty much do even given the differences in recording.