Bells Across the Meadows: characteristic intermezzo Back to list of works index
Bells Across the Meadows was
first published in 1921, in versions for piano and for orchestra. Other arrangements followed later, and
it has been particularly popular with brass bands. Words were added in 1927, but they have
rarely been recorded. For a
discussion of the origins of this piece, see my article Bells Across the Meadows of Gozo?
elsewhere on this website.
The phrase “across the
meadows” had occurred in Ketèlbey's song
I call you from the shadows.
This piece is sometimes mis-titled as “Bells Across the
Meadow”. A sketch entitled Bells Across the Meadow by Tony Fayne
on Philips 632301 has nothing to do with Ketèlbey’s
music.
Composer’s synopsis
The Intermezzo opens with bells (solo) then the
strings and wood wind play a quiet melody, which on being repeated has a chimes
effect introduced with it, as if heard from a distant belfry across the
meadows. After a middle section in
the dominant during which other bells are heard, the first part is resumed,
this time with melody in the 'cellos, and soft chimes intermingling. This leads to a loud repetition of the
principal theme with bells ringing out joyously and then gradually dying away
in the distance.
Bells Across the
Meadows - orchestral
|
Artists |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Regal
Orchestra, ?Ketèlbey |
71408 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Apr
22] |
BL,
TM, (TM CD) |
||
|
Pathé Concert Orchestra “Across the
Meadows” |
Pathé 5783 |
94567 |
12” 78 |
|
[Feb
24] |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Actuelle 15156 |
|
12” 78 |
|
[Feb
24] |
||
|
Mayfair
O, Byng |
HMV
C 1173 |
Cc
4528-1 |
12” 78 |
UK |
[Dec
24] |
||
|
Frank
Westfield's Orchestra |
Parlophone E 5752 |
1183 |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Apr
27] |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Vintage Hour VH 107 |
CAS |
UK |
VLM
Winter 85 |
|||
|
Grosvenor
String Orchestra, organ |
Aco G 16221 |
C
331E |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Aug
27] |
|
|
|
Re-issue (Sutherland Orchestra,
pipe organ) |
-
Beltona 1251 |
C
331E |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Oct
27?] |
|
|
|
Re-issue (Coliseum Grand Orchestra) |
- Coliseum 2048 |
C 331E |
10”
78 |
UK |
|
|
|
|
String
orchestra, organ |
Broadcast
143 |
? |
8”
78 |
UK |
[1927?] |
|
|
|
Re-issue
(String orchestra, grand pipe
organ) |
-
Unison 143 |
143B |
8”
78 |
UK |
[1927?] |
|
|
|
Albert
W. Ketelbey’s Concert Orchestra, Ketèlbey |
WAX
3294-1 |
12” 78 |
UK |
[July
28] |
July
28 p.61 |
BL,
PD, (TM CAS) |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Columbia DX 775 |
WAX
3294-1 |
12” 78 |
UK |
[May
37 |
May
37 p.532 |
BL,
PD, TM |
|
Re-issue |
-
Pearl GEMM CD 9968 |
CD |
UK |
1993 |
BL,
PD, TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Evergreen Melodies C 62 |
CD |
UK |
[1999] |
PD,
TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Naxos 8.110848 |
CD |
UK |
2002 |
BL,
NX, PD,TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Memory Lane “British Light Music Favourites” |
|
CD |
UK |
2012 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Revivendo RVPC 004 |
|
CD |
Brazil |
? |
|
|
|
Viennese
Orchestra |
Piccadilly
270 |
xx
1763 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[?July 29] |
|
BL |
|
Re-issue “Orchestra” |
- Octacros
126 |
1763 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[1932?] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Octacros
648 |
1763 |
10”
78 |
UK |
1934 |
|
|
|
Grosses Symphonie Orchester, (Staatskapelle Berlin, organ , bells), chorus, Weissmann |
Odeon O 2940 |
Be
8988-2 |
10” 78 |
Germany |
rec.1930 |
MMU , cat.1936 |
WC |
|
Re-issue (Grand Symphony
Orchestra, chorus) |
-
Parlophone R 806 |
Be
8988-2 |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Dec
30] |
Dec
30 p.349 |
|
|
London
Palladium Orchestra, organ, Crean |
HMV
C 1916 |
CC
18737-II |
12” 78 |
UK |
[Sept
30] |
BL,
PD, (TM CAS) |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
IDCD 7 |
CD |
UK |
VLM Winter 98 |
|||
|
Re-issue |
-
Guild Light Music GLCD 5108 |
CD |
UK |
Oct
04 |
Mar 05 p.71 |
||
|
John Johnson & his Novelty Orchestra |
Filmaphone 404 |
BT
3803 |
10” 78 |
UK |
[1932] |
|
|
|
Musical
Dawson's Famous Choir of Canaries, orchestra |
Broadcast
938 |
325 |
9”
78 |
UK |
[Mar
33] |
Mar
33 p.403 |
|
|
Anton
and the Paramount Theatre Orchestra, Bollington (organ) |
HMV
BD 399 |
OER 186 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Feb
37] |
Feb37
p.27. Excerpt only |
WC |
|
Albert
W. Ketelbey & his Concert Orchestra, Ketèlbey |
DR
