String Quartet no.1 in F, op.18/1 Recorded: 11 Nov.1933
String Quartet no.9 in C, op.59/3 'Rasumovsky' Recorded: 10/16 Nov.1933
String Quartet no.11, in F minor, op.95 Recorded: 19-20 Sept.1932
String Quartet no.12 in E flat, op.127 Recorded: 16-17 Oct.1937 + 2 Nov.1936
4 files zip FLAC Mega Download
String Quartet no.13 in B flat, op.130 (CBS) Recorded: June 1941
String Quartet no.14 in C sharp minor, op.131 Recorded: 2 March 1936
String Quartet no.15 in A minor, op.132 Recorded: 7 Oct.1937
String Quartet no.16 in F, op.135 Recorded: 13 Nov.1933
4 files zip FLAC Mega Download
The Busch String Quartet (Adolf Busch, Gosta Andreasson, violins ~ Karl Doktor, viola ~ Hermann Busch, violoncello)
HMV EX 137 290306 3 (5LP) Issued 1985 - EMI Germany DMM / CBS 61664 UK 1975 - CBS/Sony 1970
Nos. 12/14/16: transfers by Anthony Griffith - other EMI by Keith Hardwick EX English notes / data / pics + CBS sleeve-note >>>
The Violin Sonatas are here >>> http://musicparlourhistorical.blogspot.com/2014/08/adolf-busch-rudolf-serkin-play.html
Lovely acoustics on this recording - really like the sound. Thanks a lot, once again..
ReplyDeleteShame if not enough interest to justify completing the set!
Near-minimal downloads? I can't believe it! The performances you give us are among the greatest, the transfers so carefully-edited. For myself, where sets are otherwise available on CD and/or where the work is built on transfers which may themselves have some copyright(?), that gives me pause for thought; or should I say, a conflict between the feelings of pleasure (pleasurable guilt?!) on hearing the transfer, and intense pain on giving in to the guilt and deleting it...! (I've been putting off hearing the Mengelberg symphonies because I can't bear the pain of deleting tehm as a 1977 issue....)
ReplyDeleteBut with the mess EMI are making with 'cleaned-up' transfers (which their engineers don't even appear to have listened to!) I'd rather have the pleasure of hearing a decent transfer than the pain of spending money to ehar a thinned-out travesty of the music which was on the shellac/vinyl.
In any case, it's never possible to hear the Busch recordings too many times, and without a sound-quality barrier the more it's possible to immerse oneself in the performances.
Looking forward to this & others - thank you for the great opportunities you give us!!
I have had the privilage of enjoying your work for some time now but have never thanked you. You are very much appreciated and I really look forward to this latest offering. I too have always been a little uneasy about EMI's overprocessed historical CD reissues and much prefer a more natural sound. All the best!
ReplyDeleteMaybe about 10 days to complete this (supposedly was 'on holiday' for 2 months..then, possibly, 'retire'..)
DeleteI'm a bit 'uneasy' about these LP's too (don't have the original mid-70s World Records 2x 2LP albums: 3 of those Qts being in this box) as I find the string-tone pretty 'clinical-steely': and have remarked (about early 80's HMV Treasury issues I've transferred) that they seem 'digital'.
Anyway - quite a few 'bad edits' to repair - aside from hundreds of surface 'blips'...
I too am surprised at the 'near-minimal' observation. Really have enjoyed what you've done here. The quality of this Beethoven, in particular, is fantastic. It would be a shame if you closed the site down - these are carefully presented performances that deserve to be heard not in the brutally remastered way we have become accustomed to.
ReplyDeleteTardy
Thats very kind of you.
DeleteAlways, the objective has been to provide whatever 'detail' is on the LP - 'warts'n'all' - except I try to remove those @ some cost in time; not to debase the sound/cover-it-up to disguise the defects...then 'mess about with it to pretend it isn't inferior after all' !!
As you can see, I'm having problems figuring-out how to re-upload Messrs RVW/Walton/Lambert, et al..as otherwise this blog would now be wholly re-uploaded.. (again..)
