2CDs
COMPACT DISC 1 (75.15) HMV recordings 1914 - 1926
1. PURCELL/MOFFATT Two Bourrées recorded on 15 June 1925
2. SHIELD/MOFFATT The Countess of Westmoreland’s Delight recorded on 15 June 1925
3. MOZART Rondo alla Turca from Sonata in A major K331 recorded on 16 September 1925
4. MOZART/PALMGREN Menuetto from Divertimento, K334 recorded on 6 June 1923
5. WEBER Rondo brillante Op 62 recorded on 7 July 1924
6. SYDNEY SMITH Le Jet d’Eau Op 17 recorded on 16 September 1925
7. HELLER Tarantelle Op 85/2 recorded on 24 August 1916
8. VERDI/LISZT Rigoletto de Verdi S434 recorded on 23 August 1916
9. WAGNER/LISZT Spinning Chorus from The Flying Dutchman S440 recorded on 23 August 1916
10. WAGNER/LISZT Isoldens Liebestod S447 recorded on 31 October 1917
11. WAGNER/LISZT Entry of the Guests from Tannhäuser S445/1 recorded on 31 October 1917
12. SGAMBATI Étude mélodique Op 21/5 recorded on 7 July 1924
13. SMETANA Polka in B flat from Czech dances Book 1 recorded on 25 November 1925
14. SCHARWENKA Polish Dance Op 3/1 recorded on 18 October 1926
15. PADEREWSKI Légende Op 16/1 recorded on 7 October 1926
16. PADEREWSKI Cracovienne fantastique Op 14/6 recorded on 7 October 1926
17. TCHAIKOVSKY June ‘Barcarolle’ from The Seasons, Op 37b recorded on 6 June 1923
18. TCHAIKOVSKY November ‘Troika’ from The Seasons, Op 37b recorded on 27 June 1923
19. TCHAIKOVSKY Humoresque Op 10/2 recorded on 19 March 1925
20. TCHAIKOVSKY Waltz Op 40/9 recorded on 19 March 1925
21. CERVANTES Six Cuban Dances recorded on 11 April 1923
22. ALBÉNIZ Granada Op 47/1 recorded on 24 April & 6 June 1923
23. ALBÉNIZ Sevilla Op 47/3 recorded on 24 April & 6 June 1923
24. GRANADOS Moresque recorded on 24 April 1923
COMPACT DISC 2 (78.37) HMV recordings 1914 - 1926
1. GRIEG Piano Sonata in E minor Op 7 recorded on 20 April 1921
5. GRIEG Waltz, Norsk, Folk Song & Elfin Dance from Lyric Pieces, Op 12 recorded on 19 March 1925
9. GRIEG Butterfly, Little Bird & To Spring from Lyric Pieces, Op 43 recorded on 31 October 1917
12. GRIEG Wedding Day at Troldhaugen Op 65/6 recorded on 19 March 1925
13. OLE OLSEN Humoresque recorded on 7 July 1924
14. OLE OLSEN Berceuse recorded on 7 July 1924
15. OLE OLSEN Mazurka recorded on 7 July 1924
16. SINDING Rustle of Spring Op 32/3 recorded on 16 September 1925
17. PALMGREN Karelian Dance, Minuet & Minuet-Waltz from Finnish Rhythms, Op 31 recorded on 27 June 1924
20. PALMGREN Evening Whispers Op 47/1 recorded on 11 April 1923
21. CHAMINADE Automne Op 35/2 recorded on 16 March 1915
22. CHAMINADE Fileuse Op 35/3 recorded on 22 April 1914
23. CHAMINADE Danse créole Op 94 recorded on 25 November 1925
24. CHAMINADE Pierrette Op 41 recorded on 25 November 1925
25. CHAMINADE Les sylvains Op 60 recorded on 24 August 1916
26. UNA BOURNE Petite valse caprice recorded on 22 April 1914
27. UNA BOURNE Caprice recorded on 22 April 1914
28. UNA BOURNE Nocturne recorded on 5 March 1926
29. UNA BOURNE Marche grotesque recorded on 5 March 1926
30. CYRIL SCOTT Impromptu Op 41 recorded on 24 April 1923
31. CYRIL SCOTT A Song from the East Op 54/2 recorded on 6 June 1923
32. CYRIL SCOTT Fairy Folk Op 54/4 recorded on 6 June 1923
33. CYRIL SCOTT Waltz Op 58/1 recorded on 24 April 1923
34. CYRIL SCOTT Water Wagtail Op 71/3 recorded on 24 April 1923
Australia seems to have produced more than its fair share of pianists in the early days of recording, with Percy Grainger, William Murdoch and Eileen Joyce all being mainstays of the 78rpm catalogue. To their ranks we should add Una Bourne, signed to the most prestigious label of all – HMV, and a stalwart of the acoustic period of recording. Bourne had early success as a prodigy and travelled to Europe to study, but it was being asked to tour with Nellie Melba which established her career. Later, as well as playing as a soloist she played and recorded much chamber music. She excelled in what we might now call ‘salon music’ and character pieces, as can be seem from her recorded repertoire. Both Grieg and Chaminade were specialities. She favoured fast tempos and played with brilliance and charm in repertoire, much of which has now been neglected. In 1939 Bourne abandoned her international career and retired to teach in Australia. She has been all but forgotten and this is the first time almost any of her recordings have been reissued. They give a fascinating snapshot of musical taste and playing in the early 20th century, a time when classical music and popular were much closer bedfellows.
APR6037 Available on Compact Disc, as a Digital Download and to Stream