The Sound And The Story - RCA Victor Commercial 1956

Produced by Jam Handy
HI-FInformation:
It is distinguished by these characteristics:
1. Complete frequency range.
2. Ideal dynamic range plus clarity and brilliance.
3. Constant fidelity from outside of record.
4. Improved quiet surfaces.

[@thrumbolax2851]

Fascination short film, and great to see Charles Munch conducting the excellent Boston Symphony Orchestra of that time

[@wmbrown6]

The tape player from which these recordings were transferred to disc (via Scully lathes) was an RCA RT-11 machine, mounted sideways and vertically.

[@Madness832]

I've been to Boston Symphony Hall several times. And since the first time that I watched this video, I found a copy of that record. It sounds pretty amazin' on a modern system.

[@hifiesta]

The RCA Victor recordings by Munch and the BSO are very popular and an integral part of the company's history. Please listen to his "La Valse" or "Bolero". Just beautiful.

[@fromthesidelines]

Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony recorded "Romeo and Juliet" on March 12, 1956 (a "Living Stereo" version was recorded in April 1961).

[@johneddy908]

RCA began recording classical music in LIVING STEREO as early as 1954, two years before the "Romeo and Juliet" overture featured in this clip was made. The Boston Symphony was one of a number of orchestras that made stereophonic recordings in the massive Grand Ballroom at New York City's Manhattan Center. Charles Munch conducted the Boston Symphony in Berlioz' "The Damnation of Faust," recorded in February of 1954 at Manhattan Center and released in 1955 on stereo reel-to-reel tape, followed by a stereo LP release three years later.

[@fromthesidelines]

I've heard about that.

[@fromthesidelines]

Yes! Munch, Jascha Heifetz and the Boston Symphony recorded Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D on November 27, 1955- in stereo- and initially released on a mono LP in 1956......then, on "stereo-orthophonic" tape in 1957........and on a "Living Stereo" disc in 1959......and *again* on stereo disc and tape in 1963.....and eventually, on CD in 1998.

[@CamhiRichard]

@@johneddy908 You can see the two stereo microphones, placed VERY wide apart, in the orchestral clips. But I believe the normal procedure for stereo recording was an array of 3 mikes, fed to 3 channels and then mixed down to two, so that the separation could be better controlled. By the way, just out of curiosity, what was on the other side of the disc? And why isn't it even mentioned on the front cover?

[@carlosg.ramirezarevalo8921]

​​@@CamhiRichard"Francesca da Rimini", también de Tchaikovsky. No se menciona porque esta portada fue hecha especialmente para esta película. Y no aparece ningún extracto de "Francesca". Tengo el mismo disco y el título es "Romeo and Juliet and Francesca da Rimini".

[@AQuietNight]

Pre Living Stereo recordings

[@gizgil]

How strange - this was an ad?? Where was it played? Seems more like a short program, or something shown to students of recording or something.

[@hifiesta]

I think it was shown quite well on TV. But especially in the cinema as a supporting film. Such a commercial was very expensive and produced for a wide audience.

[@Twentythousandlps]

I think it could well be categorized as an educational film for schools. I have seen a '30s film like this about cars, like this too serious to be an ad, but giving a favorable impression of the company making the film.

[@fromthesidelines]

It was also seen by RCA Victor dealers and their sales force.