I just listened to your transfer of op. 135 which is far better than any current CD incarnation. Thank you. Please keep up your wonderful work. I would be happy to volunteer assistance. Elliot ecrothenberg@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteWhen you reach T.S. Eilot's "still point of the turning world," there you hear music much like that of the Adagio of Beethoven 16th String Quartet as played by the Busch Quartet in this fabulous transfer. You are to be thanked and commended for this work. There is a warm, clear intimacy to the sound now. No wonder many think this recording is the greatest ever of this piece. In my humble opinion, it still shares the throne with some others--but, sadly, very few come after 1960. Please give us the remainder of the last quartets.
ReplyDeleteHello David.
DeleteGiven the tiny number of downloads (50+ for all 3) I might be able to deliver them personally!!
Hope you will find it possible to complete the transfers of the late Beethoven Busch Quartet set. You have done yeomen service with your magnificent transfers. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOpus 132 will be next (today): twice as long as some others - so takes longer to edit (but op.95 took getting-on for almost 3 hours due to all the 'tiny recorded blemishes').
DeleteI'll maybe try to figure how to 'tap you' for assistance!
Another great transfer. Thank you. What a colossal improvement over the conglomerate-produced stuff! You would never know they come from the same original recordings. Wherever the Busches are now, I'm sure they would appreciate your work. Congratulations again.
ReplyDeleteThe download statistics are Absolutely Pitiable...so maybe I should start a Heavenly Blog...so I'm leaving this for a while.
DeleteThanks for the comments - much appreciated..
Thanks so much for your work and for sharing with us !
ReplyDeleteFranck
Will upload the other files after some new transfers - probably via a different PU cartridge - as the LP's of those 2 Griffith transfers are less detailed (as is the CBS op.130, if I include that).
DeleteI appreciate your work very much, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHotfile asks for patience but such treasure is worth it for sure :)
Yes - I could have put these onto 'Zippyshare' as they are also out of musical copyright - and may well do so - but when I started I wasn't using that 'host' - and Hotfile has the advantage (for me) of retaining files for at least 90 days - though I guess these will be downloaded pretty regularly - just like the Mengelberg/Beethoven - via the far slower Sendspace.
DeleteThank you very much.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome..and I eventually got-around to editing nos.12-14 (no.13 has a small tape-editing flaw towards the end that I could not eradicate..).
DeleteThank you for sharing the remaining three late Beethoven quartets. The transfers are up to your customary lofty standards and far exceed anyone else's. Please continue your great work.
ReplyDeleteDecided to use a different cartridge after all - so it appears the end-result was OK (?): and probably the last remaining new (never previously used, c.30yo) Shibata/Beryllium stylus here on Planet X..
DeleteNot 100% sure about the 'continuing' bit though!
Anyhow - lovely performances - I may add the booklet notes (possibly with 2 of the original 78 album notes: and notice I've 3 'pre-war' HMV albums of Brahms by the Busch, as well)
"3 'pre-war' HMV albums of Brahms by the Busch"
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmm! Please do continue!
Thank you for this marvellous work and I add my name to those who ask you to continue. Best wishes from Frankfurt am Main.
ReplyDeleteThank you...although I really *should* have charged something - as will run-out of instrumental/Orchestral LP transfers of 78's... and am unable to find them 'for a song' - as I did up to a decade ago...and eBay is barely 'cost-effective' for LP's..and, unfortunately, I do not have the Busch Qt Brahms/Schubert EMI LP box-sets...
DeleteThanks for these wonderful transfers. No quartet gets to the inner soul of these quartets as The Busch do. I consider Beethoven's Quartets to be is greatest music especially the late ones.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the transfers (and also have two of these Beethoven 78 albums) - whatever slight reservations I might have about dubbing to 16-bit digital/CD-RW these HISTORICAL recordings invariably seem very acceptable; and, in this case (and others), apparently superior to various commercial CDs.
