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Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:36 am
by marcapra
I just played a new acquisition. The previous owner wrote his name and the date he bought it inside the album, May 5, 1941. It is Columbia M-388, Walter Piston, String Quartet No. 1. It was composed in 1933. The sound on these 78s was so good it felt like the Dorian Quartet was in my room playing for me. The sound of the cello was particularly fine! From the first bars of this quartet I was floored. Amazing sounds, and I'm mostly unfamiliar with Piston's work. Now I will look for more. I have read that Piston's Quintet is a masterpiece.
Re: Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:32 pm
by SteveM
Sorry I missed this earlier! I'll be on the lookout for it. I've been taking refuge in the classics, of late.
Re: Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 4:12 am
by marcapra
Steve, I know what you mean. Even though I love classical music, I have been telling people if they have classical 78s to donate or dump them. But when they are good, they are very good especially when they are in excellent condition from one owner homes. Another quartet that really affected me was the Bartok String Quartet No. 2. So I've started collecting classical and opera 78s again. I would love to find some Edgard Varese 78s like Ionisation.
Re: Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 11:10 am
by drh
marcapra wrote:I just played a new acquisition. The previous owner wrote his name and the date he bought it inside the album, May 5, 1941. It is Columbia M-388, Walter Piston, String Quartet No. 1. It was composed in 1933. The sound on these 78s was so good it felt like the Dorian Quartet was in my room playing for me. The sound of the cello was particularly fine! From the first bars of this quartet I was floored. Amazing sounds, and I'm mostly unfamiliar with Piston's work. Now I will look for more. I have read that Piston's Quintet is a masterpiece.
A friend's nifty, but now inactive, blog called "Shellackophile" has several entries about Piston that you may find interesting:
https://shellackophile.blogspot.com/search/label/Piston
A Piston 78 he doesn't mention (or, if he did, I missed it) is the following:
Piston: Prelude and Allegro (for Organ and Orchestra). Biggs; BSO/Koussevitzky. Victor 11-9262-A, -B, 12".
Re: Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 11:12 am
by drh
marcapra wrote:...Even though I love classical music, I have been telling people if they have classical 78s to donate or dump them. ...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 11:12 pm
by BillH_NJ
drh wrote:marcapra wrote:...Even though I love classical music, I have been telling people if they have classical 78s to donate or dump them. ...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My reaction as well!!!
Re: Walter Piston's String Quartet no. 1
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2020 1:37 am
by gramophone-georg
marcapra wrote:Steve, I know what you mean. Even though I love classical music, I have been telling people if they have classical 78s to donate or dump them. But when they are good, they are very good especially when they are in excellent condition from one owner homes. Another quartet that really affected me was the Bartok String Quartet No. 2. So I've started collecting classical and opera 78s again. I would love to find some Edgard Varese 78s like Ionisation.
I had a copy of that on Royal Blue. I gave it to a close friend who was half of the "Varese- Serabande" label from its inception until it was bought by Sony a few years ago. He transferred it to CD and framed the original for his office.
It was interesting but not my thing.