In the Mystic Land of Egypt Back to list of works index
This piece dates from 1931, and was announced as
“the companion seller to In a Persian Market”. Indeed, its structure and melodies share a
great deal with the former hit. However,
it was produced at a time when Ketèlbey’s popularity was already beginning to
wane, and only two contemporary recordings seem to have been made. Since the composer’s death it has become
recognised as one of his best pseudo-oriental pieces, and has had several
excellent recordings.
Part of the deterrent from performance may have been
the large orchestra specified, including saxophones, banjos, mandolins, and a
marimba or vibraphone, as well tenor soloist and male quartet. These colourful resources are not essential,
and in fact most recordings manage with perhaps just one extra sonority.
Composer’s synopsis
A
detachment of native soldiers approach and pass
through a village, then a song from a boat on the Nile is heard softly across
the water. A short passage depicting an
Arab playing his pipe leads to a repetition of the song-melody by the full
orchestra. The soldiers now return and
some of them sing the song in harmony. A
few bars of the melody bring the piece to a quiet conclusion.
In the Mystic Land of
Egypt – orchestra
|
Artists |
Label |
Matrix |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Gramophone Review |
Locations |
|
|
Franz
Hoffmann and his Orchestra |
Imperial
Z 114 |
? |
10”
78 |
UK |
Mar
32 p.436 |
|||
|
baritone,
Charles Prentice and his Orchestra, male chorus |
Columbia
DB 767 |
CA
12394, 12395-2 |
10”
78, 2 sides |
UK |
[Apr
32] rec.Feb 32 |
Apr
32 p.480 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue (Columbia Orchestra, with vocal & Eastern effects) |
-
Columbia 2779-D |
CA
12394-1, 12395-2 |
10”
78, 2 sides |
US |
[1933] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Naxos 8.110848 |
CD |
UK |
2002 |
BL NX,, PD, TM |
|||
|
Regent
Classic Orchestra |
Bosworth
BC 1140 |
CP
931 |
10”
78 |
UK |
[1940?] |
(TM
CD) |
||
|
New
SO of London, Robinson |
Decca
LK 4080 |
10”
LP |
UK |
[June
54] |
July
54 p.73, Mar 55 p.464-465 |
BL |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
Decca LW 5115 |
LP |
UK |
[July
54] |
July
54 p.73 |
PD |
||
|
Re-issue |
-
London 9119 |
|
10”
LP |
US |
[1954] |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 6835 654 |
|
LP |
Netherlands |
1960 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Ace of Clubs ACL 1044 |
LP |
UK |
[1961] |
BL,
(TM CD) |
|||
|
Re-issue |
-
Eclipse ECS (+ECM) 2016 |
LP |
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Guild Light Music GLCD 5141 |
|
CD |
UK |
2007 |
WC |
||
|
Vienna
State Opera Orchestra, Aliberti |
Westminster
WP 6082 |
|
LP |
US |
[1958] rec.June 57 |
|
(TM
CD) |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Westminster WGWS 18071 |
|
LP |
Australia |
1958 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Westminster WST 15005 |
|
LP |
|
|
|
BL,
PD |
|
|
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 |
|
WC |
|
|
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 |
- Westminster IWA 930558 |
|
LP |
Japan |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Voix de son maître 2CO 59392502 |
|
LP |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- World Record Club S 4743 |
|
LP |
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Voix de son maître C 24592502 |
|
CAS |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
|
New
Symphony Orchestra of London, Sharples |
Decca
SKL 4077 |
|
LP |
UK |
[1959] |
Feb
60 p.434 |
BL,
PD |
|
|
Re-issue |
- London LL 3141 |
|
LP |
US |
[1959] |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- London CM. 9041 |
|
LP |
Canada |
[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 |
|
LP/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, PD, TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
- Vocalion
CDLF 8143 |
CD |
UK |
[2011] |
LMS Aut 11 p42 |
PD |
||
|
tenor,
Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, male chorus, Mareczek |
Philips G 05585 |
|
10”
LP |
France |
[1967] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 836397 VZ |
|
10”
LP |
France |
[1967] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 837494 G7 |
|
LP |
France |
|
(in French cat.1967) |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Mercury Wing SRW 18090 |
|
LP |
US |
[1968] |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Fontana SFL 14141 |
|
LP |
UK |
1967 |
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
6504042 |
|
LP |
Spain |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips
6537 018 |
|
LP |
France |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 730236 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1971] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 7431049 |
|
CAS |
Spain |
[1977] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 7318016 |
|
CAS |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Philips 9117 CAA |
|
CAS |
France |
|
|
WC |
|
|
tenor,
Royal Philharmonic Chorus & 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 6594064 |
|
LP |
Spain |
1981 |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 444786-2LPF |
|
CD |
UK |
1996 |
Aug 96 p.60 |
BL |
|
|
Re-issue |
- MG Direct Marketing D 115620 |
|
CD |
US |
1996 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca 466 8562 |
|
CD |
UK |
1999 |
|
|
|
|
Vernon
Midgley (t), Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian
Singers, Lanchbery |
EMI
ASD 3542 |
|
LP |
|
1978 |
July
78 p.261 |
BL, TM |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Angel EAC
55030 |
|
LP |
Japan |
