EMS Recordings was founded in 1949 by Jack Skurnick in New York City. The company won first prize at the Audio Fair of 1950 for the high quality and interest of its recordings. Skurnick's parents, Max and Anna Skurnick, owned a record store on 42nd street, named the Elaine Music Shop after the wife of a previous owner. Skurnick, a musicologist and amateur violinist, helped out in the store. When he finally realized his dream of starting a record company, he named the company after the store where he made the acquaintance of many music lovers and artists. Skurnick died suddenly in 1952, leaving behind a wife, the painter Fay Kleinman and a daughter, Davida, who would become the theater historian Davi Napoleon and the mother of two boys, including jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon. During his short lifetime, Skurnick produced three acclaimed series for EMS, Pro Musica Antiqua, Forecasts in Music, and Survey of the Art Song. These were all released as long-playing records only.
Discography
Beethoven, Octet in E flat major, opus 103 and Rondino in E flat major, grove 146, Little Orchestra Society, Thomas Scherman, conductor Joseph Hayden, Partita in F Major, EMS Chamber Orchestra, Edvard Fendler, conductor; Sonatas in D Major and A Flat Major, Charles Rosen, Piano Farnaby Canzonets and Virginals, Oriana Singers conducted by Charles M. Hobbs Pro Musica Antiqua EMS presents music composed before the eighteenth century, performed authentically.
Dowland, John: Lachrimae or Seaven Teares. Geneva Chamber Ensemble conducted by Franz Walter. "Seaven passionate pavana, with divers other pavans, galiards, and almands, set forth for the lute, viols or violins, in five parts." Dowland's only purely instrumental composition, much of it based on his beautiful songs.
Forecasts in Music
Varese, Edgard: Integrales/Density 21.5/Ionization/Octandre. Rene le Roy, flute; Juilliard Percussion Orchestra and New York Wind Ensemble conducted by Frederic Waldman. EMS went out on a limb with this record, but music lovers, hi-fi addicts, composers, and EMS never regretted it. Frank Zappa has said he was influenced by this music.
Overton, Hall: Sonata for Viola and Piano / Sonatoa for Cello and Piano. Walter Trampler, viola; Charles McCracken, cello; Lucy Greene, piano.
Martinu, Bohuslav: Sonata for Flute and Piano; Two Polkas/Tree Etudes/Les Ritournelles for Piano. Rene Le Roy, flute, George Reeves, piano; Charles Rosen, piano.
Hindemith, Paul: Sonata for Trumpet and Piano / Sonata for Bassoon and Piano / Sonata for Trombone and Piano. Alex Wilson, trumpet; Bernard Garfield, bassoon; Roger Smith, Trombone; Theodore Lettvin, piano. These sonatas may be defined as Gebrauchmusik, but they are not mere utilitarian pieces but works of emotional and dramatic impact.
Milhaud, Darius: Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Piano/La Cheminee Du Roi Tene/Pastorale for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon. Samuel Baron, flute; Ralph Gombert, oboe; Wallace Shapiro, clarinet; Bernard Garfield, bassoon; Milton Kaye, piano.
Villa-Lobos, Heitor: The Baby's Family Suite
Survey of the Art Song
Griffes, Charles Tomlinson: Eight Songs. Grieg, Edvard: Nine Songs. Norman Myrvik, tenor; Emanuel Levenson, piano.
Piano Sonatas of Franz Schubert performed by Webster Aitken:
Sonata in A Minor, Opus 42 Sonata in D Major, Opus 53 Sonata in G Major, Opus 78 Sonata in G Minor, Opus Posth Sonata in A Major, Opus Posth Sonata in B Flat Major, Opus Posth
