Since it's still a holiday weekend, I thought I would post a Weekend Gramophone entry that was originally intended for yesterday. It comes via the Transcription Service of Radio Canada.

A piano recital by the legendary French-Lithuanian Pianist Vlado Perlemuter, given at the Jeuneses Musicales du Canada in 1964.

Perlemuter was one of the great interpreters of the music of Ravel, as well as Debussy. Having performed their works for them while they were still alive. With Ravel, Perlemuter developed a friendship and introduced several of the composer's works to an audience.

In this concert he plays, not only Ravel and Debussy but also the music of Faure and Chopin and gives three encores to a wildly enthusiastic crowd.

Since the discs were only good for one year before being destroyed, it's not too likely a lot of copies are around. It's a great concert by a highly influential pianist and I haven't seen it reissued anywhere.

So enjoy the rarity.

A world premier this week. Henri Tomasi's Wind Quintet (1952) as performed by Quintett a Vent Francaise (Jean Pierre Rampal, Jacques Lancelot, Paul Hongne and Gilbert Coursier) in a live performance recorded by French Radio and released on transcription discs via the Masterworks From France radio series.

Tomasi was one of those widely respected and prolific composers who also doubled as a celebrated conductor throughout France and Europe from the 1930's until his death in 1971. This recording hasn't been reissued for some reason, or if it has it's long since vanished. And something of a rarity for you Jean Pierre Rampal fans. A great recording that's a little dodgy in parts but otherwise a historic document.

More next week.

The legendary Saxophonist Marcel Mule is featured on this weeks installment of the Weekend Gramophone. He's accompanied by the French Radio Symphony, conducted by the venerable Manuel Rosenthal in a performance of the Rhapsodie Orientale by Claude Debussy.

Although it hasn't been confirmed, the guess is this recording, made for French Radio, was recorded around 1955.

Whenever it was recorded it's a magnificent Radio example from one of France's premier and most legendary Saxophonists.

Finishing up the Holiday Weekend with a world premier recording, made for French Radio in 1957 of Jean-Michel Damase performing his Variations For Piano (re-titled Theme and Variations For Piano).

Damase, a celebrated contemporary French composer, divided his career early on between composition and performing. He is still very active and his works are regularly performed throughout the world. But it's always great to hear a first performance done by the composer, particularly when it hasn't been available for a very long time.

Enjoy what few minutes are left of this holiday (in the U.S.) weekend.

Maybe in anticipation of Labor Day next week, but here is a change of pace for Weekend Gramophone. A portion of a concert by The Eastman School of Music conducted by Howard Hanson, and devoted to the music of Modern American Composers (as of 1950). This weekend's entry is by Lyndol Mitchell, who was also a student at the Eastman-Rochester School of Music.

This piece is entitled Folk Suite and it's in three movements: 1. Cyndi 2. Ballad 3. Shivaree.

It was originally broadcast as part of the America's Composers series over NBC Radio on May 27, 1950.

Americana from mid-century. Something you hear very little about these days.

From the French Broadcasting Transcription Department, a live concert and the world premiere of the Symphony Number 1 by Henri Dutilleux as it was presented by the French National Orchestra, conducted by French music icon Roger Desormiere on June 7, 1951.

I'm not sure if this has been reissued as a historic and notable recording in French Music of the 20th century. If not, that's a shame as this was a major work by an important composer of the second half of the Twentieth Century.

Regardless, you get to hear it now anyway.

From an in-studio concert recorded by Radio France in 1957, a performance of Poeme for Horn and Orchestra by Charles Koechlin. With the Symphony Orchestra of Radio France conducted by Manuel Rosenthal.

Koechlin, at one time a frequently played and talked about French composer during the early part of the last century, has fallen on obscure times of late, with not very many of his prolific catalog of works performed or even recorded outside of France. And even in France he is not that much of a household name any more.

But during his time, Charles Koechlin was a much revered and popular composer. This piece, originally starting life as a Sonata for Horn and Piano was orchestrated in the late 1920's and enjoyed a good deal of popularity.

So here, by way of the Transcription Service of Radio France is the Poeme For Horn and Orchestra by Charles Koechlin.

Another broadcast from French Radio, this time featuring recent Prize winners from The Paris Conservatory of 1953. 21 year-old Pianist/Composer Roger Boutry playing one of his original compositions, Four Humouristic Dances.

Back over to the French Radio Transcription Services for this 1955 studio broadcast performance of Chabrier's Suite Pastorale as played by Orchestre National de Radio France conducted by music icon Manuel Rosenthal.

Rosenthal was an integral part in the French musical landscape of the 1920's and 1930's. He was responsible for many a premier and was very active in recording as well as live performances throughout the world from the 1920s onward. His death in 2003 robbed the musical world of an important and vital voice in French music.

A nice way to end out the weekend . . if I do say so myself.

(Note: Sorry about the wrong audio - it's fixed now - Gordon)
This weeks edition of the Gramophone heads to the lp rack for a brief respite. From an album of Piano Music by Ernest Bloch, here is Enfantines, a work from 1923 and bearing a strong hat-tip to Claude Debussy.

Maro Ajemian has been associated with countless "first recordings" of 20th century works. In addition to Ernest Bloch, she was also closely associated with Alan Hovhaness and recording world premiers of his and many other contemporary composers.

It is highly doubtful this album will ever see the light of reissue, it was recorded for MGM Records in the mid-1950's. Where those masters are is anyone's guess, but they are rumored to be in a vault somewhere in New Jersey. Maybe some day someone will be interested.

But in the meantime, here is Enfantiles by Ernest Block, played by Maro Ajemiam.