Soprano Elizabeth Wheeler & Tenor Harry Macdonough ~ "Gobble Duet" from LA MASCOTTE (1909)

Soprano Elizabeth Wheeler (1875-1971) & tenor Harry Macdonough (1871-1931) / Gobble Duet / La Mascotte (Audran) / Recorded: July 22, 1909 --

La mascotte ("The Mascot") is an operetta by Edmond Audran (1842-1901). The French libretto was by Alfred Duru and Henri Charles Chivot. The best-known number of its lively and tuneful score is the Act 1 duet for Bettina (the 'mascot' of the title) and Pippo, in which she tells him, with appropriate farmyard noises, that she loves him just as much as her beloved turkeys. It was first performed in Paris on December 28, 1880. It was very popular and 1,000 performances were given in just five years. It was translated into English and staged at Abbey's Park Theatre in New York on May 5, 1881, and in Brighton, England on September 19th the same year. The story, set in the 17th century, is that of a farm girl who brought good luck to whoever possessed her, so long as she remained a virgin. The title was French slang derived from the Provençal term masco, meaning witch. The title (in English) initiated the use of the word 'mascot' in the English language to mean an animal, human, or thing which brought luck. (wikipdeia)

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Harry Macdonough

John Scantlebury Macdonald (May 30, 1871 September 26, 1931) was a Canadian singer and recording executive. Under the pseudonym Harry Macdonough, he was one of the most prolific and popular tenors during the formative years of recorded music. Macdonald was born in Hamilton, Ontario. His earliest recorded performances were for the Michigan Electric Company in Detroit, which made phonograph cylinders for penny arcades. He caught the attention of Edison Records with a demo recording he made in October 1898, and began recording for Edison in The Haydn Quartet. From 1899 until his retirement in 1920, he recorded hundreds of songs both as a soloist and in ensembles. During the 1900s Macdonald took a job with the Victor Talking Machine Company, becoming assistant manager and later manager of its New York studio. As studio manager he oversaw the studio schedule, as well as negotiating contracts with artists and music publishers. Macdonald rose rapidly at Victor, becoming its national sales manager in 1920 and manager of artists and reportoire in 1923. He moved to Columbia Records in 1925 and oversaw the technical development of its studios until his death. (wikipedia)

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Elizabeth Wheeler (pseudonym: Jane Kenyon)

Jim Walsh of Hobbies Magazine in 1961 described Elizabeth Wheeler and William Wheeler as "the most successful husband and wife duet pair in the history of the phonograph." She was born Bess Nicholson in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1875; he was born in Shawano, Wisconsin in 1879. They married in 1904, and performed widely, doing standard ballads, light opera, and hymns. Mr. Wheeler made some solo recordings for Leeds & Caitlin, Edison and others, and then the two began their duet recordings in 1910, for Victor. "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" was an early hit, though it did not reach the 1917 Victor catalog, where there were 17 other titles by the pair. Their final Victor recording was the most popular one, "What a Friend We have in Jesus." Mrs. Wheeler made many solo Victors beginning in 1909; she sang ballads and children's songs, and also "Elizabeth's Prayer" from Tannhauser. William Wheeler did some solo work for Pathe. They did not record after the acoustic period, and "What a Friend" was the only one of their titles to reach the 1927 Victor catalog. Elizabeth Wheeler died in 1971; William Wheeler died in 1967. (From "The Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound in the United States" / edited by Guy A. Marco / Garland Publishing, Inc. - 1993)

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Soprano
• Elizabeth
• Wheeler
• Tenor
• Harry
• MacDonough
• Operetta
• Audran
• Mascotte
• Gobble
• Duet
• 78
• rpm
• CurzonRoad

[Kievest]

Wheeler is a charming talisman in this

unadulterated delight! Both singers have

wonderful, mellifluous voices and

refined, stylish musicianship. Doug,

you make the past come to radiant

life again and again. Wonderful!

[CurzonRoad]

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble...

Baaaaaaaaah...

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble...

Baaaaaaaah....

Translation: Your comments a true cause for Thanksgiving! Cheerios, etc. Doug --

[ginnykaren]

Just lovely Doug~

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Ginny: Merci! Doug --

[Bivolari]

Fascinating glimpse into the lost world of turkeys. Beautifully sung and the sound is great.

[CurzonRoad]

Thanks... very much! Cheers, etc. Doug --

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you Doug. This was delightful. Maya

[TheArtistGal]

O.o this is definitely not how we sang it during karaoke.....

[RollaArtis]

"And you, more than sheep I love" -- This really is a weird and wacky song! Great reproduction of this recording though, it's better than the version on my Victorian musical box.

[fuzzbear6240]

Doug, just charming! Thank you for sharing it wit us all.

YF, J.

[meltzerboy]

Amusing and off-beat duet from a pair of singers I never heard of. It's always a pleasure to learn about these early operettas and performers. Thanks, Doug.