The 1920 HMV Yeomen

Cast
Sir Richard CholmondelyRobert Radford /
Edward Halland
Colonel FairfaxDerek Oldham
Sergeant MeryllPeter Dawson /
George Baker
Leonard MeryllErnest Pike
Jack PointGeorge Baker
Wilfred ShadboltRobert Radford
First YeomanErnest Pike
Second YeomanPeter Dawson /
Robert Radford
Elsie MaynardViolet Essex
Phoebe MeryllNellie Walker /
Ruby Heyl
Dame CarruthersEdna Thornton
KateBessie Jones

Chorus: Sarah Jones, Walter Glynne, and the soloists

Conductor: George. W. Byng

Recorded in London, 4 March–2 October 1920

HMV Album Cover
HMV Album Cover
Sounds on CD VGS216
Sounds on CD VGS216
Cover art by Matt Bland

In 1917, HMV began a series of G&S recordings "under the direction of Rupert D'Oyly Carte," but maintained its long-standing policy of using its own stable of recording artists rather than D'Oyly Carte singers. Over time, this policy came to be seen as outmoded, particularly given the rival Columbia Company's policy of issuing records "of theatrical musical productions by the artists whose names are associated with the theatres themselves." Bowing to the pressure, HMV ordered test pressings of four D'Oyly Carte singers: Henry Lytton, Leo Sheffield, Derek Oldham and Bertha Lewis. Incredibly, HMV management concluded that only Oldham "would be of any use in forming the [recorded] cast of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas."

Since Oldham had passed the test, he got to record Fairfax in this recording of Yeomen, while the others would wait a few years more for their gramophone debuts. This was particularly shameful in Lytton's case. He is widely considered one of the greatest comedians the Company ever employed, and yet he only got to record four of his roles. (Sheffield would eventually record seven of his, and Lewis nearly all of hers.)

Aside from the presence of Oldham, the cast is the familiar bunch who recorded the 1917 Mikado and the 1919 Gondoliers. As with the two earlier recordings, there is significant confusion in the role assignments, with the doubly-cast roles breaking down as follows:

Sgt. Meryll:
Baker sings the Act I finale; Dawson sings the rest of the role.
Lt. Cholmondely:
Radford sings "How say you, maiden"; Halland sings the Act I finale and all of Act II. (The discs actually credit Radford in the Act I finale. It seems likely that Halland sang "Astounding news...," or else Radford would have been answering himself as Wilfred, with the line "My lord, I did not set him free." This possibility cannot be completely discounted, but I am assuming that Halland sang that line.)
Phoebe:
Walker sings "When maiden loves," "Were I thy bride," part of the Act I finale and "A man who would woo a fair maid"; Heyl sings "Alas, I waver to and fro," part of the Act I finale, "When a wooer goes a-wooing" and the Act II finale.
Second Yeoman:
Dawson sings "Tower warders"; Radford sings "Didst thou not, oh, Leonard Meryll".
78s2cd GS01
"78s 2 CD" GS01

The opera was recorded initially in four sessions, two in March and two more in May, 1920. (As initially published, the set also included an "Instrumental Selection" that was recorded on a separate date.)

After hearing the records, Rupert D'Oyly Carte had two significant objections. He found Ruby Heyl's Phoebe "quite unsuitable," observing that "Her voice is far too heavy and mature in quality." He also found George Baker too robust a jester, observing that, in the Act II finale, he "[did] not convey in the least that the man was on the point of collapse."

Owing to these objections, three more sessions were scheduled. All of Phoebe's significant solo music was re-recorded, with Nellie Walker replacing Ruby Heyl (although Heyl's parts in the concerted numbers were allowed to remain in the set). And, the end of Act II was re-recorded for Baker to become more broken-hearted. The details of the recording sessions are presented in the "Recording Sessions" table, below.

