The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Tis the season to show the festive stuff. I thought I would start with an early Berliner.

Here is a medley of christmas carols on the oldest flat record I own. Its a Nicole single sided disk (about 1903 - 1905) which is cardboard with a layer of possibly vulcanised rubber on top (?). This is one of a set of 2 disks both of which are 7" in size. They are played by the British Imperial band and if anyone can identify any of the carols I would be very grateful. I don't recognised any of them!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m-BiRJyRCE[/youtube]

I am humbled.

As a music major in college, veteran of community choruses, and music director for an Episcopal Church, I felt sure I 'd know at least one tune, but I did not recognized any of them...

Neat recording though ! Do we know if the Imperial Military Band was in England proper, or in the Imperial possessions ?

[youtubehq]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWWUOLkkn3g[/youtubehq]

This is "The First Nowell" sung in Korean, by a Korean tenor named In-Beom Lee (Korean; 이인범, 1914 ~ 1974). I am sure many of you wouldn't have much chance to hear a Christmas carol sung in Korean! I also have a 1942 Korean Victor record album with lots of eminent Korean operatic singers singing Christmas Hymns and stuff which I'll post on my YT channel until Christmas.

Thanks for posting. Very nice. If you have a way to get it onto an MP3, I'd put it on my Christmas Eve playlist.

Swing Band Heaven wrote:Here is a medley of christmas carols on the oldest flat record I own. Its a Nicole single sided disk (about 1903 - 1905) which is cardboard with a layer of possibly vulcanised rubber on top (?). This is one of a set of 2 disks both of which are 7" in size. They are played by the British Imperial band and if anyone can identify any of the carols I would be very grateful. I don't recognised any of them!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m-BiRJyRCE[/youtube]

I think the last tune is "Faith of Our Fathers", which, while not EXACTLY a Christmas tune, could have been sung at Christmastime.

Here comes Santa claus!!!!! .

Not sure how to move a post from another thread into this one, so here's a link to an earlier thread on the topic of Xmas records:
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ?f=3&t=271

What about the "Bunch from Orange? What price to does this title fetch in the market these days?

Couch Potato wrote:What about the "Bunch from Orange? What price to does this title fetch in the market these days?

I like the label on that disc. Fairly plain, utilitarian, but offset with a simple pleasing decorative flourish, like a single bar of chocolate in your Christmas stocking. Very Edison.