Edith Bauer-Sleis: "The Virtuoso Classical Mandolin" (1969)

[Martin Jonas]

I've just come across a complete rip of this album on Youtube:



Side A:
Raffaele Calace: Preludio, op. 49 /2
Hans Gal: Divertimento fr Mandolin and Piano, op. 80 6.23.
Prelude: Moderato 2.22.
Burla: Vivace Presto 4.57.
Intermezzo: Andante 4.30.
Rondo: Allegro Un Poco Sostenuto 4.27.

Side B:
Hans Gal: Aria-Andante Con Moto 4.32
W.A.Mozart: Komm, liebe Zither, K.351 2.03.
W.A. Mozart: Die Zufriedenheit: K.349 4.41.
Norbert Sprongl: Duo for Mandolin and Guitar:
Allegro 3.03.
Allegro Vivace 2.05.
Adagio 4.15.
Allegro Vivace 3.42.

I don't remember any discussion of this mandolinist or this album here before -- this is very enjoyable and an interesting mix of original mandolin music, in a style predating the current "modern German" style. The A and B sides are swapped on the video, so it starts with the Hans Gal Aria.

Martin

[margora]

The recording is very well known; copies show up from time to time on Ebay. I believe she was associated with Vinzenz Hladky. This is one of the earliest recordings of the Calace Prelude #2 (not the first, however) and, I also believe, the earliest recordings of the Hans Gal and Norbert Sprongl works (although I don't think these are the first performances of either, I believe these were given by Maria Hinterberger). I have some email correspondence with Keith Harris about Bauer-Sleis that I will try to locate.

[Bill Clements]

Martin, I did not know there was such a thing as a 12 string mandolin. Is that a German instrument? Interesting headstock as well. Thanks for sharing this.

[Martin Jonas]

Martin, I did not know there was such a thing as a 12 string mandolin. Is that a German instrument? Interesting headstock as well. Thanks for sharing this.

12-string mandolins are called "mandriola" in Germany and they used to be fairly common in amateur circles, as were headstocks like this (often carved in a likeness of Martin Luther, who was thought -- wrongly -- to have been a lute player). However, they have never been considered serious classical instruments and I am certain that the instrument on the album cover had nothing at all to do with the one played on the recording -- most likely chosen by the cover designer because it looks vaguely oldy-worldy to go with the fake-antique font.

Martin

[Brendan Manson]

Apologies for swapping A and B sides when originally posting this recording to YouTube. I have amended the notes but not changed the musical sequence and of course added my 'mea culpa'.