Carmen Dragon (conductor, composer, arranger; 1914-84, California)
Bonus track: Zigeunerweisen as composed by Sarasate (i.e. with a solo violin). Michael Rabin (1936-72)/Hollywood Bowl SO/Felix Slatkin (recorded September 1959 as part of “The Magic Bow”, Capitol SP8510).
“Gypsy!”
A1 Slavonic Dance No. 8, Op. 46, No. 8
Composed By – Dvorak
A2 Two Guitars
Arranged By – Carmen Dragon
Written-By – Traditional
A3 Slavonic Dance No. 10, Op. 72, No. 2
Composed By – Dvorak
A4 Czardas
Arranged By – Carmen Dragon
Composed By – Monti
B1 Hungarian Dance No. 6
Composed By – Brahms
B2 Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs)
Arranged By – Carmen Dragon
Composed By – Sarasate
B3 Gypsy Song No. 4 (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Arranged By – Carmen Dragon
Composed By – Dvorak
B4 Hora Staccato
Composed By – Dinicu, Heifetz
B5 Dark Eyes
Arranged By – Carmen Dragon
Written-By – Traditional
That’s a REAL treat ! Thanks Colin.
My pleasure Russell. Although, but for a friend bringing the recording to wider attention, it may not have happened. One listen, out of curiosity, and it was clear that the playing and the sound alone made for something I’d like to share; musically enjoyable too. Hope all is well and sorry to not see you recently. Regards, Colin
I had that 33 record (Gypsy). I loved it. When all else failed, I played it and was energized to doing housework. I loved these renditions of the Hungarian dances. Thanks so much for making it possible to hear and feel them. It was over 65 years a go I bought this recording with my babysitting money.
I’m also pleased to see Carmen Dragon making his Column debut, so thanks to Colin for the “Gypsy” upload. In fact, back in olden times, I collected all his LPs, about 40 altogether, and they featured splendid performances, excellently recorded in what Capitol was pleased to call “Full Dimensional Sound.”
As it happens, I have an old volume of collected ‘Gramophone’ reviews and here is what W. A. Chislett said of the stereo “Gypsy” LP in his ‘Nights at the Round Table’ column in March 1959: “The highly sophisticated arrangements lend themselves to the effective demonstration of the new sound quality” adding that “the brilliance of both arrangements and playing are outstanding features.”
Dragon’s earliest Capitol LPs were with the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra but for the last 15 of them he switched to something called the Capitol Symphony Orchestra. I’m indebted to John Pattrick of ICA Classics for filling me in on this ensemble: “There were (are) so many musicians in Hollywood that it was easy to make up a scratch orchestra but I think both Felix Slatkin and Carmen Dragon, when working for Capitol, had the pick of the free-lancing Los Angeles Philharmonic who needed the work!”
Of particular interest are the four LPs which Dragon made on a visit to London in September 1959. They too were designated Capitol Symphony Orchestra but were in fact the Royal Philharmonic. The titles were “Americana,” “Bless This House,” “Concert Brilliants” and “Over the Waves.” This latter LP included what was doubtless a tribute to the country Dragon was visiting, namely “Rule, Brittania” in his own spectacular arrangement. The Abbey Road engineers went to town on the “full dimensional stereo sound” as will be heard when clicking this link. Needless to say, you won’t ever hear this on Radio 3! …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8E8mxdDGHg