Music recorded in December 1919

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Music recorded in December 1919

December 1919 marked the beginning of concrete political and social restructuring following World War I. In Britain, Nancy Astor (1879–1964) took the oath of office in the House of Commons on December 1st, becoming the first woman to actually sit in that house. On December 3rd, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919), a leading painter of French Impressionism, died, marking the end of a generation that had supported art in the latter half of the 19th century. On December 18th, John William Alcock (1892–1919), known for his non-stop transatlantic flight, died in a plane crash in France, demonstrating that advances in aviation still carried significant risks. On December 21, 249 radicals, including Emma Goldman (1869–1940), were deported from the United States, intensifying political tensions in postwar society. Furthermore, on December 23, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 was passed in Britain, reforming the system that excluded women from public, civil, and judicial positions.

Confirmed recordings this month: 0

Summary of information regarding recordings from December 1919

In December 1919, the recording industry saw the continuation of existing businesses, including cylinders, the recording of new dance music, and the simultaneous introduction of new disc businesses to the market. Based on the records for that month, we can confirm the activities of at least Thomas A. Edison, Inc., Victor Talking Machine Company, Columbia Graphophone Company, Emerson Phonograph Co., Inc., and Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company. Below, we list only the companies whose activities are actually visible in the December 1919 records.

Edison

At Thomas A. Edison, Inc., recordings of "Sweet and Low (Waltz)" by the Tuxedo Dance Orchestra were made on December 2nd, and "In Our Bungalow" by Helen Clark (1883–1940) and Joseph A. Phillips (dates of birth and death unknown) were made on December 9th, indicating that the production of new masters for discs continued in early December. At the end of 1919, the company continued to supply cylinders while also continuing to make new recordings in both vocal and dance music.

Victor

At Victor Talking Machine Company, we can confirm recordings of dramatic scenes by De Rosa and Company on December 5th, popular songs such as "That's worth while waiting for" on December 19th, and chamber music by the Flonzaley Quartet on December 24th. The fact that recordings are scheduled on multiple days within the month indicates that the company was simultaneously recording popular songs, dramatic repertoire, and instrumental music even at the end of the year.

Columbia

At Columbia Graphophone Company, the Louisiana Five recorded "Dardanella" on December 8th and "Slow and Easy" on December 16th, and a recording of a male duet can also be confirmed from December 24th. In December 1919, the company was recording both dance music/jazz and vocal music, demonstrating a multifaceted studio operation aimed at the post-war popular entertainment market.

Emerson

Regarding Emerson Phonograph Co., Inc., we were unable to find any documents that could pinpoint the recording date to the day, but we can confirm that Louisiana Five's "Sunshine Girl," "I'll Get Him Yet," "Weeping Willow Blues," and "Weary Blues" were recorded in December 1919. These were used not only on Emerson records but also on Medallion records, indicating that the company maintained a dance music repertoire even at the end of the year. At the same time, the company was discontinuing 7-inch and 9-inch records at the end of 1919, making December a period when recording continuation and product format changes coincided.

Brunswick

The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company began its first shipments of lateral records for the American market in December 1919, just before the nationwide advertising campaign began on January 1, 1920. In other words, December was the month when the company's record business for the American market moved from the preparation stage to the distribution stage. While it is not possible to definitively identify the titles of individual recordings made in December from the records for that month, the company's market launch activities can be clearly confirmed.

November 1919
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