The casting of the Lieutenant presents some confusion. From the record labels, one would conclude that Radford sings the role throughout Act I and Halland throughout Act II. However, this arrangement would have Radford singing "Astounding news, the prisoner fled..." and then answering himself with Shadbolt's line, "My lord, I did not set him free." It seems more likely that Halland sang the Lieutenant in the Act I finale (he was clearly present during the recording session), although it is difficult to tell from listening to the side.

Derek Oldham sang Fairfax again on the 1928 Yeomen, which also has the advantage of being an electrical set and having D'Oyly Carte performers in most of the roles. However, for those with a taste for vintage recordings, Chris Webster "Sounds on CD" and 78s 2 CD have each issued the recording on CD at an extremely reasonable price.

Issue History
DateLabelFormatNumberComments
1920 HMV 78rpm D 481/5, D 496/501 See table below for allocation of catalog numbers to sides
1998 78s 2 CD CD GS01  
2000 Sounds on CD CD VGS216
2001 78s 2 CD CD GS01C This version is the same transfer as the other Lockwood issue listed above, but it is on 2 CDs. In addition to the standard recording, the separate Orchestral Selection, which was side 2 of the original published set, is included. Also, there is a bonus track, "Thou art passing hence," sung by Peter Dawson. (Early purchasers of GS01 received this two CD set, but currently it is a special order.)
Recording Details
Side
Nbr
Matrix
Number
Cat
Nbr

Selection
Rec.
Date
1HO4299-2D481
  1. Overture (Light Opera Orchestra)
18 Mar 20
2HO4461-1
  1. "Selection" (Light Opera Orchestra)
6 Jul 20
3HO4516-2D496
  1. When maiden loves (Walker)
31 Aug 20
4HO4300-2
  1. Tower warders, under orders (Dawson & Chorus of Thornton, Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Baker, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne)
18 Mar 20
5HO4301-2D482
  1. When our gallant Norman foes (Thornton & Chorus of Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde and Glynne)
18 Mar 20
6HO4287-1
  1. Alas! I waver to and fro! (Heyl, Pike, Dawson)
  2. Is life a boon? (Oldham)
4 Mar 20
7HO4302-2D497
  1. Here's a man of jollity (Baker & Chorus of Thornton, Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne
  2. I have a song to sing, O (Essex, Baker & Chorus of Thornton, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne)
18 Mar 20
8HO4284-1
HO4284-2
  1. How say you, maiden (Essex, Radford, Baker)
  2. I've jibe and joke (Baker)
4 Mar 20
9HO4285-1
HO4285-2
D498
  1. 'Tis done! I am a bride! (Essex)
4 Mar 20
10HO4521-2
  1. Were I thy bride (Walker)
  2. Oh Sergeant Meryll (Baker, Oldham & Chorus of Radford, Pike, Halland and Wilde)
2 Sep 20
11HO4397-2D499
  1. Didst thou not, oh, Leonard Meryll (Radford, Heyl, Oldham & Chorus of Dawson, Baker, Pike, Glynne and Halland)
21 May 20
12HO4522-1
  1. To thy fraternal care (Walker, Radford, Oldham & Chorus of Baker, Pike, Halland and Wilde)
2 Sep 20
13HO4411-1D483
  1. The prisoner comes (Essex, Thornton, Heyl, B. Jones, S. Jones Walker, Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne)
27 May 20
14HO4303-1
HO4303-2
  1. Night has spread her pall (Thornton & Chorus of Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde and Glynne)
18 Mar 20
15HO4282-1D484
  1. Oh! a private buffoon (Baker)
4 Mar 20
16HO4283-2
  1. Hereupon we're both agreed (Radford, Baker)
  2. Free from his fetters grim (Oldham)
4 Mar 20
17HO4399-2D485
  1. Strange adventure (B. Jones, Thornton, Radford, Oldham)
  2. Hark, what was that, sir? (Dawson, Oldham & Chorus of Pike, Glynne, Halland, Radford and Baker)
21 May 20
18HO4409-1
HO4409-2
  1. Like a ghost his vigil keeping (Radford, Baker & Chorus of Thornton Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Halland, Pike, Glynne and Dawson)
27 May 20
19HO4518-2D500
  1. A man who would woo a fair maid (Essex, Walker, Oldham)
31 Aug 20
20HO4400-2
  1. When a wooer goes a-wooing (Essex, Oldham, Baker, Heyl)
  2. Rapture, rapture (Thornton, Dawson)
21 May 20
21HO4410-2D501
  1. Comes the pretty young bride (Essex, Heyl, Thornton, Radford & Chorus of B. Jones, S. Jones, Baker, Glynne, Dawson, Pike and Halland)
27 May 20
22HO4549-1
  1. All thought of Leonard Meryll set aside (Oldham, Essex, Baker & Chorus of Walker, Heyl, Dawson, Pike, Wilde and Halland)
4 Oct 20

