A WILLIAM PRIMROSE DISCOGRAPHY
Though not exhaustive, this
discography represents a fairly complete account of the recording activity of
William Primrose, including commercial recordings completed but (for whatever
reason) never released. It is not intended
as a listing of every issue of every recording he made. It is, rather, a representative listing of
issues most commonly found in North America of each performance in disc
format. This includes 78-rpm (both 10-
and 12-inch records); 45-rpm (both regular and extended-play 7-inch records);
LP (or 33 ⅓-rpm, 10- and 12-inch records); and 16-inch 33 ⅓-rpm
transcription discs, which were pressed in limited number for delayed broadcast
both in the US and overseas. CD issues
are included, but it should be noted that some might already be
out-of-print. A few performances
available on commercial video releases are listed, but not open-reel, cassette
or eight-track tape versions of his commercial records. Recording dates, where known, are given in
brackets. Matrix numbers (mx.) are only
given in the case of unpublished recordings.
Monaural versions of recordings released in stereo are not listed unless
there was no stereo issue found for that specific catalogue number. Unless
otherwise noted, all entries denote his performances as a violist.
Primrose stated in his
memoirs that he participated in recordings by the London String Quartet during
his tenure in that ensemble from 1930-35.
To date, the only performance from this period that has been traced is the
Beethoven Quartet Op. 132 in A-minor.
Unfortunately, it did not seem to be the practice of Columbia Records to
list the personnel for their LSQ issues on the disc labels or in the
accompanying booklets, so one must rely on somewhat incomplete recording ledgers
at EMI for this information. For the
recording dates and issue numbers of LSQ discs, as well as information on
Primrose’s unissued Columbia tests on violin, I am indebted to Mr. Roger
Beardsley, master producer of historic recording reissues and compiler of
several collections of Primrose recordings for the Pearl CD label. I would also like to thank Mr. Jon M.
Samuels, the wonderful producer, transfer engineer and tireless researcher of
recording session data, for supplying information on Primrose’s studio activity
at Victor, and later, RCA. His extensive
knowledge of historic recordings has been invaluable. Mr. Kevin Mostyn, who has done detailed
research on recording activity by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has provided
me with information about Armed Forces Radio transcriptions that helps to
determine which AFRS program contains the Primrose / Koussevitzky performance
of Harold In Italy that preceded their studio sessions. Thanks also to Mr. Tully Potter and Mr.
Malcolm Walker who have helped to clear up the matter of the aborted 1956
sessions for the Mozart Quintets with the Griller Quartet on Decca and their
subsequent rerecording in stereo for Vanguard in 1959. And finally, many thanks to Mr. Eric Wen of
Buddulph Recordings whose dedication to the preservation of historic string
performances has made it easier to find and enjoy most of Primrose’s 78-rpm
recordings in the digital format. His
research has unearthed a surprising handful of unissued Victor 78s, and it is
from his notes that I was able to supply information on those sides that have
yet to be published in any form.
Quite a few “live”
performances by Primrose exist as one-of-a-kind copies on audio- and videotape,
or on acetate disc, but I have not included them here. Most Primrose broadcasts involve performances
of repertoire that he recorded in the studio. But there are some tantalizing
examples of music not included in this discography circulating among
collectors: performances of the Benjamin
Dale Romance from his Suite for Viola, the Barbirolli concerto on themes
of Handel, the Telemann Concerto and Hindemith’s Kammermusik #5 among
others, all survive to whet the appetite of the Primrose fan. His talent deserves to be shared and
appreciated by all, especially his precious legacy of performances outside the
recording studio. I would like to
suggest that if anyone has copies of unusual noncommercial recordings by
Primrose, I would love to hear from them.
Let’s preserve every tiny bit of his amazing artistry.
