Download: William Bergsma’s Paul Bunyan Suite - St. Louis Philharmonic (private lacquers)

Bill Anderson

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Nov 21, 2009, 3:34:50 PM11/21/09

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A small but interesting post for the Midwest Tour today…

My old friend John Titzler gave me this private recording several
years ago, and it sparked my interest in Bergsma’s music. The Paul
Bunyan Suite was taken from Bergsma’s ballet score from 1939. This is
a delightful piece that has not, to my knowledge, been commercially
recorded.

Recording date is unknown (ca 1951 or so) and features a fine
performance by the St. Louis Philharmonic Society, an all volunteer
orchestra that traces its history back to 1860. The conductor ,
Russell Gerhart, was active in St. Louis during the 1950’s, eventually
becoming the Music Director of the Huntsville, AL Symphony from 1959
though 1971.

Zip file mono mp3 about 9 MB – file includes scans of the labels

http://www.mediafire.com/?ozjwjedmj3i

Enjoy!

- Bill

Bob Lombard

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Nov 21, 2009, 9:08:05 PM11/21/09

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Bill Anderson wrote:
> A small but interesting post for the Midwest Tour todayï¿½

>
> My old friend John Titzler gave me this private recording several

> years ago, and it sparked my interest in Bergsmaï¿½s music. The Paul
> Bunyan Suite was taken from Bergsmaï¿½s ballet score from 1939. This is

> a delightful piece that has not, to my knowledge, been commercially
> recorded.
>
> Recording date is unknown (ca 1951 or so) and features a fine
> performance by the St. Louis Philharmonic Society, an all volunteer
> orchestra that traces its history back to 1860. The conductor ,

> Russell Gerhart, was active in St. Louis during the 1950ï¿½s, eventually

> becoming the Music Director of the Huntsville, AL Symphony from 1959
> though 1971.
>

> Zip file mono mp3 about 9 MB ï¿½ file includes scans of the labels

>
> http://www.mediafire.com/?ozjwjedmj3i
>
> Enjoy!
>
> - Bill

I'm pretty sure I've heard the suite, and it wasn't this recording. ?

bl

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Nov 21, 2009, 10:55:23 PM11/21/09

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Thanks!

Bill Anderson

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Nov 21, 2009, 11:07:18 PM11/21/09

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Hi Bob -

I have not been able to find a commercial record of this work. A
radio performance perhaps?

Howard Hanson and E-R orchestra did another Bergsma ballet suite for
Mercury - Gold and the Señor Commandante.

- Bill

mlstein

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Nov 22, 2009, 12:20:36 PM11/22/09

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Thanks. He's a really underrated compose--I've always admired some of
the quartets (the Julliard did the 3d for Columbia back in the day),
the string piece The Fortunate Islands (hardly the best performance on
CRI but you can still hear the piece), and others.

Michael Steinberg

Bill Anderson

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Nov 22, 2009, 1:41:27 PM11/22/09

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Hello Michael -

Thanks for the info on "The Fortunate Islands". I need to hear that
piece.

I don't know if you have seen my posts from last August, but I did
transfer both the Second and Third Quartets. They are still available:

Foss SQ1 & Bergsma SQ3 (Columbia ML 5476)

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zizjjjjfiiw

Bergsma SQ2 & Shepherd Triptych (ARS 18)

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zze1nwyjugw
_______________

There is a website dedicated to William Bergsma:

http://www.terrywinterowens.com/williambergsma/

- Bill