4754 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Nov
40] |
Dec
40 p.154-5 |
(TM
CD) |
|
|
Portsmouth
Division Royal Marines Orchestra, Dunn |
Overseas
Recorded Broadcasting Service 2139 |
? |
UK |
[1940s] |
|||
|
Re-issue |
- RM Historical Society RMHSEC 1 |
CD |
UK |
1998 |
TM |
||
|
New
Promenade Orchestra, Robertson |
London
R 10019 |
DR
12248-1 |
10” 78 |
US |
[1948?] |
WC |
|
|
Melachrino Strings, chorus, Melachrino |
HMV
B 9714 |
OEA
13467-1 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Jan
49] |
Jan
49 p.135 |
BL |
|
Re-issue |
RCA Victor 825285 |
OEA
13467 |
10”
78 |
Brazil |
? |
|
|
|
New
Symphony Orchestra of London, Robinson |
Decca
LK 4080 |
LP |
UK |
[June
54] |
July
54 p.73, Mar55 p.464-465 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca LW 5120 |
10”
LP |
UK |
[Aug 54 |
PD |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Ace of Clubs ACL 1044 |
LP |
UK |
[1961] |
BL,
(TM CD) |
||
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 6835 654 |
|
LP |
Netherlands |
1960 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Eclipse ECS 2016 (+ECM) |
CD |
UK |
1969 |
Feb
70 p.1332 |
BL,
PD, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca DDX 190039 |
|
LP |
Netherlands |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca NUX 390044 |
|
LP |
Netherlands |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 220014 |
|
LP |
France |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London
ECL 105 |
|
LP |
Brazil |
1977 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London LL
985 |
|
LP |
US |
? |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London
LLC 5047 |
|
LP |
Brazil |
? |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Richmond
B 20083 |
|
LP |
US |
? |
|
|
|
New
Symphony Orchestra of London, Sharples |
Decca
SKL 4077 |
LP |
UK |
[1959] |
Feb
60 p.434 |
BL,
PD |
|
|
Re-issue |
- London CM. 9041 |
|
LP |
Canada |
[1959] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London LL 3141 |
|
LP |
US |
[1959] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London PS 186 |
|
LP |
US |
[1959] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Axis 6326 |
|
LP |
Australia |
[1959] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca LXT 4329 |
|
LP |
Spain |
[1960] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca SKC 4077 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1969] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca SPA 187 |
|
LP |
UK |
1971 |
July
72 p.253 |
BL,
PD |
|
Re-issue |
- London SPA 4036 |
|
LP |
Canada |
1971 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca SPL 3046, |
|
LP |
South
Africa |
1977 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 65 94 156 |
|
LP |
Spain |
1981 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca LPD 253 Y |
|
LP |
Belgium |
? |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Westminster WGS 8139 |
|
LP |
Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca 841203 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
1982 |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca 452987-2 DWO |
CD |
UK |
1997 |
Nov
97 p.48, Oct 12 p.109 |
BL,
TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Vocalion CDLF 8143 |
CD |
UK |
[2011] |
LMS Aut
11 p42 |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Memory Lane “Yes M’Lord” |
|
CD |
UK |
2012 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Memory Lane “Countryfile” |
|
mp3 |
UK |
2014 |
|
|
|
Vienna
State Opera Orchestra, Aliberti |
Westminster
WP 6082 |
|
LP |
|
[1958]
rec.June 57 |
|
(TM
CD) |
|
Re-issue |
-
Westminster WST 15005 |
|
LP |
|
|
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Westminster WGWS 18071 |
|
LP |
Australia |
1958 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Sonotape SWB 7045 |
|
2-track tape |
|
1958 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Westminster WTP 132 |
|
4-track tape |
US |
1960 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
World Record Club TP 359 |
|
LP |
UK |
1963 |
|
BL,
PD |
|
Re-issue |
- Clave
18-1246 S |
|
LP |
Spain |
1971 |
|
|
|
Re-issue (Orquesta sinfónica de Baviera, Jenssen) |
- Dial Discos/Nevada ND 501312 |
|
LP |
Spain |
1978 |
|
WC, TM |
|
Re-issue (Orquesta sinfónica de Baviera, Jenssen) |
- Dial Discos NC 501312 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1978] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Westminster WGS 8139 |
|
LP |
US |
1981 |
|
TM |
|
Re-issue (Orquesta sinfónica de Baviera, Jenssen) |
- Dial Discos/Doblon 102048 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1986] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue (Orquesta sinfónica de Baviera, Jenssen) |