Dave
Hermann
|
Aguirre, Julián |
Huella,
Op. 49 [12/17/1947] (w/
David Stimer, piano) |
RCA
Victor 12-1109 (78) RCA
Victor 49-0918 (45) The
Strad 7 (CD) Biddulph
80147 (CD) |
|
anon.—arr. Hughes |
Londonderry
Air [11/1935] (w/
Sidonie Goossens, harp) |
English Columbia DX 720 (78) Columbia
7378M (78) 2-Biddulph
LAB 131/2 (CD) Pearl
GEM 0207 (CD) ASV
CD 5209 (CD) |
|
Arensky, Anton—Elman |
Serenade [1927] (William
Primrose, violin with piano accompaniment) |
English Columbia 4633 (78) Masters
of the Bow MB 1030 (LP) Pearl
GEM 0207 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S. |
Air (from Orchestral Suite #3) [12/17/1947] (w/
David Stimer, piano) |
RCA Victor 12-1109 (78) RCA Victor 49-0918 (45) Biddulph
80147 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Kreisler |
Gavotte from Partita in E, BWV 1006 [7/19/1923] (William Primrose, violin w/ Herbert Younge Templeman, piano) |
HMV
mx. Bb3294 (78-unpublished) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Kreisler |
Gavotte from Partita in E, BWV 1006 [6/8/1927] (William
Primrose, violin with piano accompaniment) |
English Columbia 9258 (78) Masters
of the Bow MB 1030 (LP) Pearl
GEM 0207 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Templeton |
Ich
ruf zu Dir [7/24/1939] (w/
Joseph Kahn, piano) |
Victor
mx. BS 038123 (78-unpublished- to be released on CD by Biddulph) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Tertis |
Komm
süsser Tod [10/12/1945] (w/
Vernon de Tar, organ) |
RCA
Victor 11-9117 (78) RCA
Victor 49-0293 (45) 2-Biddulph
LAB 131/2 (CD) Pearl
GEMM CD 9252 (CD) Doremi DHR-7764 (CD) Grammofono
2000 GMF
78880 (CD) Fono
“Strings” QT
99-375 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S.—de Tar |
Komm
süsser Tod (w/
Vernon de Tar, organ) |
Columbia
AAL 33 (10” LP) Columbia
ML 5226 (LP) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Suzuki |
Three
Minuets [11/1976] (w/
Yuko Hirose, piano) |
Fontec
FPCD 2248 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Suzuki |
Musette
[11/1976] (w/
Yuko Hirose, piano) |
Fontec
FPCD 2248 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S.—Auer |
Sicilienne
[2/6/1925] (William
Primrose, violin with Ivor Newton, piano) |
HMV mx. Bb5710 (Takes 1 & 2; 78- unpublished) |
|
Bach, J.S. |
Sonata
#2 in A for Violin and Piano [12/3/1923] (William
Primrose, violin with Herbert Younge Templeman, piano) |
2-HMV D 939/40 (78) Masters
of the Bow MB 1030 (LP) Pearl
GEM 0207 (CD) 3-Pearl
BVA II—Andante only (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S. |
Suites
for Viola Unaccompanied #s 1 in G, BWV 1007; 2 in D-minor, BWV 1008; 3 in C, BWV 1009; 4 in E-flat, BWV 1010 & 5 in C- minor, BWV 1011 [8/1978] |
2-Biddulph
LAB 131/2 (CD) |
|
Bach, J.S. |
3-Part
Inventions (“Sinfonias”) #s 3, 4 & 9 [8/15, 16 & 18/1960] (w/
Jascha Heifetz, violin & Gregor Piatigorsky, cello) |
RCA
Victor LSC 2563 (LP) RCA
Gold Seal 7964-2-RG (CD) BMG
09026-61768-2 (CD) |
|
Bach, C.P.E.—Primrose |
Solfeggietto
[7/24/1939] (w/
Joseph Kahn, piano) |
RCA
Victor 10-1098 (78-to be released on CD by Biddulph) Camden
CAE 244 (45) |
|
Bach, W.F. (attr. Graun) |
Sonata in C-minor (ed. Pessl) [11/23/1938] (w/
Yella Pessl, harpsichord) |
2-Victor M 807 (78) Biddulph
LAB 146 (CD) |
|
Bartók, Béla |
Viola Concerto (ed. Serly) (w/ The New Symphony
Orchchestra of London, Tibor Serly, conductor) |
Bartók
Records BRS 309 (LP) World
Records CM 20 (LP) Bartók
Records BR 1309 (CD) Otaken
Records TKC-308 (CD-Japan) |
|
Bartók, Béla |
Viola Concerto (ed. Serly) [1/10/1951] (w/ The Concertgebouw
Orchestra, Otto
Klemperer, conductor) |
Music
& Arts CD 752 (CD) Pristine
Audio 296942 (MP3 download or CD-R version of
above CD) Archiphon
ARC 101 (CD) Archipel
ARPCD 0142 (CD) Audiophile
NEW 547 (CD) Maestro
History (TIM) 203184 (10-CD set) Q-Disc
97018 (14-CD set) |
|
Bartók, Béla |
Viola Concerto (ed. Serly) [11/23/1950] (w/
l’Orchestre National, Ernest Bour, conductor) |
Vogue
Contrepoint VG 671 672 006 (CD) |
|
Bartók, Béla |
Viola Concerto (ed. Serly) (w/
The Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Eugen Jochum, conductor) |
Green
Hill GH-0012 (CD) |
|
Bax, Sir Arnold |
Sonata for Viola and Piano
[7/22/1937] (w/ Harriet Cohen, piano) |
7-Columbia M 386 (78) Doremi DHR-7708 (CD) Pearl GEMM CD 9453 (CD) Biddulph
LAB 148 (CD) Dutton
CDBP 9751 (CD) |
|
Bayly, T.H.—Suzuki |
Long, Long Ago [11/1976] (w/ Yuko Hirose, piano) |
Fontec
