Remarkable cylinder sound: Vecsey's Orchestra, BA 28156

Discussions on Records, Recording, & Artists
Post Reply
User avatar
barnettrp21122
Victor IV
Posts: 1610
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:19 pm
Personal Text: "Did you ever stop to think that pleasure is a duty?" (Victor sales pamphlet)

Remarkable cylinder sound: Vecsey's Orchestra, BA 28156

Post by barnettrp21122 »

This cylinder has a striking "electrical" sound to me. Quite a nice recording for 1913!

BA 28156 The Flowers That We Love and Mariette (Vecsey's Orchestra, 1913)

https://app.box.com/s/kjlsik20v1g8w7ixfmspnv0iyafm96ik


The transfer was made with my John Petty pickup assembly:

http://www.christerhamp.se/phono/petty.html

I'd appreciate your comments!
Bob
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

martinola
Victor III
Posts: 961
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:30 pm

Re: Remarkable cylinder sound: Vecsey's Orchestra, BA 28156

Post by martinola »

Bob -

I completely agree. The range seems far expanded - especially in the high frequencies. The presence on the solo is great, but the sense of the whole orchestra in the room at the finale is quite remarkable. (Perhaps this is what I've heard others describe as "soundstage"?)

It would be interesting to know the particulars of the recording session. I have a Diamond Disc harp and flute duet from about that time that seems to have some of these qualities. I wonder if there were any similarities to the particular sessions like: shape of room, horn arrangement, recorder choice, etc.?

The pick up works nice. What kind of machine are you using for playback?

Martin

User avatar
barnettrp21122
Victor IV
Posts: 1610
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:19 pm
Personal Text: "Did you ever stop to think that pleasure is a duty?" (Victor sales pamphlet)

Re: Remarkable cylinder sound: Vecsey's Orchestra, BA 28156

Post by barnettrp21122 »

Glad you liked it, Martin. I figure the studio setup for both cylinders and discs must have been identical at the time this recording was made. Until 1915 separate takes were done for each format.

I used an Amberola V for playback. You can hardly do better with anything spring-wound, IMO!
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

User avatar
FellowCollector
Victor V
Posts: 2032
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:22 pm
Contact:

Re: Remarkable cylinder sound: Vecsey's Orchestra, BA 28156

Post by FellowCollector »

barnettrp21122 wrote:I used an Amberola V for playback. You can hardly do better with anything spring-wound, IMO!
Ohhh...the travesty, Bob! :lol: Now, you know that you prefer your Edison Opera over your Amberola V don't you? My Oh My Oh My... Whatever you do don't tell your Opera what you said. :lol:

Doug

User avatar
barnettrp21122
Victor IV
Posts: 1610
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:19 pm
Personal Text: "Did you ever stop to think that pleasure is a duty?" (Victor sales pamphlet)

Re: Remarkable cylinder sound: Vecsey's Orchestra, BA 28156

Post by barnettrp21122 »

FellowCollector wrote:
barnettrp21122 wrote:I used an Amberola V for playback. You can hardly do better with anything spring-wound, IMO!
Ohhh...the travesty, Bob! :lol: Now, you know that you prefer your Edison Opera over your Amberola V don't you? My Oh My Oh My... Whatever you do don't tell your Opera what you said. :lol:

Doug
All my machines get along very well with each other-each knows they're loved as individuals! :)
Ordinarily the Opera would be my first choice, of course, but the electric pickup can only be used in Diamond B or C carriages. Here's a picture of it:
John Petty Reproducer for Diamond B-C carriage.jpg
John Petty Reproducer for Diamond B-C carriage.jpg (17.89 KiB) Viewed 986 times
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

Post Reply