Notes:

  1. Francis does not note any instances of multiple takes published under the same catalogue number. Francis has:
    • For side 8: HO4284
    • For side 9: Ho4285
    • For side 14: HO4303
    • For side 18: HO4409-1

    For all of these, Chris Webster, Michael Walters, James Lockwood, and other correspondents have verified the existence of multiple published takes.

  2. Substantial excerpts from this recording were included on Pearl GEM 125, a Derek Oldham retrospective disc.
  3. Sides 20 & 22 were included on Arabesque's LP reissue of the 1931 Ruddigore.
Recording Sessions
ResultMatrix
Number

Selection
Session One, 4 March 1920
Issued s. 15HO4282-1-2
  1. Oh! a private buffoon (Baker)
Issued s. 16HO4283-1-2
  1. Hereupon we're both agreed (Radford, Baker)
  2. Free from his fetters grim (Oldham)
Issued s. 8HO4284-1-2
  1. How say you, maiden (Essex, Radford, Baker)
  2. I've jibe and joke (Baker)
Issued s. 9HO4285-1-2
  1. 'Tis done! I am a bride! (Essex)
RejectedHO4286-1-2
  1. A man who would woo a fair maid (Essex, Heyl, Oldham)
Issued s. 6HO4287-1-2
  1. Alas! I waver to and fro! (Heyl, Pike, Dawson)
  2. Is life a boon? (Oldham)
RejectedHO4288-1-2
  1. When maiden loves (Heyl)
Session Two, 18 March 1920
Issued s. 1HO4299-1-2
  1. Overture (Light Opera Orchestra)
Issued s. 4HO4300-1-2
  1. Tower warders, under orders (Dawson & Chorus of Thornton, Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Baker, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne)
Issued s. 5HO4301-1-2
  1. When our gallant Norman foes (Thornton & Chorus of Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde and Glynne)
Issued s. 7HO4302-1-2
  1. Here's a man of jollity (Baker & Chorus of Thornton, Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne
  2. I have a song to sing, O (Essex, Baker & Chorus of Thornton, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne)
Issued s. 14HO4303-1-2
  1. Night has spread her pall (Thornton & Chorus of Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde and Glynne)
RejectedHO4304-1
  1. Comes the pretty young bride (Essex, Heyl, Thornton, [Lieut.?] & Chorus of B. Jones, S. Jones, Walker, Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde and Glynne)
Session Three, 21 May 1920
RejectedHO4396-1-2
  1. Were I thy bride (Heyl)
  2. Oh Sergeant Meryll (Dawson, Oldham & Chorus of Baker, Pike Radford, Glynne and Halland)
Issued s. 11HO4397-1-2
  1. Didst thou not, oh, Leonard Meryll (Radford, Heyl, Oldham & Chorus of Dawson, Baker, Pike, Glynne and Halland)
RejectedHO4398-1-2
  1. To thy fraternal care (Heyl, Dawson, Oldham & Chorus of Radford, Pike, Glynne, Halland and Baker)
Issued s. 17HO4399-1-2
  1. Strange adventure (B. Jones, Thornton, Radford, Oldham)
  2. Hark, what was that, sir? (Dawson, Oldham & Chorus of Pike, Glynne, Halland, Radford and Baker)
Issued s. 20HO4400-1-2
  1. When a wooer goes a-wooing (Essex, Oldham, Baker, Heyl)
  2. Rapture, rapture (Thornton, Dawson)
RejectedHO4401-1-2
  1. All thought of Leonard Meryll set aside (Oldham, Essex, Dawson and full chorus)
Session Four, 27 May 1920
Issued s. 18HO4409-1-2
  1. Like a ghost his vigil keeping (Radford, Baker & Chorus of Thornton Essex, B. Jones, S. Jones, Halland, Pike, Glynne and Dawson)
Issued s. 21HO4410-1-2
  1. Comes the pretty young bride (Essex, Heyl, Thornton, Radford & Chorus of B. Jones, S. Jones, Baker, Glynne, Dawson, Pike and Halland)
Issued s. 13HO4411-1-2
  1. The prisoner comes (Essex, Thornton, Heyl, B. Jones, S. Jones Walker, Radford, Baker, Dawson, Pike, Halland, Wilde, Heyl and Glynne)
Session Five, 31 August 1920
Issued s. 3HO4516-1-2-3
  1. When maiden loves (Walker)
 HO4517
  1. See 1920 Pirates, s. 17
Issued s. 19HO4518-1-2
  1. A man who would woo a fair maid (Essex, Walker, Oldham)
Session Six, 2 September 1920
 HO4519
  1. See 1920 Pirates, s. 21
 HO4520
  1. See 1920 Pirates, s. 16
Issued s. 10HO4521-1-2
  1. Were I thy bride (Walker)
  2. Oh Sergeant Meryll (Baker, Oldham & Chorus of Radford, Pike, Halland and Wilde)
Issued s. 12HO4522-1-2
  1. To thy fraternal care (Walker, Radford, Oldham & Chorus of Baker, Pike, Halland and Wilde)
Session Seven, 4 October 1920
 HO4548
  1. See 1920 Pirates, s. 18
Issued s. 22HO4549-1-2
  1. All thought of Leonard Meryll set aside (Oldham, Essex, Baker & Chorus of Walker, Heyl, Dawson, Pike, Wilde and Halland)
 HO4550
  1. See 1919 Gondoliers, s. 12

