1938 Pro Arte Quartet HAYDN SOCIETY FINAL Vol 8 M 595 String Quartets 78

$

50

WEEK 2 of 2 weeks of great auctions,  I will bill you and pack your records after  February 12.

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A series of great Violin, Piano and Orchestra records on rare labels, from 1902 Monarch to 1940 War Germany recordings.

The Pro Arte Quartet are to the Haydn quartets what Schnabel is to the Beethoven piano sonatas: they seem neither to interpret them nor to interpose themselves between the composer and the listener. They appear simply to exist to enable the composer to make his will known to the world. Unlike Schnabel, one is rarely aware of technical difficulties. The quartet is such a musical entity that one simply doesn't admire the first violin or the cello; one is too engaged in the musical discourse. Of course, the Pro Arte recorded fine Mozart and Beethoven and Schubert and Brahms, but their remarkably numerous (for the pre-World War II musical world) recording of 20-some-odd Haydn quartets and their almost genetic affinity for Haydn made them the preeminent specialists before the great Haydn awakening that began in 1950. To me, like Schnabel, they have not been surpassed.

Great Recording by the Pro Arte Quartet

A rare issue of the FINAL HAYDN SOCIETY Vol 8 on superior US VICTOR Quiet Pre War Gold Label as set

M 595

Haydn Quartet Society, Volume 8 
   
 With this final volume, one of the great between-the-wars classical recording accomplishments is complete, available in sound, the clarity of which the original 1938 purchasers could have no conception. This recording of 29 Haydn quartets is equal in artistry to the "potted" Wagner Ring of Walter/Blech/Heger/Collingwood, the Schnabel Beethoven Sonatas and the Hugo Wolf Society, the other great recorded monuments of the pre-World War II years. Like the Schnabel Beethoven Sonatas, it is possible to say that the Pro Arte Haydn quartet performances may have since been equalled, but never bettered.

Op. 1 #1
Haydn's first numbered quartet begins with a joyous allegro which leads to an equally joyful minuet. A first violon driven serious serenade gives way to a minuet and a very short presto with stretti.

Op. 20 #1
This wonderful opening quartet to Haydn's "Sun" series begins with a genial, contrapuntal first movement and is followed by a very forthright minuet. A luminous slow movement, one of Haydn's greatest, is followed by a mellow finale with a strong development section.

Op. 55 #3
A very searching opening theme is subjected to a rigorous development and a varied recapitulation. A rather conventional andante is followed by a rapid yet pensive minuet. The finale is rapid with high violin trills accompanying thematic development in the lower instruments.

Op. 76 #4 "Sunrise"
A slowly rising opening theme in the first movement gives the quartet its nickname. The theme is treated to superb modulations in the development. A deeply beautiful slow movement continues with constantly changing textures. A rustic and powerful minuet leads to a monothematic finale ending in a brilliant fugue. One of Haydn's greatest quartets.

pre war gold label pressing Victor 7x12" 78 rpm record in great, non matching album

Condition:

Excellent  rare scuffs, plays almost superquiet, E with some occ static pop. 

A CHOICE COPY

Here the original HMV Announcement on the Formation of the HMV Hugo Wolf Society

EVERY musician and every lover of music knows that since the advent of electrical recording “His Master’s Voice” have built up an unparalleled library of recordings of great music. In the “His Master’s Voice” general catalogue and what is called the Connoisseurs’ Catalogue together there are listed modern recordings of first class performances of all the acknowledged masterpieces of music for which there is a widespread demand, and of hundreds of works of more limited appeal. Every month brings new and invaluable additions to that incomparable treasure house of music.

But outside the repertoire of music that is in general demand and that it is economically prudent to record, is some of the greatest music, and it is to produce records of the highest possible artistic and technical quality of this unfamiliar music that the Society movement was organised. Its basic principle is self-help in music: under the auspices of “His Master’s Voice” and the guidance of the greatest authorities of the particular composers concerned, a number of enthusiasts for that composer band together to make possible the recording.

The first Society was formed in the September of 1931 for recording Hugo Wolf’s songs, and the response to that venture was such that Societies for recording all Beethoven’s Pianoforte Sonatas, the best of Haydn’s String Quartets, of the music of Sibelius, the greatest symphonists since Beethoven, were soon formed. Since then other Societies have been added to that number; and working on the same basic principle limited Editions of certain works, not in themselves calling for the establishment of a special Society, have been published.

