The Guitar in America: Victorian Era to Jazz Age

Discography

- 223 - - DISCOGRAPHY 0 Contemporary fans of the banjo, Hawaiian guitar, and even ukulele can find LP, cassette, and CD reissues of some of the important players of those instruments from the late 1920s and early 1930s. These recordings feature popular performers like banjoists George van Eps and Vess Ossman and ukulele players like Ukulele Ike (Cliff Edwards). But few guitarists active in the BMG community left audio recordings, and this handful of recordings remains unavailable to the general public at this time. In recent years, however, individuals and ensembles have recreated some of these sounds; their recordings give twenty-first-century listeners an idea of what the BMG movement might have sounded like. The following recordings are available as CDs. SOLO AND DUO GUITAR American Pioneers of the Classic Guitar: Parlor Gems and Concert Works of William Foden and Justin Holland, Douglas Back [guitar] (1994: Mentos Press SMM3023). A selection of some of the best from two of America’s greatest nineteenth-century guitarist/composers. Includes Foden’s renowned settings of “Sextette from Lucia di Lammermoor” and “Alice Where Art Thou?” Great American Marches Polkas and Grand Concert Waltzes, Douglas Back [guitar] (1997; out of print) An anthology of compositions and arrangements by William Foden, Charles de Janon, William O. Bateman, and others. Includes arrangements of works by John Philip Sousa and Louis Moreau Gottschalk. Limited availability at The Hispanic American Guitar, Douglas Back [guitar] (2003: MelBay MB97100BCD). Solo works by Luis T. Romero, Manuel Y. Ferrer, Charles de Janon, J. B. Coupa, and others. The CD accompanies an anthology of print music. Parlor Guitar at the Patterson Inn, Corning, N.Y., William Groome [guitar] (2003). Bill Groome graciously sent me this self-produced recording as I was beginning work on this book. His live performance features guitar solos by Charles Dorn, P. W. Newton, A. J. Weidt, William Foden, and others. Bill, playing a period guitar by the C. Bruno Company, recreates a parlor performance from the era and demonstrates the charm of so much of the BMG music directed at amateur players. William Groome–Parlor Guitar: Nature, William Groome [guitar]. This CD available in 2007, features late-Victorian guitar solos inspired by nature. Composers include William Foden, DISCOGRAPHY - 224 P . W. Newton, Meta Bischoff-Henning, W. L. Hayden, and others. (William Groome, 11 Powderhouse Rd., Corning, NY14830 or parlourwill@yahoo.com) American Music for Two Guitars, Phil Mathieu and Giorgia Cavallaro [duo guitars] (2005). This recording features guitar duets of William Foden and the little-known Carrie V. Hayden, daughter of the hyper-prolific Winslow Hayden. The CD includes a “Spanish Carnival (Bolero),” numerous marches, and a charming setting of “ ‘Tis the Last Rose of Summer,” as well as some contemporary works. Moonlight Reverie: 19th-Century Music for Guitar, David Raphaelson with Salvatore Salvaggio [guitars] (1998: FMD-1). Playing a Martin & Coupa guitar from the mid-nineteenth century, Raphaelson presents a combination of original guitar works as well as his own arrangements. Composers include Charles Dorn, Antonio Lopes, Justin Holland, and Luis T. Romero. PLECTRUM ARCH-TOP GUITAR Tip Toe Through the Tulips, Nick Lucas [guitar & vocals] (2001: ASV Living Era 5329). Parting the Clouds, Nick Lucas [guitar & vocals] (2001: Soundies SCD 4134). Reissues of Lucas’s recordings are generally easy to find, but they focus principally on his singing rather than his guitar work. In addition to the requisite “Tip Toe Through the Tulips” (his most famous composition), be on the lookout for his guitar solos, “Pickin’ the Guitar” and “Teasing the Frets.” Stringing the Blues, Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti (2000: Koch Jazz KOC-CD-7888). This is but one of numerous CD reissues of historic recordings of jazz and popular guitarists from the 1920s and 1930s. Released originally in 1962 on LP, these recordings present jazz guitarist Lang with jazz violinist Venuti in a variety of settings from 1927 to 1933. SMALL ENSEMBLES The Banjo Goes Highbrow, Douglas Back [classical banjo with piano and guitar] (Belmando Records BMS3003-2). Includes works by some of the BMG era’s most famous banjo soloists, including Alfred Farland and George van Eps. Accompaniment includes guitar and piano. The Big Trio Reprise, Douglas Back, Richard Walz, and Andrew Zohn [classical banjo, mandolin, and guitar] (Belmando Records BM53001-2). This modern trio recreates the sound of The Big Trio’s historic 1911–12 tour. Comprised of William Foden (guitar), Fred Bacon (banjo), and Giuseppe Pettine (mandolin), The Big Trio ruled as BMG royalty in the early teens. MANDOLIN ORCHESTRAS All the...