-
Dial 960139 |
|
CD |
Spain |
1991 |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- Voix de son maître 2CO 59392502 |
|
LP |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- Voix de son maître C 24592502 |
|
CAS |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- World Record Club S 4743 |
|
LP |
Australia |
|
|
|
|
Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, Mareczek |
Philips G 05585 |
|
10”
LP |
France |
[1967] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 836397 VZ |
|
10”
LP |
France |
[1967] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 837.494 G7 |
LP |
France |
(in French cat.1967) |
|||
|
Re-issue |
-
Mercury Wing SRW 18090 |
|
LP |
US |
[1968] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Fontana SFL 14141 |
|
LP |
UK |
[1970] |
Jan 70 p.1188 |
BL,
TM, (TM CD) |
|
Re-issue |
- Philips STLP 900531 |
|
LP |
Brazil |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips G 03488L |
|
LP |
France |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 839800 G7/GSY |
LP |
Sweden |
|
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Contour
6870 576 |
|
LP |
UK |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 432607 AE |
|
10”
LP |
France |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips
6504 042 |
|
LP |
Spain |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips
6537 018 |
|
LP |
France |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 730236 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1971] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 7431 049 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1977] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 7318 016 |
|
CAS |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 9117 CAA |
|
CAS |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra, Rogers |
Decca
PFS 4170 |
LP |
UK |
1969 |
Nov
69 p.833 |
BL,
TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
- London SPC 21036 |
|
LP |
US |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca
SLZ.8386, |
|
LP |
NZ |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London
LLN-7164, |
|
LP |
Brazil |
1969 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Orlador 54452 |
|
LP |
Spain |
1975 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca DGS 16 |
|
LP |
US |
1980 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca 6594 064 |
|
LP |
Spain |
1981 |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 444 786-2LPF |
CD |
UK |
1996 |
Aug 96 p.60 |
BL,
PD, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
- MG Direct Marketing D 115620 |
|
CD |
US |
1996 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 466 8562 |
|
CD |
UK |
1999 |
|
|
|
Philharmonia Orchestra, Lanchbery |
EMI
ASD 3542 |
LP |
UK |
1978 |
July
78 p.261 |
BL,
TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Angel S 37483 |
|
LP |
US |
1978 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Angel EAC
55030 |
|
LP |
Japan |
[1978] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- EMI 26
1370 |
|
LP |
Germany |
1978 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- EMI 7C 06102986 |
|
LP |
Sweden |
1978 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Hörzu 1C 05702986Q |
|
LP |
Germany |
1978 |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- His Master’s Voice TC-ASD 3542 |
|
CAS |
UK |
1978 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- World Record Club R-05771 |
|
LP |
Australia |
1979 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Voz de su Amo 10C 265002986Q |
|
LP/CAS |
Spain |
[1980] |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- Voix de son maître 2C 2692986 |
|
LP/CAS |
Farnce |
|
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- His Master’s Voice 1546401 |
|
LP |
Sweden |
1983 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Richmond B 20083 |
|
LP |
US |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Angel EAC-80451 |
|
LP |
Japan |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI CDC 7478062 |
|
CD |
UK |
1987 |
Nov 87 p.825 |
WC |
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI 7243 5730 025 |
|
CD |
UK |
1990 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI CDM 253 8402 |
|
CD |
Netherlands |
1992 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI 7234 5680 6122 |
|
CD |
UK |
1993 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- CD-CFP 4637 |
CD |
|
1993 |
Mar 94 p.114 |
BL, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
- TC-CFP 4637 |
|
CAS |
|
1993 |
Mar 94 p.114 |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI 50112920 |
|
CD |
Japan? |
1994
[2007?] |