The records published by these means have established a standard by which are judged, not only all other records but in Mr. Ernest Newman’s words “by which other performances can and will be judged.” Their authoritativeness is beyond dispute or question; in every case the artist chosen for recording a.ch particular work is the best living artist for the task, and the recording is invariably as good as the latest developments of modern science can make it.

It is impossible to over-estimate the advantage of being a member of one, or better still of all, of the Societies and subscribing for these limited Editions with these records you are able to enjoy and study perfect performances of works that are rarely given in the concert room or by wireless, and in the course of a few days you can know even a Symphony by Sibelius as you would never be able to by concert-going. To quote Mr. Ernest Newman again “These Societies will do more in five years for the music they record than we musical critics could do in a century.”

Each Society depends for its ability to carry out its programme on the continued support of music lovers. With the enthusiastic and consistent support of the musical public the Society movement can and will enrich the world of music and the life of every lover of music to an unprecedented degree.

The Rules of the Societies :—
(1) There is no entrance fee.
(2) The subscription for each volume must be paid in advance.
(3) Records are available only to members.
(4) No records can be purchased separately. Should a member break or otherwise damage a record he must return the damaged record when applying for a replacement.
(5) The records will be delivered either direct to the subscriber or dealer with whom he enrols.
(6) The records and albums will be packed and delivered free of charge to any address in Great Britain but postage and custom charges abroad must be borne by the customer.

The Pro Arte Quartet was founded in 1911-12 by students at the Brussels Conservatory. Violinist Alphonse Onnou was the leader, and the other founding members included Laurent Halleux (violin), Germain Prévost (viola), and Fernand Auguste Lemaire (‘cello). The quartet made its début in Brussels in 1913 and soon became known as an exponent of modern music. In 1918 Fernand Quinet became the cellist, but in 1921 he was replaced by Robert Maas. That year, with the aid of Paul Collaer and Arthur Prévost, the Pro Arte Concerts began, in which performances were given of new works by, among others, Bartók (whose Fourth Quartet is dedicated to the Pro Arte), Casella, Honegger, Martin, Milhaud and Rieti. The quartet performed with great success at the 1923 ISCM Festival in Salzburg, and the same year played new works commissioned by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge at a concert in Rome. After touring Europe the quartet visited England for the first time in 1925; subsequent visits to England included annual series of a week’s performances in Cambridge (1932–8).  In 1932 the quartet was granted the title Quatuor de la Cour de Belgique, in recognition of its services to Belgian music.

From a 1936 review by The Gramophone of the original release

A recording of this Quartet by the Prisca String Quartet was reviewed in the July, 1935, GRAMOPHONE, and I there drew attention to its being good value for the money (four so in., sos.), but not in the first rank of quartet playing. The music covers such a diversity of mood in its four movements that it is a considerable test for any quartet. There is the mystery of the opening section—dispelled later—the dark meditative tones of the famous " Tristan" Andante, the forceful Minuet with the rusticity of the bagpipe-like Trio, the dance of the wood-nymphs following, and recurring in the last movement with its exquisite fairy-like Coda. For the listener not too well trained in listening to chamber-music, it is an ideal work and should be at once added to his library. The Pro-Arte Quartet at once show their fine form in the unisons of the opening theme, a perfect blend of the four instruments, and in their chording when this theme is harmonised.They are a little too forthright, and elsewhere more delicacy is needed. But taken as a whole, this is a richly satisfying and splendidly recorded performance. Perhaps an entirely perfect one could only come from the Pro-Arte, Lener, Buclapesth, and Busch Quartets, each taking a movement apiece!

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Here is a guideline for US Media Mail Shipping - US Mail Prices went up by 4% in 2012:

Prices below are for regular 78 rpm records. Up to about 5 records, I will ship Edison Discs for the same rates. Albums from Album Sets count as 1 record. Above that and for international shipments, it will be actual weight plus a small packing charge (1-3$ depending on size of shipment)

1 record: 4.85$

2 records: 5.75$

5 records: 7.75$

10 records: 9.75$

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I am very happy to ship records worldwide.

Prices below are for regular 78 rpm records. For Edison Discs in  international shipments, it will charge for the actual weight plus a small packing charge (1-2$) - for small quantities, it will not be much different from the charge for regular 78s.

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USPS PRIORITY MAIL has gone up significantly, while First Class is pretty much the same.

Your best bet is the Large Priority box, everything that fits into a 12"x12"x5 1/2" box up to 20 pounds ships for 67.50$ (45$ Canada) worldwide.

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1 record = 2 lbs $25 - $28

4 lbs = $37

20 lbs or all that fits into a 12"x12"x 5 1/2" box ((12" albums won't fit)= $67.50I

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