Morton Gould - Music of Lecuona / String Time

We return to old friend Morton Gould this week with a 1951 LP that repackages two of his 78 sets from the 1940s, with a few other items tossed in, all in a handsome Alex Steinweiss cover.

Music of Lecuona

The first side is mainly devoted to the music of Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963), whose songs became popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Gould chose four of Lecuona's best known pieces, arranging them for orchestra, in this case the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia. This is the Philadelphia Orchestra, appearing under the name it assumed for its summer concerts at Robin Hood Dell.

Ernesto Lecuona

The Lecuona works are "Andalucía" (which became a hit as "The Breeze and I"), "Malagueña" (still widely heard), "La Comparsa" and "Jungle Drums." All these melodies may be familiar even if you don't know their names.

Morton Gould

Gould was apparently fond of this music, re-recording it for RCA Victor in 1956 for the LP Jungle Drums. The title tune was at the time widely popular with the bandleaders who specialized in what has become known as "exotica," a name derived from a Martin Denny LP. Denny himself recorded all four of these songs, including "Jungle Drums" on his 1959 Afro-Desia LP.

These particular Gould renditions date from August 1947, although they were not released until 1949. Columbia filled out the first side of the LP with Gould's arrangements of Jessel's "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and Polla's "Dancing Tambourine." These were from the same August 1947 recording session, but were issued separately as a single. The former piece will certainly be familiar. The latter dates from 1927, when it was recorded by any number of bands.

As a bonus, I've added Gould's V-Disc recording of "Jungle Drums," which predates the commercial recording. This version apparently is an aircheck from a 1945 radio program, "Shower of Stars," where Gould was a regular participant. The performance is slightly quicker and less refined, as you might expect.

I'm very interested in the music of Lecuona and its popularity in the US during the 30s and 40s. One of my next posts will bring together a few dozens versions of his compositions -  the four on this Gould album, "Siboney," "Say 'Si, Si,'" the songs from the 1947 film Carnival in Costa Rica, and other items.

String Time

Gould's 78 album String Time came out in 1947, although judging by the matrix numbers it was probably recorded the year before. (Update: discographer Nigel Burlinson writes to say the sessions were probably in July 1946.) It contains his arrangements of eight standards for strings, with the performers are identified as "Morton Gould and His Orchestra."

Cover of 78 album

The cover notes to the 78 release claim, "It is questionable if anyone today can do a consistently better job of spinning the fine cocoon of symphonic ornamentation around a popular melody and then conducting the new arrangement to the best possible advantage." That may have been correct, but I suspect that Andre Kostelanetz of the same Columbia record company would have disagreed.

The sound for the String Time numbers, probably a product of Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York, is very good. (Update: Nigel Burlinson writes that the recording was likely in Liederkranz Hall rather than 30th Street, which did not open until 1949.) In Philadelphia, the engineers were not so lucky, but I've done my best to clarify the opaque sound. I think you will find it pleasing.