|
PD,
TM |
|
Re-issue |
- EMI CMB 7234
5663 1120 |
|
CD |
Canada |
1996 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- EMI
Classics 7243 5730 0124 |
|
CD |
Netherlands |
1998 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 5730002 |
CD |
Germany |
[1998] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
HMV 5724852 |
CD |
|
1998 |
|||
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 0724 3573 00056 |
|
CD |
|
[1999] |
|
NX |
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 0742 3573 00155 |
|
CD |
|
[1999] |
|
NX |
|
Re-issue |
- EMI Classics 7243
5735 23221 |
|
CD |
|
1999 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- EMI Classics
7243 8266 6424 |
|
CD |
Europe |
2002 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Virgin VTDCDX 584 |
|
CD |
|
2003 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 00946 35239959/352399-2 |
|
CD |
|
2006 |
|
NX |
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 5099 9228 28552 |
|
CD |
|
[2008] |
|
NX |
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 5099 9088 79622 |
|
CD |
|
2011 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 5099 9088 79653 |
|
CD |
|
[2011] |
|
NX |
|
Re-issue |
- Angel
HCD-1353 |
|
CD |
Japan |
|
|
|
|
London
Promenade Orchestra, Faris |
Philips
6514 152 |
LP |
UK |
1982 |
Apr
82 p.1423 |
BL,
PD, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 7337152 |
|
CAS |
|
1982 |
Apr
82 p.1423 |
WC |
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 400 011-2 |
CD |
|
1983 |
Apr 83 p.1152 |
BL,
PD, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Musical Heritage
Society MHS 11165F |
|
CD |
Germany |
1986 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips MCCE
7084 |
|
CAS |
Mexico |
1991 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Schenker 940901 |
|
CD |
Austria |
1994 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca/Universal 4737202 |
CD |
|
2003 |
June
03 p.50 |
BL, WC, PD |
|
|
Re-issue (cond. Myers),
“Cloches à travers la prairie” |
- Mon Patrimoine
Musical |
|
mp3 |
France |
2019 |
|
|
|
Czecho-Slovak
Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leaper |
Marco
Polo 8.223442 |
CD |
UK |
1992 |
Apr
94 p.48 |
BL,
NX, PD, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Naxos 8.553515 |
CD |
UK |
1996 |
BL,
NX, TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Naxos |
CAS |
UK |
1997 |
|||
|
Re-issue |
-
Sony SMM 4912692 |
|
CD |
Belgium |
1998 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Sony 2894 126910 |
|
CD |
Belgium |
1998 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Naxos 8.554711, 8.505147 |
|
CD |
UK |
1999 |
June 00 p.70 |
TM |
|
Re-issue Slovak Radio Symphony
Orchestra |
- Naxos 8.555175 |
|
CD |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
New
London Orchestra, Corp |
Hyperion
CDA 66868 |
CD |
UK |
1996 |
July
96 p.67 |
BL,
TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Hyperion CDS 44261-4 |
CD |
UK |
2006? |
LMS Autumn 06 |
||
|
Palm
Court Theatre Orchestra, Godwin |
Chandos
FBCD 2002 |
CD |
UK |
1998 |
BL,
PD, TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Chandos CHAN 6676 |
|
CD |
UK |
2004 |
|
NX |
|
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Wordsworth |
Warner Classics 2464-62020-2 |
CD |
|
2006, rec.Sep
04 |
|||
|
Iain Sutherland Concert Orchestra, Sutherland |
Alto ALC 1192 |
|
CD |
|
Aug 2012 |
LMS Autumn
12 |
NX |
|
Orchestre symphonique |
Broadcast 1066 |
|
8” 78 |
France |
? |
|
WC |
|
? |
Broadcast B 1001 |
78 |
France |
? |
|
WC |
|
|
? (re-issue of modern
recording) |
Virgin VTCDX 584, 7243 5946 3421 |
|
CD |
UK |
2003 |
|
|
|
Conductor |
Timing |
Notes |
Link |
|
Aliberti |
4' 06" |
Re-scored, omits final bell
scale |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5i_NbBNuPI
(wrongly labelled In a Chinese Temple Garden) |
|
Corp |
4' 40" |
With glock |
|
|
Crean |
4' 37" |
With piano. Final chord sustained for 6 seconds
after bells cease |
http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Soundfiles/Orchestral/Soundfiles-Orchestral.htm#Ketelbey |
|
Faris |
4' 38" |
Slow but sensitive. Opening
bells partially with piano in unison. |
|
|
Godwin |
4' 11" |
Small orchestra with solo
strings and piano. Final bell scale is played 4 times |
|
|
Ketelbey (1922) |
|
Acoustic recording at
80rpm. Cuts 7 bars. Orchestra includes flute, clarinet, cornet, trombone,
bells, violin, cello and bass |
|
|
Ketelbey (1929) |
4' 08" |
Full orchestra. The 12 inch side allows a slower tempo |
|
|
Ketelbey (1940) |
3' 30" |
Reduced orchestra. Opening
bell passage doubled by piano (as in the score) |
|
|
Lanchbery |
4' 50" |
Well-balanced sound.