Notes:

  1. The table above presents both the published sides and the rejected takes in the order recorded. The identification of the artists on each side and the details of the rejected takes were supplied by Chris Webster, who in turn obtained transcriptions of the original HMV artist sheets from his colleague, Alan Kelly.
  2. In the table, the "result" column indicates whether a matrix was issued or rejected. If a matrix was rejected, then the entire row is printed in italics. For issued sides, the published matrix numbers are underlined. For example, the designation "HO4282-1-2" (see the first row, below) indicates that there were two takes for matrix HO4282, of which the first was published.
  3. Francis gives the date of Session Four as 26 May 1920. Chris Webster, who has seen two different transcriptions of the artist sheets, confirms that the date was 27th May.
  4. On 18th June 1920, an ensemble called the Mayfair Orchestra recorded a single unpublished take for the Instrumental Selection, mat. HO4443. There were two more takes on 6th July (HO4461-1-2), the first being the published take. These are not shown in the table above. The artist sheets for the 6th July session mistakenly describe the selection as part two of the overture, which it is not.
  5. On matrix 4398, the HMV artist sheets do not include Edward Halland, but someone called W.&Clarke instead. This is the only mention of W.&Clarke anywhere for this recording, and as Halland participated in all the other sides recorded during this session, the mention of Clarke may very well be a mistake.
  6. On matrix 4401, the HMV artist sheets do not list the chorus. The men likely would have included all of those present at the session, viz., Baker, Pike, Radford, Glynne and Halland. The women would certainly have included Heyl, B.&Jones, Thornton, and possibly Walker and S. Jones.