Description

ALBERT SPALDING (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AUGUST 15, 1888 – MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, MAY 26, 1953)

He was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 15, 1888. His mother, Marie Boardman, was a contralto and pianist. His father, James Walter Spalding, and uncle, Hall-of-Fame baseball pitcher Albert Spalding, created the A.G. Spalding sporting goods company. Spalding studied the violin privately in Manhattan, New York City and Florence, Italy, and at the conservatories in Paris and Bologna; the latter graduated him with honors when he was fourteen. Following his debut in Paris on June 6, 1906, he appeared successfully in London and Vienna. His first American appearance as soloist came with the New York Symphony on November 8, 1908. A year later he soloed with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra when that orchestra toured the United States. In 1916, he was recognized as a national honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music. During World War I, Spalding served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (at one point as aide-de-camp to Major Fiorello La Guardia) and would eventually be awarded the Cross of the Crown of Italy. Not long after his return to the United States, he married Mary Vanderhoef Pyle on July 19, 1919, in Ridgefield, Connecticut. French violinist Jacques Thibaud and Andre Benoist, Spalding’s accompanist, provided the music for the ceremony. In 1920, Spalding appeared on the European tour of the New York Symphony. In 1922, he became the first American violinist to appear with the Paris Conservatory Orchestra; a year later he was the first American to serve on a jury at the Paris Conservatory, helping to award prizes to the graduating class of violinists. In February 1941, he premiered the violin concerto of Samuel Barber. Upon the United States’ involvement in World War II, Assistant Secretary of State Adolf Berle successfully urged Spalding to accept an assignment with the Office of Strategic Services. He was posted to London, for six weeks, and then served in North Africa until he was ordered to Naples where he was attached to the Psychological Warfare Division of SHAEF. In 1944, Spalding gave a legendary concert to thousands of terrified refugees stranded in a cave near Naples during a bombing raid. Following a concert in New York on May 26, 1950, Spalding announced his retirement from the concert stage. Thereafter, he taught master classes at Boston University College of Music and, in the winter months, at Florida State University. His last recital, with pianist Jules Wolffers, at Boston University (15. 05. 1953), ten days later he died in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 64.

TRACKLIST

1. Ave Maria (Gounod) Marie Rappold (soprano) Edison 82536 3815
2. Ave Maria (Schubert) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82258 8040
3. Canzonetta (Godard) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82212 5052
4. Caprice espagnol (Ketten) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82154 5759
5. Caprice viennois, op. 2 (Kreisler) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82067 3324
6. Carmen fantaisie (Bizet-Sarasate) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82245 8037
7. Chanson méditation (Cottenet) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82206 5054
8. Concerto no. 2 Andante (de Bériot) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82250 7599
9. Drink to me only with thine eyes (Jonson) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82184 6951
10. Etchings (Spalding) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82250 8028
11. Eternamente (Mascheroni) Claudia Muzio (soprano) & Robert Gayler (piano) Edison 82243 7941
12. From the cottonfields (Spalding) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82222 7600
13. Hark! Hark! The lark (Schubert) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82307 9232
14. Humoreske (Dvořak) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82047 2390
15. Hungarian dance no. 1 (Brahms) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82263 2407
16. Hungarian dance no. 2 (Brahms) Edison 82093 3396
17. Hungarian dance no. 6 (Brahms) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82342 3375
18. Hungarian dance no. 7 (Brahms) Edison 82046 Edison 82046
19. Hungarian dance no. 8 (Brahms) Edison 82093 3395
20. Indian lament (Dvořák) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82239 8017
21. Kujawiak (Seconde mazurka) (Wieniawski) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82245 8018
22. Le cygne (The swan) (Saint-Saëns) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82316 9231
23. Liebesfreud (Kreisler) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82323 9393
24. Love sends a little gift of roses (Openshaw) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82308 9250
25. Marchéta (Schertzinger) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82316 9394
26. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner-Wilhelmj) Morgenlich leuchtend André Benoist (piano) Edison 82117 3779
27. Melody in F (Rubinstein) André Benoist (piano) Edison 28285 5747
28. Minuet in G (Beethoven) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82284 5754
29. My old Kentucky home – Variations (Collins Foster) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82105 4097
30. Nocturne (Chopin-Wilhelmj) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82212 5752
31. Old folks at home (Collins Foster) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82215 7601
32. Orpheus (Gluck) Ballet music André Benoist (piano) Edison 82206 7004
33. Paderewski’s menuet (Paderewski) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82307 9230
34. Pierrot serenade Gigue (Randegger, Jr.) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82105 4111
35. Romance (Svendsen) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82194 5058
36. Romance from 2nd concerto (Wieniawski) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82117 3323
37. Romance in A (Schumann) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82168 5756
38. Romanza andaluza (Sarasate) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82342 5059
39. Rondo capriccioso (Saint-Saëns) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82043 3758
40. Roses of Picardy (Wood) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82215 7595
41. Scherzo (Chabrier) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82168 5753
42. Scherzo-tarentelle (Wieniawski) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82188 6975
43. Schlummerlied (Schumann) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82284 5755
44. Schon rosmarin (Kreisler) L’arlesienne Intermezzo (Bizet) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82046 2409
45. Serenade (Drigo) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82263 8036
46. Serenade (Pierné) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82184 5053
47. Serenade (Schubert) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82222 7594
48. Serenade melancolique (Tchaikovsky) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82067 3393
49. Slavonic dance no. 2 in E minor (Kreisler) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82322 9251
50. Souvenir (Drdla) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82154 5062
51. Souvenir of Moscow (Wieniawski) André Benoist (piano) Edison 80071 4327
52. Souvenir poétique (Fibich) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82323 9395
53. Spanish Dance (Granados-Kreisler) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82194 5751
54. Spring song (Mendelssohn) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82135 5748
55. Thaïs (Massenet) Méditation André Benoist (piano) Edison 82043 3762
56. The angel’s serenade (Braga) Frieda Hempel (soprano) & Robert Gayler (piano) Edison 82240 8005
57. Träumerei (Schumann) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82188 5749
58. Valse bluette… Three poor mariners (Drigo-Auer; Quilter) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82192 7005
59. Valse capriccio (Wieniawski) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82308 9233
60. Valse triste (Sibelius) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82322 9252
61. Xerxses (Handel) Largo André Benoist (piano) & Robert Gayler (organ) Edison 82239 7612
62. Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Dance) (Sarasate) André Benoist (piano) Edison 82192 6950