Eckhardt-Gramatte: Bach Chaconne + E-G Concerto for Solo Violin - MB 1031

$

85

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This fascinating and rare LP from Discopaedia – Edition 4 in its “Masters of the Bow” series (MB 1031, Canadian pressing, white label, insert included) features the remarkable musician and composer Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Grammatté in extraordinarily rare electrical 78rpm recordings made by Odeon in Berlin in 1934 and 1935.

The exact contents are as follows, with timings shown in parenthesis:

Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Grammatte: Concerto in A minor fo Solo Violin (1925)

            I Allegro ma non troppo (8:21)

            II Molto sostenuto e espressivo (11:40)

            III Allegro e revoluto, giocoso (9:16)

            IV Piu lento (Epilogue) (3:20)

(rec. in Berlin 14 June – 22 October 1934 (issued by Odeon in Berlin in 1936)

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J.S. Bach: Chaconne, from the Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor BWV 1004

            V Chaconne (15:20)

(rec. in Berlin on 22 and 27 November 1935 (issued by Odeon in Berlin in 1936)

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Eckhardt-Grammatte’s Concerto in A minor for Solo Violin is an amazing, large-scale work lasting over 30 minutes that should be much better known. When Odeon made its pressing of this work copies were sent to Leopold Stokowski, Richard Strauss, Pablo Casals, and others. The Bach is similarly imbued with a visionary quality, a stark and uncompromising, yet richly woven performance that is quite unlike any other. The original Odeon 78s of the Bach can fetch upwards of a thousand dollars.

Aside from the great historical importance of these recordings, they preserve mesmerizing performances. All those who cherish the art of the violin will find this an enthralling album.

These are the only commercial recordings that survive of Eckhardt-Grammatte as violinist.

Included is a full-size insert with must-read liner notes by Ferdinand Eckhardt, printed in English only.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT. There is minor bumping/wear at corners, but really that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, and attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) this is a fine copy and playback is superb. The surface noise one hears is from the original 78s and does not reflect the quality of this copy. If you must have perfect surfaces, however, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a NM collector's copy.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

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