How Could I Know By The Peerless Quartette 1913 Columbia Record

Tonight I have for you The Peerless Quartette (also known as Peerless Quartet, Columbia Quartet and Columbia Male Quartet) with a song called "How Could I Know" (catalog number: A1343 and matrix number: 38851).  It was recorded on May 16 in the year 1913 for the Columbia Record company.  I videotaped two versions: the first is with a soft tone steel needle and the second is with a loud tone steel needle.  You will clearly note the difference between the two.  The machine used to spin the record is a Brunswick Panatrope Exponential Type 106 Gramophone/Phonograph.  It was made in the late 1920s.



Here is a link of interest: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000021647/38851-How_could_I_know

Battle Of Germantown Revolutionary War Reenactment In Germantown, PA On October 4, 2014

On October 4, 2014, the annual Battle Of Germantown Revolutionary War Reenactment took place.  The Battle itself was on October 4 in 1777.  Embedded within this blog entry are two videos and a few photographs.  More photographs of the event can be found at this url: http://s169.photobucket.com/user/portaltothepast/library/Reenactments/Revolutionary%20War/Germantown%2010-4-2014?sort=9&page=1












A rifleman shooting out of the window at The Cliveden Estate (the Battle itself took place on this exact spot and the damage that you see on the building happened during the Conflict) ...





Here I am with a Flag that the Philadelphia Continental Chapter of the Sons Of The American Revolution (Link: http://passar.org/PCC) handed out.  These Flags were on the graves of Revolutionary War Soldiers, and were removed when they were replaced with new Flags.  I certainly recognize the significance of owning this Flag given where it was initially standing.  Also in this photograph is a tree that was standing during the Battle Of Germantown in the 1700s!  Massive history in this photograph:


You can see the combat damage in these pics ...

Annie Laurie By Corinne Morgan With Orchestra 1908 Victor 78 RPM Record

Here is a very old ballad called "Annie Laurie" by Corinne Morgan and an accompanying Orchestra.  The song was recorded in Camden, New Jersey on December 9, 1908, and was released the following October in 1909.  The song was believed to have been written at least in part by Scottish Military Veteran William Douglas in honor of the real life Annie Laurie.  A number of people had a hand in its composition over the centuries.  Very beautiful and very emotional.

The record is being played on a 1920s Brunswick Panatrope Exponential Type 106 Gramophone/Phonograph.



Additional information can be found at this url: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/10356/Victor_16388

Constitution Day 2014 At Independence Mall In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania On September 17, 2014

On September 17, 2014, The Liberty Hall Foundation hosted Constitution Day.  The event included readings, an acknowledgement of the 200th Anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and a concert performance by Madison Rising.  The Rock Band features a Navy Veteran named Dave Bray on vocals.  They put on a fine set of original songs and Patriotic covers.

The band in action with Independence Hall in the background:


Here I am with a pocket Constitution:

Video Footage And Photographs From The 200th Anniversary Of The Star-Spangled Banner

I have been worn out all week.  I finally got around to finishing the video and cropping the photographs ...

The 200th Anniversary Of The Star-Spangled Banner In Baltimore, Maryland

Ladies and Gentlemen: I have just returned from what was perhaps the most historically significant event of our time - "The Star-Spangled Banner" 200th Anniversary Commemorative Concert.  It was beyond incredible being in the actual city on the actual day of the Bicentennial and it was one of the most extraordinary episodes of my life.

I am way too tired to post a proper entry so I will do that tomorrow.  For tonight, I decided to make a collage with some of the pictures from today.  It will act as a preview for tomorrow's post.



The top three pictures are from Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, the host of the Commemorative Bicentennial Concert and the parish whose organist, Thomas Carr, published the first printing of the poem.  I am standing with David Hildebrand, the man who organized, and performed in the event.  The bottom two pictures are from Fort McHenry, the place where the 15-Star, 15-Stripe Flag survived the bombardment by the British thus giving Francis Scott Key the inspiration to pen the poem.  Once again, all of the pictures were taken today, September 14, 2014 ... the exact day that the poem was written two centuries prior.

Thomas Chalmers And Chorus With The Star-Spangled Banner 1914 Blue Amberol Cylinder Record

It is September 13, 2014 and I am bringing you another recording session involving "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the eve of the poem's 200th Anniversary. I am getting all of you ready for tomorrow's Bicentennial Concert with a 1914 version of the song by Thomas Chalmers, Elizabeth Spencer And Chorus on a Thomas Edison Blue Amberol Cylinder Record (catalog number 2652) that was released one year later. It is being played on an Edison Amberola Phonograph Model VI-B or BVI that was sold in 1913 and 1914. 2014 marks the 100th Anniversary of this recording and the 200th Anniversary of the writing of the poem. I hope to see all of you in Baltimore tomorrow.


The url for the above video in case it does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqTdUfPJ38






Link of interest:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016%20&query=2652&num=1&start=2&sortBy=&sortOrder=ia