Puck’s Minuet had been released on Decca K522 in 1930 with an unidentified
orchestra conducted by Julian Clifford. This record was reviewed by W.R.Anderson. in
the July 1930 edition of The Gramphone.
‘Howells has said of his Minuet…that ‘though
written to an imaginary scene, it matters little what particular picture be in
the listener’s mind…It would seem, however, that airy Puck takes strange and
ill-assorted companions for the dance – perhaps a Falstaff among them.’ The
reviewer concludes by noting that it one of the prettiest, most charming pieces
for small orchestra, clearly and suavely recorded.’ The record also featured Scarlatti-Tomassni’s The Good Humoured Ladies.
I also found a reference to an even
earlier recording of Puck’s Minuet
dating from 1925. The Gramophone
(July 1925) gives a brief review of the 10” 78rpm record issued by Vocalion on
X.9571 featuring the Aeolian Orchestra. The Howells piece was conducted by
Stanley Chapple and the second side consisted of Jarnefelt’s Berceuse conducted by Percy
Fletcher. The reviewer P.P. notes that the
latter is ‘quite an agreeable little piece’ but was ‘completely eclipsed by the
very individual Minuet…’ He concludes by suggesting Howells has ‘most
successfully achieved a genuine “Puckish” atmosphere and the piquancy of the
orchestration is most admirably reproduced in the record.’
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