Albert Spalding (violin) - Rondo Capriccioso (Saint-Saens) (1915?)

Albert Spalding plays 'Rondo Capriccioso,' with piano by Andre Benoist.
The recording was made in New York. The date is not entirely clear. Several takes were recorded on 1 May 1915. Further takes (up to take G) were recorded on 6 September 1915. This, however, is take J, and there appears to be no documentation as to the recording date.
From Wikipedia: Albert Spalding (August 15, 1888 - May 26, 1953) was an internationally recognized American violinist and composer.
Spalding was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 15, 1888. His mother, Marie Boardman, was a contralto and pianist. His father, James Walter Spalding, and uncle, Hall-of-Fame baseball pitcher Albert Goodwin 'Al' Spalding, created the A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.
Spalding studied the violin privately in Manhattan, New York City and Florence, Italy, and at the conservatories in Paris and Bologna; the latter graduated him with honors when he was fourteen. Following his debut in Paris on June 6, 1906, he appeared successfully in London and Vienna. His first American appearance as soloist came with the New York Symphony on November 8, 1908. A year later he soloed with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra when that orchestra toured the United States. In 1916, he was recognized as a national honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music. During World War I, Spalding served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (at one point as aide-de-camp to then-Congressman Fiorello La Guardia) and would eventually be awarded the Cross of the Crown of Italy.
Not long after his return to the United States, he married Mary Vanderhoef Pyle on July 19, 1919, in Ridgefield, Connecticut. French violinist Jacques Thibaud and Andre Benoist, Spalding's accompanist, provided the music for the ceremony. In 1920, Spalding appeared on the European tour of the New York Symphony. In 1922, he became the first American violinist to appear with the Paris Conservatory Orchestra; a year later he was the first American to serve on a jury at the Paris Conservatory, helping to award prizes to the graduating class of violinists. In February 1941, he premiered the violin concerto of Samuel Barber.
Upon the United States' involvement in World War II, Assistant Secretary of State Adolf Berle successfully urged Spalding to accept an assignment with the Office of Strategic Services. He was posted to London, for six weeks, and then served in North Africa until he was ordered to Naples where he was attached to the Psychological Warfare Division of SHAEF. In 1944, Spalding gave a legendary concert to thousands of terrified refugees stranded in a cave near Naples during a bombing raid.
Following a concert in New York on May 26, 1950, Spalding announced his retirement from the concert stage. Thereafter, he taught master classes at Boston University College of Music and, in the winter months, at Florida State University. His last recital, with pianist Jules Wolffers, at Boston University on 15 May 1953 was preserved on record... Ten days later he died in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 64.
I transferred this side from Edison 82043.

[@The-Organised-Pianist]

Fine dexterity, flexible & well-judged phrasing & admirably decisive tone production - a violinist of quality. Delightful. Thanks!

[@Lily-ky8ew]

Fantastic performance. Thanks.

[@vintagesounds3878]

@@Lily-ky8ew Thank you!

[@georgejohnson1498]

Fine that it took "J" number of takes to get the performance wanted. One assumes that each previous take was listened to carefully and perhaps even adjustments to the reading/interpretation would follow. This is one useful aspect of the gramophone as a method of improving the next public performance!
At least this "one" wonderful take and not some melange of edited snippets!
Of course the result is glorious!
Edison certainly made some great recordings!
Best wishes from George

[@vintagesounds3878]

@georgejohnson1498 Thanks George. Incidentally, typically for Edison it seems that quite a few of the takes were issued.

[@_PROCLUS]

💝💝💝 TY

[@noshirm6285]

Amazing sound! ❤

[@vintagesounds3878]

@@noshirm6285 Thanks!

[@noshirm6285]

@@vintagesounds3878 🤗