BENNY GOODMAN Joseph Szigeti BELA BARTOCK Contrasts for Violin Clarinet & Piano

$

80

Please note: This is only offered to the USA because I intend on over packing this and the International shipping cost, would be outrageous. In the USA I will pay any extra shipping costs.
2  12" 2 sided 78'S in album (& insert) BELA BARTOK's  Contrasts for Violin Clarinet & Piano  Bela Bartok piano, Joseph Szigeti violin,  Benny Goodman clarinet 1940 Columbia Masterworks set X-178 (MX 178-1; MX 178-4; MX-178-2; MX 178-3)
CONDITION (VJM 78 GRADING SCALE see below) DISCS: E very clean, i only see 5 or 6 superficial lines in total & 2 pin head indentations (together probably where a needle was dropped to heavily) none of which seemed to cause any sound. Only very minor surface sound.  COVER / SLEEVE: VG+ (standard grading) some staining on the back sleeve, the very top of the spine has about a 1/8th inch split on one side and a 1/4 inch split on the other.

The work is in three movements:

• Verbunkos - Recruiting Dance
• Pihen? - "Relaxation"
• Sebes - Fast Dance

This is the first-ever recording of this Bartok composition

"Contrasts (Sz. 111, BB 116) is a 1938 composition scored for clarinet-violin-piano trio by Béla Bartók (1881-1945).

It is based on Hungarian and Romanian dance melodies and has three movements with a combined duration of 17–20 minutes.

Bartók wrote the work in response to a letter from violinist Joseph Szigeti, although it was officially commissioned by

 clarinetist Benny Goodman. Bartók's only chamber piece to include a wind instrument, the piece is frequently performed

by the Verdehr Trio and was recorded for their Making of a Medium Series.

Szigeti originally wanted Bartók to write a short piece with two movements and a total duration of 6–7 minutes. This was most likely

so that a recording of it would be able to fit cleanly on a single gramophone record, with one movement on each side with capacity

 for approximately four minutes running time.The first version of the work, titled Rhapsody, received its premiere on 9 January 1939

 at Carnegie Hall, with Szigeti, Goodman, and pianist Endre Petri performing. Bartók subsequently added a middle movement and

changed the work's title to Contrasts. Szigeti, Goodman and Bartók first performed the final, three-movement work at Carnegie Hall

on 21 April 1940, and subsequently recorded it for Columbia. Bartók published the work in 1942 and dedicated it to Szigeti and Goodman."

VJM 78 GRADING SCALE

N:As new and unplayed (there are virtually no 78s that can 

categorically be claimed to be unplayed). 

N-:Nearly New, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage.

E+:Plays like new, with very, very few signs of handling, such as tiny 

scuffs from being slipped in and out of sleeves. 

E : Excellent. Still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs 

of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches. 

E-:Still shiny but without the luster of a new record, few light scratches.

V+ :is an average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled 

the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from 

distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced.

V : Very Good Moderate, even wear throughout, but still very playable

. Surface noise and scratches audible but not intrusive. 

V- :Quite playable still, but distortion and heavy greying in loud passages.

 Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well 

below music level.

G+: Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. 

Heavy scratches.

G : Good Quite seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still

higher than surface noise.

G- ; F ; and P

The VJM system has these designations for records in extremely poor condition.