Opening with bells and piano. |
|
|
Leaper |
5' 09" |
Rather lethargic tempos.
With glock doubling tubular bells. Reprise melody
played by solo cello. |
|
|
Mareczek |
4' 33" |
With glock.
Replaces opening scales with random tubular bells, adds harp at end |
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=tppMAlYvbf8&list=RDAMVMtppMAlYvbf8 |
|
Melachrino |
3'
29" |
Greatly
re-arranged for lush string orchestra, harp, bells and a male chorus singing
"Ding dong." |
|
|
Robertson |
(crotchet=84, middle section faster) |
Cuts 16 bars. Opening bells
doubled by pizzicato strings. |
|
|
Robinson |
4' 15" |
Unsentimental tempo. |
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=GpvsjYO14ck&list=RDAMVMGpvsjYO14ck |
|
Rogers |
4' 30" |
Opening with bells &
piano. Bells tend to get lost in lush string texture. |
|
|
Sharples |
5' 38" |
Bells have rich tone. Slow
tempo, which tends to get even slower. |
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=w20yGSVNBA4&list=RDAMVMw20yGSVNBA4 |
|
Weissmann |
3’ 15” |
New orchestration with new
introduction. Male chorus sings Ave Maria |
|
|
Anon (Broadcast 143) |
(crotchet=84) |
Cuts 23 bars. String
orchestra with bells & organ, which plays middle section as solo. |
https://archive.org/details/78_bells-across-the-meadow_ketelbey_gbia0195955b |
Smith gives the date of the recording on DX 775 as
27th February 1930, but this seems to be a mistake.
Most
recordings consulted vary little in interpretation. Some include the piano with the bells,
others don’t. Some substitute
glockenspiel for tubular bells for most of the
time. Some conductors allocate the
reprise of the melody to a single cello, though the marking “Solo”
in the part is probably intended by the composer to mean “you people have
the tune”. Speeds vary,
but modern recordings tend to be slower than Ketèlbey’s
own recordings and his metronome mark of crotchet = 84, which would give a
duration of around 3'40".
Bells Across the
Meadows – military/wind band
|
Artists |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Band
of HM Scots Guards, Wood |
Winner
4046 |
8560 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[1924] |
|
|
|
Band
of HM Welsh Guards, Harris |
Aco G 16160 |
C
98E |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Apr 27] |
Apr
27 p.464 |
|
|
Re-issue (Beltona
Military Band) |
-
Beltona 1168 |
CE
98E |
10” 78 |
UK |
[?1927] |
Apr
27 p.464 |
|
|
Re-issue (Gresham
Military Band) |
-
Guardsman 2006 |
|
10”
78 |
UK |
[?1927] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Gaiety P 100 |
C 98E |
10”
78 |
|
[1927] |
|
|
|
Band
of HM Irish Guards, Hassell |
Imperial
1952 |
4804 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[?1928] |
Nov
28 p.247 |
BL |
|
Re-issue |
-
VLMS VH109 |
CAS |
UK |
[?1980s] |
TM |
||
|
Band
of HM Royal Air Force, Amers |
WA
8567-1 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[July
29], rec.15.2.29 |
(TM
CD) |
||
|
Band
of HM Royal Horse Guards |
Sterno 606 |
S
1088 |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Feb
31] |
||
|
Re-issue (cond. Dunn) |
-
Regal MR 2651 |
8
8088 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[?1938] |
Mar
38 p.433 |
TM
(TMmp3) |
|
Band
of HM Scots Guards, Dowell |
Winner
5479 |
? |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Apr
32] |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
May-Fair G 2137 |
12979 |
10”
78 |
|
|
|
|
|
Bahamas
Police Band |
Penny
Farthing R4RS 4836 |
LP |
US |
[1963] |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
RCA PR4M 6148 |
LP |
US |
[1963] |
|
|
|
|
The Band of An Garda Siochána |
Polydor 2908 020 |
|
LP |
Ireland |
1975 |
|
|
|
Wembley
Military Tattoo Massed Bands. Sharpe |
Castle
Pulse PLS CD 180 |
CD |
UK |
rec.June 77 |
|||
|
Puhallinorkesteri Turbo |
Lounais-Suomen Syöpäyhdistys
LSSY 1986 |
|
LP |
Finland |
1986 |
|
|
|
Band
of the Blues and Royals |
Music
Masters MMCD 409 |
CD |
UK |
1990 |
May
91 p.2069 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Music Masters MMC 0662 |
|
CAS |
UK |
1990 |
May
91 p.2069 |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Castle
Pulse PBXCD 566 |
|
CD |
UK |
2006 |
|
|
|
Band
of HM Royal Air Force, Amers |
Lindström GO 10907 |
5027 |
10”
78 |
UK |
? |
|
WC |
|
Oliver Military Band (=Band of HM Irish Guards,
Hassall) |
Oliver
3018 |
E 602 |
6” 78 |
|
?[1920s] |
|
|
Amers cuts 24 bars.
