Westminster Records
Encyclopedia
Westminster Records was an American classical music
record label
, issuing original recordings from 1949 to 1965.
It was founded in 1949 by Mischa Naida, the owner of the Westminster Record shop in New York City
, businessman James Grayson, and conductor Henry Swoboda
. Its trademark was Big Ben
and its slogan was "natural balance", referring to its single microphone technique in recording music, similar to Mercury Records
' Living Presence series. Early on, its recordings were technically superior to most others currently in the marketplace, and the label became very popular among the growing community of audiophiles. In the late 1950s, the company began issuing some stereophonic recordings, including a rare performance of the music of Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén
(1872-1960) conducted by the composer.
The company was sold in the early 1960s to ABC-Paramount Records, which continued to issue new material as well as reissue old material on the Westminster Gold label. While Westminster stopped issuing new recordings in 1965, ABC continued its active reissue of the back catalogue with sleeves, beginning in 1970, which incorporated whimsy and humor to garner sales from high school and college age classical music fans. MCA Records
acquired the Westminster catalog when it bought ABC Records in 1979. MCA, which continued to distribute ABC's remaining inventory of classical music albums, hired former ABC classical department head John Sievers to start up MCA's classical music department. In 1980, MCA reissued much of its classical music back catalogues of Command Records
, Decca Records
and ABC/Westminster Records on the MCA Westminster label.
The Westminster catalogue, as well as the rest of the MCA classical music catalogue, is now managed by Deutsche Grammophon
.
The Westminster Laboratory (W-Lab) series of classical recordings were technically superior to other brands and sold at higher price than the regular Westminsters.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, issuing original recordings from 1949 to 1965.
It was founded in 1949 by Mischa Naida, the owner of the Westminster Record shop in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, businessman James Grayson, and conductor Henry Swoboda
Henry Swoboda
Henry Swoboda was a Czech conductor and musicologist. He made many recordings for the Westminster label, including the first commercially available record of Bruckner's Sixth Symphony. He worked from 1927 to 1931 for Electrola, Berlin and later as conductor for Radio-Prag...
. Its trademark was Big Ben
Clock Tower, Palace of Westminster
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world...
and its slogan was "natural balance", referring to its single microphone technique in recording music, similar to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
' Living Presence series. Early on, its recordings were technically superior to most others currently in the marketplace, and the label became very popular among the growing community of audiophiles. In the late 1950s, the company began issuing some stereophonic recordings, including a rare performance of the music of Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén
Hugo Alfvén
was a Swedish composer, conductor, violinist, and painter.- Violinist :Alfvén was born in Stockholm and studied at the Music Conservatory there from 1887 to 1891 with the violin as his main instrument, receiving lessons from Lars Zetterquist. He also took private composition lessons from Johan...
(1872-1960) conducted by the composer.
The company was sold in the early 1960s to ABC-Paramount Records, which continued to issue new material as well as reissue old material on the Westminster Gold label. While Westminster stopped issuing new recordings in 1965, ABC continued its active reissue of the back catalogue with sleeves, beginning in 1970, which incorporated whimsy and humor to garner sales from high school and college age classical music fans. MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
acquired the Westminster catalog when it bought ABC Records in 1979. MCA, which continued to distribute ABC's remaining inventory of classical music albums, hired former ABC classical department head John Sievers to start up MCA's classical music department. In 1980, MCA reissued much of its classical music back catalogues of Command Records
Command Records
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 and later associated with ABC-Paramount Records....
, Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and ABC/Westminster Records on the MCA Westminster label.
The Westminster catalogue, as well as the rest of the MCA classical music catalogue, is now managed by Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
.
The Westminster Laboratory (W-Lab) series of classical recordings were technically superior to other brands and sold at higher price than the regular Westminsters.