DeleteWhen I had under a 100 LP's (almost 40 years back: and when they were still pretty expensive to buy) I did acquire, as a deletion, the Quartetto Italiano 4LP Philips 'subscription' box-set of the Late Quartets for just £4 -and 'got to know' the music/performances rather well: and which so reveals Beethoven's profound intellect.
As mentioned above, I only wish I had the other EMI/Busch Qt LP box-sets; but only otherwise possess the Busch Chamber Players J.S.Bach: 4 Suites (also on 2x 78 albums)..
You have done exceptional work here. I own the EMI, Pearl and Dutton transfers of these performances and while the Dutton are the best of those your transfers have an earthy vibrancy to them that makes them both honest and plausible. Well done.
ReplyDeleteOne reason I uploaded these was seeing some mention of the current EMI CD's being none too good; so, presumably, they had been 'smoothed-over/noise-reduced' (as is The Fashion) - thus can well imagine a loss of 'vibrancy' - as small details/'attack'/dynamics will be further compromised: which is why I avoid LP noise-reduction/auto de-clicking myself; working on the principal that if I can hear the subsequent diminution in 'quality' - then so can others.
DeleteThe EMI remastering policy appears to require fattening up the bass and cutting off high frequencies if there is a whisper of hiss, along with having little interest in presenting a faithful dynamic range (an industry wide problem). Thankfully Testament appears to be licensed to balance these excesses - I have much respect for Paul Bailey. The emi Busch mastering sounds like a string trio with some hysterical anaemic violin playing patched in for the 'high notes'. Pearl's transfer has an unpleasant echoing tubby bass and is ultimately unpleasantly noisy for quiet passages - Pearl's piano transfers are outstanding however. The Dutton transfer is very good and I think I will listen to both the Dotton and yours from now on.
DeleteGieseking's Debussy is another classic set that emi have ruined in recent times by removing the high frequencies. I haven't found a listenable version of that yet.
Of course..mine are merely a Transcription of whatever the EMI/CBS engineers decided to create from the 78's (with the 'disadvantage' of analogue-tape/LP mastering interposing - but the use of original matrices being a clear advantage over small/er transfer 'engineers'.
DeleteI have both of the Gieseking: Ravel & Debussy HMV 2LP Treasury (early 1980's) albums; however, in this everlasting 'economic crisis', I'm afraid continuing these blogs has become a considerable Indulgence - which can no longer be justified without some 'recompense' for the time spent (and money-saved for numerous downloaders!)...
Outstanding sound for the period. I have not previously wanted to listen to quartets from this period, but am very pleased with the sound quality. Actually more enjoyable than the early 40s Budapest Beethoven on Sony Legacy.
ReplyDeleteRay Pratt, Bozeman, MT.
You would expect that EMI 'could do better' than my transfers from LP (via CD-RW) for their CD-issues - but apparently not!
DeleteAnd a bit annoying to be missing one of the two CBS UK LP issues (CBS 61888 - Rasumovsky op.59/1 + a Haydn mvt) - but the 'held to ransom' price currently on eBay UK is about $30 inc postage - about $29 more than the above cost(!) thus now 'too late' unless I'd charged for these.............
Thanks for these transfers. I used to have the LPs but I stupidly got rid of them when CDs came out.
ReplyDeleteI can only repeat what the others above me have already stated: Thank you for giving this group the digital transfer they deserve. I can finally listen to this in fantastic sound (for the time period, at least). I think the only group that can compete with the Busch in these particular pieces (and especially the late quartets) is maybe the Hollywood String Quartet. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI will whip myself for 'stupidly' not charging for these transfers!
DeleteDon't have the HMV Hollywood Beethoven reissue box -only 'the other one'- Brahms/Schubert, et al).
Thankfully Testament has given Hollywood some fine transfers.
DeleteThank you very much! I had never imagined that these transcendent performances could sound so wonderfully immediate and full-bodied.
