We all have heard a record by the Columbia orchestra before. They were so prolific that they recorded almost any tune imaginable from that time period between 1896 and 1920. Everything from operatic overtures to low-class Rag-Time. Since Fred Hylands was their trademark pianist in the late-1890's to 1905, he can not only be heard behind all of the singers and instrumentalists we love as early record collectors, but also in their house orchestra.
It is certainly him because he often drowns out some of the other instruments, and he's just playing the bass notes! And when they had their "descriptive selections" EVERYONE in the room was expected to join.
EVEN Hylands.
Here's one of their "descriptive selections" from 1898:
The coronet playing is absolutely wonderful on this, but hear the hideous banging on the piano! That's Hylands alright.
Now, listen to this fun Rag-Time rarity called "Obeja" that I just heard for the first time to-day from 1903:
(beware it's pretty messy)
The piano is slightly faint, but if you're really listening closely, you can hear it reasonably well. Harry Spencer is the announcer and does the drums and bells you hear faintly here.
This next one is a very clear and bright example of Hylands playing piano in the Columbia orchestra. Harry Spencer once again announces it, and it was recorded in 1904:
Very well recorded!
This next one in a tune that all of us Ragtimers have heard before at some point. This one is "Smokey Mokes"(published in 1899) recorded in 1902:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/4000/4913/cusb-cyl4913d.mp3
This next one is an early Rag-Time number that was written in 1892, and was widely recorded from there. So this cylinder is from c.1900-01 with Hylands pounding the bass notes on the piano behind the band. This cylinder is played a bit slow, but it's still pretty good, and Hylands is audible, with Harry Spencer doing the sound effects as well:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5225/cusb-cyl5225d.mp3
This next one is one that I should have used back in my post about hearing Hylands shouting and cheering behind the orchestra and the singers, because he can even be heard SINGING on this! It's truly amazing that his voice up at the piano can even be distinguished by the cylinder machines and caught on the cylinder! Here you go from 1898, here is another one of their fun and interesting"Descriptive Selections":
(make sure you click on that "real" icon in the middle of the page to play the sound file. If you are on a phone, it will not work unfortunately...)
http://www.tinfoil.com/cm-9807.htm#c15195
It's truly a mess of a cylinder, but it's wonderful when they all sing at the end! I swear, when they all yell "Hip Hooray!" at the end I can pick out which one is Hylands by how far off it sound from the horns, and that it is the voice of a 26-year-old.
Sing yer heart out Freddy!
(whether it be good or bad haha!)
To finish off all I can really fit together in one shot, here's one of my dad's (and my) favourite songs, called "Whistling Rufus" recorded here in 1902-03 with Hylands on the piano behind the band and Harry Spencer doing the announcement and sound effects as usual:
(this cylinder is played at the absolutely PERFECT speed! It could not sound any better!)
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/10000/10597/cusb-cyl10597d.mp3
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/4000/4913/cusb-cyl4913d.mp3
This next one is an early Rag-Time number that was written in 1892, and was widely recorded from there. So this cylinder is from c.1900-01 with Hylands pounding the bass notes on the piano behind the band. This cylinder is played a bit slow, but it's still pretty good, and Hylands is audible, with Harry Spencer doing the sound effects as well:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5225/cusb-cyl5225d.mp3
This next one is one that I should have used back in my post about hearing Hylands shouting and cheering behind the orchestra and the singers, because he can even be heard SINGING on this! It's truly amazing that his voice up at the piano can even be distinguished by the cylinder machines and caught on the cylinder! Here you go from 1898, here is another one of their fun and interesting"Descriptive Selections":
(make sure you click on that "real" icon in the middle of the page to play the sound file. If you are on a phone, it will not work unfortunately...)
http://www.tinfoil.com/cm-9807.htm#c15195
It's truly a mess of a cylinder, but it's wonderful when they all sing at the end! I swear, when they all yell "Hip Hooray!" at the end I can pick out which one is Hylands by how far off it sound from the horns, and that it is the voice of a 26-year-old.
Sing yer heart out Freddy!
(whether it be good or bad haha!)
To finish off all I can really fit together in one shot, here's one of my dad's (and my) favourite songs, called "Whistling Rufus" recorded here in 1902-03 with Hylands on the piano behind the band and Harry Spencer doing the announcement and sound effects as usual:
(this cylinder is played at the absolutely PERFECT speed! It could not sound any better!)
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/10000/10597/cusb-cyl10597d.mp3
I hope you all enjoyed these wonderful rarities!
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