His average metronome is crotchet = 75.
Dunn cuts 20 bars, average
metronome 62.
Hassell makes cuts totalling
19 bars, including the final 5 bars.
His average metronome is crotchet = 80.
The Blue and Royals take
4’25”, average metronome 70.
The accompanying quavers are inaudible, but I wish my wind band could
play as well as this! Hear them at https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=YgWONjuwKGo&list=RDAMVMYgWONjuwKGo
Hear the Royal Horse Guards
at http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/mp3/bells%20across%20the%20meadows%20%20-%20Horse%20Guards.mp3
Bells Across the
Meadows - brass band
|
Artists |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
CWS
(Manchester) Band, Mortimer |
Fontana
687300 TL, 866164 TY |
LP |
UK |
[1963] |
May
63 p.535 |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Fontana FJL 507 |
LP |
UK |
[?1968] |
July
68 p.189 |
||
|
GUS
(Footwear) Band, Boddington |
Columbia
SX 6146 |
LP |
UK |
[1967] |
BL |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Columbia TWO 161 |
LP |
UK |
[1967] |
June
67 p.32 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI OU 2159 |
LP |
UK |
[1977] |
Jan
77 p.1193 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Studio 2, CDP 7962782 |
CD |
UK |
1991 |
BL |
||
|
Re-issue |
- Studio 2 EMS 194 |
CD |
UK |
VLM Aut 91 |
|||
|
Ercol Band, Rees |
Canon VAR 5954 |
|
LP |
UK |
1976 |
|
|
|
Brighouse
& Rastrick Band, Hirst |
Catalogue
CATCD 09 |
CD |
UK |
1997 |
BL |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Crimson CRIMCD 71 |
|
CD |
UK |
1997 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Crimson 539 767-2 |
|
CD |
UK |
1997 |
|
|
|
Black Dyke Mills Band, Watson |
Doyen DOY 081 |
CD |
UK |
1999 |
PD,
(TM mp3) |
Black
Dyke play an arrangement by Graham with added bell-like
scale passages, played by cascading cornets in the style of Ronald
Binge’s arrangements for Mantovani. Hear them
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUtKgzxHWNk
Hear Brighouse & Raistrick at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR0aDG5aAkE
Bells Across the
Meadows - organ
|
Artists |
Instrument |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Reginald
Foort |
New
Gallery Cinema, London |
HMV
B 2444 |
BR
635-VIII (or 835?) |
10”
78 |
UK |
[1927] |
June
27 p.24 |
BL |
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Gramophone K 5293 |
9782 |
10”
78 |
France |
? |
|
WC |
|
Re-issue |
|
-
World Records SH 338 |
LP |
UK |
1979 |
BL,
WC, TM, (TM CAS) |
||
|
Re-issue |
|
- World Record Club R-08306 |
|
LP |
Australia |
1980 |
|
|
|
Spencer
Shaw |
"with bells" |
Winner
4581 |
? |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Mar
27] |
||
|
Jack
Courtnay |
Elite
Super Cinema, Wimbledon |
Regal
G 8855 |
WA5158-1 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[July
27] rec.1.4.27 |
BL |
|
|
Charles
Saxby |
cinema organ |
Zonophone A 329 |
Z
049282, ZR 1185-I |
12” 78 |
UK |
[Jan 28] |
Jan
28 p.340 |
BL |
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Salabert FL 8 |
|
12”
78 |
|
|
|
WC |
|
Gatty Sellars |
church
organ |
Columbia
5233 |
WA
6450 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Mar
29] |
BL |
|
|
Charles.D. Smart |
Plaza
Theatre, London |
Winner
4933 |
12379 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Oct
29] |
Oct
29 p.208 |
|
|
Herbert
Griffiths |
Stoll
Picture Theatre |
Broadcast
Twelve 5113 |
R2366-III,
L 0371 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Dec
29] |
Dec
29 p.322 |
BL |
|
Herbert
Griffiths |
Stoll
Picture Theatre |
Broadcast
604 |
Z
1548 |
8” 78 |
UK |
[1930?] |
|
|
|
Sydney
Gustard |
Gaumont Palace, Chester |
HMV
B 8063 |
OBR
270 III |
10”
78 |
UK |
[Dec
33] |
Dec
33 p.282 |
BL |
|
Edward O’Henry |
|
Panachord 25299 |
KB 170 |
10”