ReplyDeleteYes..they have come-across as successful transfers,
DeleteIt's only a shame that I don't have the Busch Qt. World Records box sets of Brahms/Schubert.
I saw the Brahms (7LP's) selling for £26 on eBay just a few days back - but cannot justify buying/bidding at those levels as 'don't make anything' from these transfers - and, anyway, also have a few of the 78 shellac albums.
However, as with the Schnabel/Beethoven sonatas (2 missing HMV boxes), I suppose I would have, by now, uploaded them 'for free' if I'd already acquired them cheaply (as with the above: which cost just a few pence/LP..)!!
I'm sorry. Many thanks for your work!
ReplyDeleteI want to tell you, that two links are dublicated.
OOOps - caused by the clipboard not updating - correct link now here..
DeleteGreat post & great rip....Better than Rose's aseptic 24 bit rip-off! Many Thanks!
ReplyDeleteShouldn't that be 'Septic' !!!
DeleteBut.. no way do 78>LP transfers deserve '24bits' - even if they are copied from mine....(and you might wonder why he needs to copy my booklet scan if he had the box-set...).
Still - 'he's always good for a laugh' !!
Thank you for this transfer, as always with superior quality!
ReplyDeleteI have a question about your further 'Busch ressources'. I have listend to most of the recordings that have been published in a Japanese Busch edition, most of the EMI incarnations on CD and some Busch releases on historic recordings labels such as Pearl, Music & Arts etc.
I think every Busch recording deserves our attention but if I could choose just one recording I am still looking for a really good transfer I would point at his Brandenburg concertos. I have compared really a lot of recordings of this work from Cortot till Leonhardt (the only HIP one I find rewarding) and in my opinion the Busch recording is really awesome. Is there any possibility in the future that you will work on a transfer of this Bach set? Of course I would welcome every other Busch recording, too!
Regarding the Busch/6 Brandenburgs: that I don't have on LP (am not sure there was a UK issue on World Records) though it's on French EMI References
Delete.
The 4 Suites I have on World Record 2LP - and it sounds splendid (Keith Hardwick: who's superb Horowitz/Liszt, etc, I have on French EMI References) but because the same transfer may be on CD I've not bothered.
I have the 4 Suites on 2 new '78' albums - but only one of the Brandenburg 78 albums- plus the odd Furtwangler/Cortot/Boyd Neel..
My problem downloading these was simply MEGA's weird continuing demands for more complexity in the user pw - until I gave up. Several times. Nothing I did worked. I have the EMI LPs and was hoping for better transfers...It's very sad for me.
ReplyDeleteI have found some remarkable stuff on your blog over the years, for which I am really very grateful to you - but MEGA is just too much.
Unless you can specify the actual problem then I can't help - and certainly don't know where-else I can realistically upload/store these.
DeleteMega did once/sometimes introduce a hurdle by asking you to install some software - but as far as I'm aware (via Firefox browser, at least) all you need do is click the links here - wait for the download to complete (very fast) - then confirm where you want it saved...voila..
However; if the size of the 2 files is the problem, I can split into 4 folders - not the 2 since I had to re-upload files en-masse when Hotfile was zapped some 15months back..
NB: I can't make the transfers 'better' than these actual LP's - they are 'straight' dubs via very high-quality cartridges, etc.
Thanks so very much for these transfers. Your work is quite amazing. Please continue to bless us with great transfers of great recordings of great works.
ReplyDeleteI also have a music blog where I transfer LPs and 78s (albeit of a different kind of "classical music") and I know very well how much time goes into these efforts, how many dead ends occur behind the scenes, how much of your valuable time is wasted with things the readers will never see. And I thank you again for your efforts!
Ironically; quite true with this material, Compared to the LP, invariably numerous 'clicks/crackles'/glitches (bad edits - or 'silences' where the tape coating was crudely scraped-away to remove a 'bang') - all are 'hidden' when I've more or less finished..which, tbh, I needn't bother doing!
ReplyDeleteIf you believe in God. He is with You
ReplyDeleteGod bless you