FPCD 2248 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Duo (“With Two Eyeglasses Obbligato”) [8/29/1941] (w/ Emanuel Feuermann, cello) |
RCA Victor 11-8620 (78) Victrola VIC 1476 (LP) Biddulph
LAB 088 (CD) Opus
Kura OPK 2044 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van— Suzuki |
Minuet
in G [11/1976] (w/
Yuko Hirose, piano) |
Fontec
FPCD 2248 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van— Primrose |
Notturno in D, Op. 42 [12/17/1947] (w/ David Stimer, piano) |
3-RCA Victor DM 1336 (78) 3-RCA Victor WDM 1336 (45) Biddulph
80147 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van— Primrose |
Notturno in D, Op. 42 “live”
perf. (w/ David Stimer, piano) |
Voice of America “Concert
Instrumental” CI 46/47 (2 16” LPs) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van— Primrose |
Notturno in D, Op.
42: Polacca [1946] (w/ David Stimer, piano) |
Viking Films Pictoreels (16mm film) Shar
WP-2VHS (video tape from 16mm film source) Shar WP-2DVD (DVD version
of above) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van— Primrose |
Notturno in D, Op. 42 (omitting mvts. III & IV and all repeats) [9/9/1958] (w/ David Stimer, piano) |
EMI Classic Archive 0946 3
38798 9 8 (DVD entitled “Classic Archive – Highlights;” from television broadcast
filmed at BBC Studios, London) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Quartet in E-flat, Op. 16 [12/28 & 29/1956] (w/ Festival Quartet
members Victor Babin, piano; Szymon Goldberg, violin &
Nikolai Graudan, cello) |
2-RCA Victor LSC 6068 (LP) RCA LM 2200 (LP) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Quartet #4 in c, Op. 18/4
– mvts. I, II & IV (w/ Primrose Quartet
members Oscar Shumsky & Josef Gingold, violins & Harvey
Shapiro, cello) |
Performer’s Domain PD-1030
(CD-R) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Quartet #9 in C, Op. 59/3 (w/ Primrose Quartet
members Oscar Shumsky & Josef Gingold, violins & Harvey
Shapiro, cello) |
Performer’s Domain PD-1030
(CD-R) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Quartet #14 in a, Op. 132 [4/2
& 3/1934] (w/ London String Quartet
members John Pennington & Thomas Petre, violins & Warwick
Evans, cello) |
4-Columbia M 193 (78) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Quintet in C, Op. 29 (w/ The Léner String
Quartet: Jenö Léner and Joseph
Smilovitz, violins; Sándor Roth, viola & Imre Hartmann, cello
) |
4-Columbia M 294 (78) English Columbia set 285 (78) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Quintet in C, Op. 29 (w/ The Sydney String
Quartet: Harry Curby
& Dorel Tincu violins; Alexandru Todiescu, viola &
Nathan Waks, cello) |
Cherry Pie LA 07860 (LP) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Serenade in D, Op. 8 [8/15
& 22/1960] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin
& Gregor Piatigorsky, cello) |
RCA Victor LSC 2550 (LP) RCA Gold Seal 7870-2-RG
(CD) BMG 09026-61756-2 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Trio in E-flat, Op. 3 [3/28
& 29/1957] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin
& Gregor Piatigorsky, cello) |
RCA Victor LM 2180 (LP) 6-RCA CRM6-2264 (LP) 2-BMG 09026-61741-2 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Trio in G, Op. 9/1 [3/27/1957] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin
& Gregor Piatigorsky, cello) |
RCA Victor LM 2186 (LP) 6-RCA CRM6-2264 (LP) 2-BMG 09026-61741-2 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Trio in D, Op. 9/2 [8/17
& 22/1960] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin
& Gregor Piatigorsky, cello) |
RCA Victor LSC 2563 (LP) RCA Gold Seal 7873-2-RG
(CD) BMG 09026-61773-2 (CD) |
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van |
Trio in C-minor, Op. 9/3 [3/29
& 30/1957] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin
& Gregor Piatigorsky, cello) |
RCA Victor LM 2186 (LP) 6-RCA CRM6-2264 (LP) 2-BMG 09026-61741-2 (CD) |
|
Benjamin, Arthur— Primrose |
Four Pieces: Jamaican Rumba; Matty Rag; From San Domingo & Cookie [5/22/1945] (w/ Vladimir Sokoloff, piano) |
RCA Victor 11-8947 (78) Biddulph LAB 146 (CD) |
|
Benjamin, Arthur |
Elegy, Waltz and Toccata [5/22/1945] (w/ Vladimir Sokoloff, piano) |
4-RCA Victor DM 1061 (78) Biddulph Lab 146 (CD) Pearl GEMM CD 9253 (CD) |
|
Benjamin, Arthur— Primrose |
Jamaican Rumba (w/ Al Goodman & his
orchestra) |
Armed Forces Radio Service
“Basic Musical Library” C-146 (16” LP) (16” LP) Doremi DHR-7764 (CD) |
|
Benjamin, Arthur— Primrose |
Jamaican Rumba [ca.
