Disc One:
01. - 06. (arr. Mackerras) Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV.351 [20'59]
Wind Ensemble conducted by Charles Mackerras
(recorded April 1959; originally issued as Pye Golden Guinea LP GSGC14001in 1964)
07. (arr. Priestman) The Water Music. Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV.348 [26'25]
08. (arr. Priestman) The Water Music. Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV.349 [7'25]
09. (arr. Priestman) The Water Music. Suite No. 3 in G Major, HWV.350 [9'45]
Philomusica of London conducted by Thurston Dart
(recorded 1959; all originally issued as L'Oiseaux Lyre SOL 60010 in 1959)
01. Zadok The Priest, HWV.258. Anthem for the Coronation of George II [8'04]
Geraint Jones Singers and Orchestra
(recorded June & July 1958; originally issued as DG Archiv LP ARC 3133)
02. Fugue in F major for organ, HWV.611 [2'39]
Thurston Dart- organ of St John's Church Wolverhampton
(recorded October 1957; originally issued 1958 as mono only LP HMV CLP1212)
03. (arr. Whittacker) Berenice, HWV.38. Overture 'Minuet' [4'38]
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Mackerras
(recorded April 1956; originally issued 1957 as HMV EP 7EP7031}
04. - 11. arr. Mackerras) Concerto a due cori No. 2 in F major [23'44]
Pro Arte Orchestra conducted by Charles Mackerras
(recorded March 1959; originally issued as Pye LP GSGC14001in 1964.)
12. - 14. (arr. Dart) Concerto for Lute and Harp in B-flat major, HWV.294 [13'48]
15. - 18.. (arr. Dart) Concerto Grosso in C major, HWV.318 'Alexander's Feast' [16'54]
Desmond Dupre- lute; Osian Ellis- harp; Philomusica of London conducted by Granville Jones.
(recording dates unknown; both originally issued in 1960 as L'Oiseau Lyre LP SOL 60013.)
Major Classics M2CD014 (2 CD set issued in 2012)
(flacs, booklet, cover and inlay scans)
This rather curious collection on a label I know nothing about, turned up recently in our local sicount store. It draws together stereo recordings made for Pye, L'Oiseaux Lyre, HMV and DG Archiv in the late 1950s. They mostly feature Charles Mackerras and Thurston Dart as conductor, performer or editor/arranger. Period instruments are not used but most of the performances otherwise display HIP credentials - other than the very romantic arrangement and performance of the Overture to Berenice.
To provide some historical background on the recordings, I have included scans of the sleeves of the original LP issues where I could find them and also the booklet from the Testament issue of Music for the Royal Fireworks. I have also added further known recording information in the comments section of each track.
This first recording of the Fireworks Music in the original scoring for wind band is, of course, famous - not just for the excellent playing and recorded sound but for drawing together many of London's finest wind players in the middle of the night for this recording. Unfortunately, Major Classics provide no information about their sources but his transfer seems to be different to Testament's and it also omits the repeat of Minuet II with fireworks added.
This may also be the first stereo issue of Thurston Dart's Water Music recordings although I see that Barry Coward has subsequently issued the three suites in stereo on his Beulah label. Unfortunately, Major Classics have not tracked the three suites and I have included a 'contents' text file with my best guess of the movements of each suite.
Download from MEGA.