[1978] |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Angel S 37483 |
|
LP |
US |
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 |
-
Angel SS 45012 |
|
EP |
US |
1979 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Voz de su Amo 10C
265002986Q |
|
LP/CAS |
Spain |
[1980] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
-
Voix de son maître 2C 2692986 |
|
LP/CAS |
France |
|
|
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 |
UK |
1993 |
Mar 94 p.114 |
BL, TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
- TC-CFP 4637 |
|
CAS |
UK |
1993 |
Mar 94 p.114 |
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- EMI
Classics 7243 5730 0124 |
|
CD |
Netherlands |
1998 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 5730002 |
|
CD |
Germany |
[1998] |
|
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- HMV 5724852 |
|
|
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 8266 6424 |
|
CD |
Europe |
2002 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
-
EMI Classics 00946 352 39959/352399-2 |
|
CD |
|
[2006] |
|
NX |
|
|
Re-issue |
- EMI 50112920 |
|
CD |
Japan? |
2007 |
PD,
TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
- Angel
HCD-1353 |
|
CD |
Japan |
|
|
|
|
|
Lawrence Dale (t), London Promenade Orchestra, Ambrosian Chorus, Faris |
Philips 6514152 |
LP |
UK |
1982 |
Apr 82 p.1423 |
BL, TM |
||
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 7337152 |
|
CAS |
|
1982 |
Apr 82 p.1423 |
WC |
|
|
Re-issue |
- Philips 400011-2 |
CD |
UK |
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 |
- Sony Music Media SMM 504 8862 S |
|
CD |
Belgium |
2001 |
|
|
|
|
Re-issue |
- Decca/Universal
473720-2 |
CD |
UK |
2003 |
June 03 p.50 |
BL, WC |
||
|
tenor,
Tin Pan Alley Orchestra, Barnard |
private
recording |
CAS |
UK |
Oct
96 |
TM |
|||
|
Elisabeth Otzisk (s), Das Bottroper Sinfonieorchester, Brzoska |
private
recording |
|
web |
Gemany |
2016 |
|
|
|
According
to Peter Dempsey the baritone on DB 767 is Dennis Noble.
Prentice
is the only conductor to follow the prescribed metronome of crotchet=108. Everyone else follows the instruction of
“quasi marcia”, at a faster speed between 120 and 132.
|
Conductor |
Notes |
Link |
|
Aliberti |
With vibraphone (slightly
flat) |
|
|
Brzoska |
|
|
|
Faris |
With saxophone |
|
|
Lanchbery |
Cuts 40 bars. With
saxophone and banjos |
|
|
Mareczek |
Cuts 16 bars. With added
harp. Singers omit words. |
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=WVt0ateCXnM&list=RDAMVMWVt0ateCXnM |
|
Prentice |
Cuts 32 bars. With voices, saxes,
vibe and mandolins. Some indistinct shouting. Accompaniment to choral
sections reduced |
|
|
Regent Classic O |
Cuts 119 bars. With added
harp |
|
|
Robinson |
Cuts 48 bars. With
saxophone, banjos and mandolins |
|
|
Rogers |
Cuts 32 bars. With
vibraphone |
|
|
Sharples |
With added harp |
Many
of the recordings are cut, quite unnecessarily so in the case of the more
recent versions. Several conductors
include a part for “violin obbligato” which was intended for orchestras with
only a handful of wind instruments.
In the Mystic Land of
Egypt – wind band
|
Artists |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Review |
Locations |
|
Polizeiorchester
Berlin, Feigel, (arr. De Meij) |
Molenaar
MBCD 311076 72 |
CD |
Netherlands |
2004 |
|
|
Click to hear this fine
performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfPzjT19A78
In the Mystic Land of
Egypt – organ
|
Artists |
Instrument |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Review |
Locations |
|
Hans Uwe Hielscher (arr.
Hielscher) |
Dunedin Town Hall |
IFO ORG 72112 |
CD |
NZ |
2004 |
|
WC, TM |
|
- |
De Arabier
barrel organ |
private recording |
web |
Netherlands |
2008 |
|
|
|
- |
Hooghuys fair organ |
private recording |
web |
Belgium |
2010 |
|
|
The Arabier
organ can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URfXkg3X9qs
Hear Hielscher at https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=gW9GYsTxLhQ&list=RDAMVMgW9GYsTxLhQ
The Hooghuys
organ can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUCY-52Qis0
The two mechanical organs
appear to be using similar organ rolls, despite sounding an augmented fourth
apart in pitch. They play an abridged
version with an unexpected key change from the soldier’s march to the love
song, in the case of the De Arabier C minor to D
major. There are typical additions such
as fast ornamental phrases and extra percussion effects. The Hooghuys sound
is unbalanced, with some of the melody obscured by the supporting harmony.
Hielscher plays the piece
complete and straight, apart from omitting a short bridge passage of 7
bars. His rubato in the song theme
persistently loses a quaver on long notes, but his final “quiet conclusion” is
exquisitely executed.
None of these organ versions
include the semiquaver chromatic countermelody in the march, thereby losing not
only an interesting feature but also a motif linked to the opening, the march
tutti section and the Arab pipe.
In the Mystic Land of
Egypt – other arrangements
|
Artists |
Instruments |
Label |
Format |
Country |
Date |
Locations |
|
Royal
Estudiantina La Napolitaine (arr. Ranieri) |
mandolin
ensemble |
private
recording |
web |
Belgium |
2007 |
|
|
Adam Ramet |
Steinway model K 65/88 note pianola player piano |
private
recording |
web |
UK |
2021 |
|
The
mandolin band performed at the Brussels Musical Instrument Museum on 24th
November 2007, and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9edFtHTXUhw&list=PLDdlSzGv6-khkghNzz8X259uHMY6IdPIr&index=4
The
pianola can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v2021=BYy18knQqc0
webpage updated 15 Jan 2023