3/1944] (w/ piano accompaniment) |
Armed Forces Radio Service
“Concert Hall” program #2 (16” LP) Armed Forces Radio Service
“Concert Hall” program #21 (16” LP) V-Disc mx. VP 549-D4TC 96
(78— unpublished—test approved 3/23/1944) Redmond Nostalgia CD-2587
(CD) |
|
Benjamin, Arthur |
Romantic Fantasy [7/20/1942] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin;
Werner Janssen & The Janssen
Symphony of Los Angeles) |
Victor mx. PCS 072474/—78 (78- unpublished) |
|
Benjamin, Arthur |
Romantic Fantasy [10/1/1956] (w/ Jascha Heifetz, violin;
The RCA Symphony, Izler
Solomon, conductor) |
RCA LM-2149 (LP) RCA Victor LSC 2767 (LP) BMG 09026-61762-2 (CD) |
|
Berlioz, Hector |
Harold in Italy, Op. 16 [1/2/1939] (w/ The NBC Symphony,
Arturo Toscanini, conductor) |
Recital Records RR 526 (LP) Music & Arts ATRA 614
(CD) Music & Arts CD 4614
(CD—reissue in improved sound) |
Berlioz, Hector |
Harold in Italy, Op. 16 [11/11/1944] (w/ The Boston Symphony,
Serge Koussevitzky, conductor) |
Armed Forces Radio Service
“Boston Symphony” program #53 (16” LP) |
|
Berlioz, Hector |
Harold in Italy, Op. 16 [11/28/1944] (w/ The Boston Symphony,
Serge Koussevitzky, conductor) |
5-RCA Victor DM 989 (78) RCA LCT 1146 (LP) Doremi DHR-7708 (CD) Dutton CDEA 5013 (CD) Biddulph WHL 028 (CD) Naxos 8110316 (CD—remastered from RCA LCT 1146, which in turn was produced using lacquer originals in 1954) Membran/Artone 222344 (4-CD
set) |
|
Berlioz, Hector |
Harold in Italy, Op. 16 [10/27/1946] (w/ The NBC Symphony,
Arturo Toscanini, conductor) |
Armed Forces Radio Service
“Symphonies of the World” program #13 (16” LP) 4-Arturo Toscanini Society ATS 1055 (LP) Doremi DHR-7784 (CD) Disco Archivia 150 (CD-R –
Italy) |
|
Berlioz, Hector |
Harold in Italy, Op. 16 [11/13
& 15/1951] (w/ Royal Philharmonic,
Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor) |
Columbia ML 4542 (LP) Odyssey Y 33286 (LP) Sony MPK 47679 (CD) |
|
Berlioz, Hector |
Harold in Italy, Op. 16
[3/31/1958] (w/ The Boston Symphony,
Charles Munch, conductor) |
RCA Victor LSC 2228 (LP) RCA Gold Seal AGL1-1526
(LP) BMG 09026-62582-2 (CD) BMG 88697-08280-2 (SACD) |
|
Bloch, Ernest |
Meditation and
Processional (w/ David Stimer, piano) |
Capitol P 8355 (LP) |
|
Bloch, Ernest |
Suite Hebraďque (w/ David Stimer, piano) |