Edward Vidal Sextet - A Litany (rare 78 rpm shellac)

In January 2007 I lost my Nan. My Dad wanted me to track down a piece of music she had requested which was composed and performed by her Father (my Great Grandad). I remembered a battered old 33rpm album that my Dad had privately pressed. The piece of music (called "A Litany") was on it so I cleaned it up and it was played at her funeral. My Dad told me that it was by his Grandfather (my Great Grandfather)...my Nan's Father.

Sadly, partly through ill health and through the loss of my Nan I lost my Dad four months later. I thought it perfect that the music played at my Nan's funeral should also be played at my Dad's.

I was also faced with the awful task of house clearing. In the top of a wardrobe one day in early June 2007 I found a load of white sleeve, white label 33rpm vinyl pressings dating from the mid 70's that my Father had managed to get pressed privately. Way back then (I was very young) I had been given a pressing and it was that pressing used for both funerals.

Anyway, I had lost my Dad only a week previously but suddenly gained photo albums that I had never seen before and found the white label vinyl pressings (which would have been there for a minimum of 24 years). And with those pressings was a His Master's Voice 78rpm Shellac pressing of "A Litany" / "The Story" by Edward Vidal (my Great Grandfather). This was gold to me but due to living in a damp flat at the time the 78 with all the mint 33 rpm pressings were wrapped and sealed and stored at my Mother's house.

Almost two years later I have the 78 / 33's back as I'm in a different property, and today (for the first time) I have played / recorded the original 78 pressing of my Great Grandfather Edward Vidal and the Edward Vidal Sextet.

Copyright evidence highlights the 78 being recorded in 1938.

I find it overwhelming that I now own what could be the only pressing in existance of a 1930's recording that might not even fetch 50p on ebay, but this copy belonged to the composer, my Great Grandfather. The printed label has his own handwritten Sextet credits -

Jack Silvester - Bass
David Wise -1st Violin
Eric Ruloff - 2nd Violin
Forbes Watson - Viola
Anthony Pini - Cello
Edward Vidal - Piano

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Edward
• Vidal
• Sextet
• David
• Wise
• Eric
• Ruloff
• Forbes
• Watson
• Anthony
• Pini
• Litany

[mrrk]

What a charming record and a most moving story to go with it.

[maffjon]

Thanks mrrk. I hadn't played it for almost two years. Something moved me to put it on here a few hours before it was uploaded. First time I'd played it from the 78 as well. Bizarre knowing that it's over 70 years old. I've the original handwritten manuscript with lyrics that my Dad gave me the last time saw him two years ago. I'll marry the two one day :)

[NESHero]

I really love this piece, i listen to it alot. sometimes repeatably

[vinylloung]

:( sorry man

i feel sad for u

[vinylloung]

D: sorry, man, but soon itl be u then maybe ME! but it happens to everyone

[NESHero]

I quiet liked this record, what a great composer. I might make an mp3 is u don't mind. so i can listen to it anytime i want =)

[beatmasterblaster]

RECORDS PLAYING AGAIN AND AGAIN

[MKUltra3]

beautiful music - not to be harsh, but it's nice for the music to stand on its own apart from the discovery of the records - a nice antidote to a currently poisonous cultural atmosphere