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Giorgi (George) Vintilescu (sometimes Vintilesco) led a famous Orchestra in prewar (WWI) Germany. You may call him the “German King of Ragtime”.
From February 1911 on, he played with his Orchestra at the famous “Palais de Danse” in Berlin. At the end of 1911 he started his recording career. Till 1914 he record for various companies a huge number of tunes – most of them in the genre of modern dances. Also a lot of ragtime compositions from America. Sometimes with the original titles on the labels, but also such renamings like “Affenliebe” (Monkey Love) = Down in Jungle Town…

The Palais de Danse Orchestra wasn’t the only band in Germany to record ragtime tunes, but almost all other Bands before 1918 are regular Brass Bands. Not so the Vintilescu Orchestra. He had a so called “French (or Parisian) Instrumentation”: 1 or two cornets, French horn, trombone, piccolo and clarinet, up to three violins, cello, piano, drums. This gives the Orchestra a rather “modern” sound.

Most probably born in Romania, Vintilescu disappeared after 1914 from the recording studios – and Germany. A lone session for the Vox company 1923 by a “Orchestra Vintilescu” is probably led by Constantin Vintilescu; his brother.

Enjoy these early ragtime tunes from Berlin before the great war. Link to the sound files:
http://grammophon-platten.de/e107_plugi ... .view.34.0

Thanks for linking to this site. The orchestra is very exciting to hear, a great set of records of period music well done.

Larry

The music makes me think of the recordings that James Reese Europe's orchestra did for Victor around that time.edisonplayer

After long research, we are now able to provide a more comprehensive biography about the first „King of Ragtime“ in Europe:

Article (in English): http://grammophon-platten.de/page.php?583

Enjoy reading!