78 |
|
[1933?] |
|
|
|
Reginald
Dixon |
Tower Ballroom, Blackpool |
R
2366-3 |
10”
78 |
UK |
rec.June 37 |
Oct
37 p.207 |
BL,
WC, (TM CD) |
|
|
Reginald Stone |
electric organ |
British Pathé |
|
film |
UK |
1940 |
|
|
|
Aubry Whelan |
wurlitzer, State Theatre, Melbourne |
Spotlight
SV 39 |
|
10”
LP |
Australia |
[1955] |
|
|
|
Reginald
Dixon |
Tower
Ballroom, Blackpool |
Columbia
SCX 6221 |
LP |
UK |
[1968] |
cat.Sept 68 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue
(as wurlitzer) |
|
- Grasmere GRCD 94 |
CD |
UK |
1991 |
BL |
||
|
Re-issue |
|
- GLMY 3818 |
|
CD |
|
2009 |
|
|
|
Joseph
Seal |
wurlitzer, Musical Museum,
Bradford |
Pye
PKL 5557 |
LP |
UK |
Apr
77 p.1608-9 |
BL |
||
|
Armsbee Bancroft |
Burton
Town Hall |
DEROY
1425 |
|
LP |
UK |
1978 |
|
BL |
|
Phil
Kelsall |
Tower
Ballroom, Blackpool |
Grasmere |
|
? |
UK |
? |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Universal 4659022 |
|
CD |
|
2000 |
|
TM |
|
Jan
Kees de Ruijter |
110-key
Marenghi/Verbeeck fair organ |
private
recording |
|
web |
|
rec.Sept 2010 |
|
|
|
Thomas
Trotter |
Town
Hall, Birmingham |
Regent REGDVD001 |
|
CD
& DVD |
UK |
2011 |
Feb
12 p.69-71 |
PD |
|
Martin
Serchell |
Rogers
Infinity Organ, Christchurch Transitional Cathedral |
Pipe-Line Press "Organ
Capers" |
|
CD |
NZ |
2014 |
|
|
|
? |
cinema organ |
Orchestrola 2470 |
? |
? 78 |
Germany |
? |
MMU |
Dixon's
1937 recording does not vary much from the published piano version, with just
the occasional extra hiatus to change registration, plus 2 single bars cut.
Hear his 1968 recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ2IQrinqf4
Foort starts with a different bell solo, and makes
other cuts totalling 14 bars. Hear him at https://archive.org/details/78_bells-across-the-meadow_reginald-foort-ketelbey_gbia0047322b
Kelsall
plays most of the notes as written in Gatty
Sellars’s published organ arrangement. His main tempo is at roughly the
prescribed speed, but he pauses at the end of lines like a church organist
waiting for a lethargic congregation to wake up. The bell effects on his organ are
ineffective. Hear him at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwVND5f6nEw
The
Marenghi fairground organ plays a straightforward arrangement, with just the odd
additional chromaticism and delightful frills in the 2-foot register; the only
negative is the overpowering side-drum rolls.
Bancroft plays just the main
melody as part of a “Ketelby
Selection.”
Stone
makes 4 cuts, but adds a few extra bell notes at the
end. His left hand tends to lag behind his right.
Watch him at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPyMMZM2LU
Bells Across the
Meadows - other instrumental
|
Artists |
Instruments |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
Archive |
|
Terence
McGoveran and his International Accordion Band |
accordion band |
Zonophone 6168 |
30-8990,
OY 3141 |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Sept
32] |
Sept
32 p.146 |
BL |
|
|
Martin Dale [i.e. Len Fillis], Charles D. Smart |
Hawaiian guitar, Wurlitzer organ |
F
700 |
10”
78 |
UK |
rec.
Feb 34 |
Apr 34 p.444 |
WC
TM, (TM CD) |
||
|
Motherwell
(Old Comrades) Flute Band, Wallace |
flute band |
Waverley
SZLP 2081 |
LP |
UK |
[Nov
?66] |
BL |
|||
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Waverley SWAV 25010 |
|
LP |
Canada |
1976 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
World Cassette Club C 02781 |
|
CAS |
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
Eric Halstead |
piano |
private recording |
www |
UK |
[2002] |
(TM
CD) |
|||
|
Trevor Workman |
carillon |
Bournville Carillon
BC000005 |
CD |
UK |
2003 |
TM |
|||
|
Guy
Rowland |
piano |
Dempsey
AWK 1 |
CD |
UK |
2009 |
BL, PD, TM |
|||
|
Guy
Rowland |
piano |
private recording |
DVD |
UK |
rec.
