Claude Debussy: Première rhapsodie, L. 116, CD. 124. Gaston Hamelin, clarinet.

Première Rhapsodie pour Clarinette et Piano, ca. 1910 (00:00-8:19) Première Rhapsodie pour Clarinette et Orchestre, ca. 1911 (8:20-15:29) The first recording is Hamelin circa 1930’s Paris with an unknown pianist playing Debussy’s initial 1910 Première Rhapsodie pour Clarinette et Piano. The second recording is a French release from 1931. Originally appearing as twelve-inch 78rpm Original French Red/Gold Disque Gramophone (a subsidiary of the Victor company), DB 4809, was recorded in Paris. The orchestra is simply labeled as “et Orchestre sous la Direction dé M Piero Coppola.“ Hamelin could really have only recorded with one of three orchestras. The first being l’Orchestre du GRAMOPHONE (Paris), the second l’Orchestre PASDELOUP, and finally, the least likely, l’Orchestre de la SOCIETE DES CONCERTS DU CONSERVATOIRE. Hamelin had several previous performances with l’Orchestre PASDELOUP going back as early as 1919. “Born in Saint-Georges-Sur-Baulche (Yonne, France) in 1884, Gaston Hamelin studied at the Pari