Last weekend, I made the latest update to my website, with two acoustic English Columbias.
On the first Albert Sammons plays the Ballade et Polonaise by Vieuxtemps, recorded in 1916 with the accompaniment played by the Grenadier Guards Band. I've transferred it at A452, as this was standard British military pitch at the time. The Ballade is complete, but the transition to the Polonaise is omitted, and the Polonaise is abridged.
The other item is a 1917 recording of Chopin's A flat major Polonaise Op.53, played by Adela Verne, acknowledged as one of the greatest female pianists of her era. She recorded another two Columbia sides at around the same time - with pieces by Cervantes and Moszkowski. I don't know if she recorded for any other companies, but so far those are the only two discs of which I've found mention. She did make a few piano rolls, including the Cervantes pieces. As this Chopin anniversary year draws to a close, it seemed that her Polonaise deserved to be shared.
Damian
