First Portuguese phonographic record donated to the Navy Band
An album with the first phonographic recording ever made in Portugal was donated today to the Navy Band, as it includes a performance by its predecessor - 'Banda dos Marinheiros da Armada' - playing 'Cantos populares portugueses'. The recording was made in 1903 and donated by Carlos Alberto Alves da Cunha Cutileiro, son of Alberto Cutileiro, its original owner, who died in November 2003, aged 88. In the recording, made at the Alcântara barracks for The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd, of London, 'Banda dos Marinheiros da Armada' is conducted by António Maria Chéu.
A source from the Navy told Lusa that the album belonged to King Carlos, a fact proven by the royal seal and the inscription - "Gift from Maestro António Maria Chéu to King Carlos' - visible on the cover. In addition to Carlos Cutileiro, the donation ceremony was attended by Admiral Conde Baguinho, Head of Office of the Navy Chief of Staff, Melo Gomes.
The Navy Band performed, with 25 musicians, as in the original formation, the piece on the album, and then, with all its members (108), the modern version of this piece composed by Jorge Salgueiro. The piece on the original phonographic record, written by a virtually unknown Rodriguez - Portuguese, despite the 'z' in his name -, was released on CD, in 2003, by Tradisom. 'As far as we know', it is the first album ever recorded in Portugal, said José Moças, responsible for the label, to Lusa. On the digital support, in addition to 'Cantos populares portugueses', there is a version of Rodriguez's work written by Jorge Salgueiro and different tracks from albums already released by the Navy Band.
Source - Agência LUSA 2006-09-19 17:14:45M