26.11.2009 |
PD, TM |
|||
|
Markus
Staab |
piano |
private recording |
|
web |
|
2016 |
|
|
|
|
piano |
Artona10000 |
roll |
|
? |
PD |
mr15 |
|||
|
piano |
Meloto Full Scale
Standard Roll 45049b |
roll |
|
? |
PD |
mr01 |
The Halstead recording
is available at http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/4904171-bells-across-the-meadows-by-ketelbey-mp3
Rowland’s CD can be heard at http://www.albertketelbey.org.uk/anniversary.html
Staab’s performance can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BiQEa0G97o
The Motherwell Flute Band has massed flutes plus glockenspiel, side drum, bell and the odd bird call; the harmony parts are almost inaudible. Hear the band at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec2UwUaoFRI&list=PLqXmY5ow2pVgOJcgxlgQEirhSYmWa-lVe&index=5
Len Phillis plays the
just main melody in what is otherwise an organ rendition, with cuts totalling
14 bars. The Hawaiian guitar is
well suited to the wide leaps of the melody, but introduces stuttering double
notes which hinder the flow.
The recording by Workman
uses his own arrangement, and was made at a live performance on Bournville
Carillon, Birmingham, on 9th August 2003.
Bells Across the
Meadows - vocal
|
Artists |
Instrument |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
Jessica
Dragonette, orchestra, Bourdon |
Song
with orchestra |
Brunswick
7433 |
BB 16777 |
10”
78 |
US |
rec.Jan 35 |
|
WC |
|
Ronnie
Ronalde, orchestra, Chacksfield |
Song,
with whistling, orchestra, organ |
Columbia
DB 2583 |
CA
21135-1 |
10” 78 |
UK |
[Oct
49] |
Oct
49 p.85 |
BL,
WC |
|
Re-issue |
|
- Columbia
GN 1354 |
CA
21135 |
10”78 |
Norway |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
- Columbia
DO 3620 |
CA
21135 |
10”78 |
Australia |
1953 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Columbia SCM 5007 |
SP |
UK |
[Jan
53] |
|||
|
Re-issue |
|
- Columbia
CH 3022 |
|
SP |
Netherlands |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Columbia SCD 2008 |
|
cat.1953 |
||||
|
Re-issue |
|
- Columbia SEG 7678 |
|
EP |
UK |
[1956] |
cat.Apr.57 |
|
|
Re-issue |
|
- Columbia
SEGS 24 |
|
EP |
Sweden |
1957 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
- Encore ENC 208 |
|
LP |
UK |
[1959] |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
World Records SH 395 |
|
LP |
|
BL |
||
|
Re-issue |
|
-
EMI NTS 222 |
|
|
BL |
|||
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Evergreen Melodies EVR 55 |
|
CAS |
UK |
cat.1999 |
TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
HMV 5340042 |
|
|
online
cat.2001 |
|||
|
Re-issue |
|
-
EMI 7243 5318 9228 |
|
CD |
UK |
2001 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
- Warner 8573850292 |
|
CD |
Australia |
2001 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
|
-
Fanfare 004 |
|
CD |
|
|
|
|
|
OperaBabes (Rebecca Knight, Karen England, Janet
Haney) |
Soprano,
mezzo-soprano, piano |
Warner
2564661403 |
|
CD |
UK |
2012 |
|
TM |
|
Re-issue |
|
- Warner Classics PRO 17379 |
|
CD |
UK |
2012 |
|
|
|
Newrad Singers Ladies & Juniors (Darwen), Kay |
Women’s
chorus |
Castle
Records CAS LP 006 |
|
LP |
UK |
? |
|
|
Ronnie Ronalde
whistles along with the opening melody, adds blackbird-like whistles to the
middle section (which is cut by 16 bars), sings the start of the reprise,
before reverting to whistling the melody.
An organ is very prominent in the accompaniment. The final few bars are replaced by a new
ending. Hear him at https://archive.org/details/78_bells-across-the-meadow_ronnie-ronalde-ketelbey-frank-chacksfield_gbia7000752b
The
OperaBabes sing an unstylish arrangement by Noel
Vine, rather than the published duet version by Arthur Baynon. Perhaps in response to the opening line
“While the sun is setting”, the introduction seems to have a clock
chiming 5 o’clock rather than 3.
webpage updated 8 May 2023