Filed under: cantonese opera
The 42000-43000 Victor series contains some of the most incredible Chinese music ever recorded. Predominately Cantonese, many of these recordings are reissues from the one sided 8000 series which were recorded in New York City and San Francisco as early as 1902. Because these were sold in the United States they are easier to find here, sometimes in great condition as leftover store stock.
This one has the classic Cantonese fiddle-banjo sound, that is, gaohu-sanxian sound.
A beautiful recording featuring the end blown Chinese flute called Xiao, reminiscent of Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian flute music.
Here’s another classic sounding Cantonese recording from the early 20th Century. This is a good example of the typical record from this Victor series.
I had decided not to post this recording because it’s pretty scratchy, but because it’s one of my all time favorite Victor records and I because you must be an intrepid bunch of music lovers to be here in the first place, I figured what the hell. Enjoy.
