Safford Cape (1906-1973) - A discography

Conception & research: Pierre-F. Roberge
For comments, additions and corrections mccomb@medieval.org (continuing this discography for PFR)
Last update: 11/09/2010

This is an "under construction" comprehensive discography of Safford Cape as a composer and as the founder and director (1933) of the Pro Musica Antiqua Ensemble of Brussells. This discography is divided into three parts.

Part I lists the original recordings (expected to be around 50) and re-edited material containing tracks not previously released. Each individual titles is (or will be) linked to a descriptive section containing as much information as possible about the original recording; this description is cross-linked to available CDs actually on the market (January 2009) in North America or western Europe. Great care have been taken to prevent misinformations and a large part of the data originates from records themselves (although often not as reliable as it should be). If the recording was not available, the content originates from usual sources (periodicals such as The Gramophone (and the Catalogue), Diapason (and the Catalogue), Bielefelder Katalog, Notes ... etc.). For pre-1955 editions, I also used the World Encyclopedia of Recorded Music [WERM]. Alas ! if all this failed, reference was made to the french book "Diapason - Guide de la musique ancienne et baroque" (Coll. Bouquins, Robert Laffond, 1993) [GMAB]; although impressive in term of quality and amount of content, readers should be careful about many recording dates listed. For those intrested interested in discography of medieval and renaissance period, they should refer to the following three publications

  1. Medieval and Renaissance Music on Long-Playing Records
    James Coover and Richard Colvig
    Detroit Studies in Music Bibliography # 6 (-end of 1961)
    Information service, Incorporated
    10, West Warren, Detroit 1, Michigan

  2. Medieval and Renaissance Music on Long-Playing Records
    James Coover and Richard Colvig
    Detroit Studies in Music Bibliography # (1962-1970 + corrections to # 6)
    Information service, Incorporated
    10, West Warren, Detroit 1, Michigan

  3. Early Music Discography - From Plainsong to the Sons of Bach
    Vol. 1: Record Index (covers 1970-1980)
    Oryx Press

I tried to list titles according to their label and release dates. In the linked section, I tried to follow the track order of recording; in some cases when the recording was not available, the order may need correction by a careful reader owning the disc. In Part I, my goal is to cover all original recordings, but this may well be wishful thinking without comments and corrections. These could be directed to my E-mail address (pfr@videotron.ca). Credit for any significant contribution will be given at the end of the discography.

This is the first edition. It includes an under construction listing of recordings released under different companies:
for the 78 r.p.m. period: L'Anthologie sonore (ed. Sachs, Agostini, Raugel) and HMV History of Music in Sound
for the 33 r.p.m. period: re-edition of L'Anthologie sonore under Haydn Society, re-edition of HMV/RCA History of Music in Sound, DGG/Archiv Produktion, Elaine Music Shop (EMS), Period, Vanguard (Amadeo in Europe).

Part II deals mostly with reedition on CDs; I will try to be complete, but the goals is really to inform readers about available recordings on the market.

Part III will list composers recorded by Safford Cape; it will become eventually an index of works directed by Safford Cape. This will be done when Part I and II is completed

Pierre-F. Roberge

PART I

L'Anthologie Sonore (ed. Sachs, Agostini, Raugel)

1933-ca 1948 Original recordings (total= 10)

  1. Anthologie sonore AS 27 [78 r.p.m]
    Brasart / Musique instrumentale vers 1500 - Brasart & Instrumental Music c. 1500
    Rec.: 1935 or prior

  2. Anthologie sonore AS 35 [78 r.p.m]
    Guillaume Dufay (c. 1400-1474) - Messe se la face ay pale (Kyrie) & Alma redemptoris mater
    Rec.: 1935 or prior

  3. Anthologie sonore AS 39 [78 r.p.m]
    Rondeaux du 15e siècle - 15th Century Rondeaux
    Rec.: 1935 or prior

  4. Anthologie sonore AS 43 [78 r.p.m]
    Guillaume Dufay (c. 1400-1474) - Heinrich Isaac (c. 1450-1517)
    Rec: 1936 or prior

  5. Anthologie sonore AS 59 [78 r.p.m]
    Musique française au 14e siècle - The "Canon" in the Fourteenth Century
    Rec.: 1937 or prior

  6. Anthologie sonore AS 63 [78 r.p.m]
    Ballades du 14e siècle - Ballads of the Fourteenth Century
    Rec.: 1937 or prior

  7. Anthologie sonore AS 65 [78 r.p.m]
    Organa de l'école de Notre-Dame de Paris - Organa of the School of Notre-Dame of Paris c. 1200
    Rec.: 1938 or prior

  8. Anthologie sonore AS 67 [78 r.p.m.]
    Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1330-1377) - Ballades & Virelai
    Rec.: 1938 or prior

  9. Anthologie sonore AS 71 [78 r.p.m.]
    Petites formes de l'ars antiqua : 13e siècle - Little Forms of the Ars Antiqua (13th Century)
    Rec.: 1938 or prior

  10. Anthologie sonore AS 91 [78 r.p.m]
    Musique de jongleur et musique savante : 13e siècle - Jugler's Music & Learned Music (13th Century)
    Rec.: 1939 or prior

  11. Haydn Society

    Re-issued recordings of L'Anthologie sonore (total= 4)

    Haydn Society Anthologie sonore HS.AS 1 [LP]
    Gregorian Chant to the XIIIth century
    Rel.: 1954 or prior

    Haydn Society Anthologie sonore HS.AS 2 [LP]
    The XIIIth and XIVth Centuries
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

    Haydn Society Anthologie sonore HS.AS 3 [LP]
    The XIVth and XVth Centuries (Machaut & Dufay)
    Rel.: 1954 or prior

    Haydn Society Anthologie sonore HS.AS 4 [LP]
    The XVth Century
    Rel.: 1954 or prior

    HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound

    1940?-1955? Original recordings, 78 r.p.m. (total=8)

  12. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 14 [78 r.p.m].
    Mediaeval Songs
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

  13. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 20 [78 r.p.m].
    Halle, Lescurel, Anonymous
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

  14. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 21 [78 r.p.m].
    Giovanni da Cascia
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

  15. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 22 [78 r.p.m].
    Landini, Maestro Piero
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

  16. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 24 [78 r.p.m].
    John Dunstable
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

  17. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 26 [78 r.p.m].
    Binchois - Dufay
    Rec.: 09/1949

  18. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 28 [78 r.p.m].
    Josquin des Prés
    Rec.: 09/1949

  19. HMV-Gramophone History of Music in Sound HMS 34 [78 r.p.m].
    Costeley, Sermisy, Passereau, Victoria
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

    HMV HLP 2/3/4 [LPx3, 25cm] or RCA Victor LM 6015 [LPx2]
    History of Music in Sound Vol. II Early Medieval Music up to 1300
    Rel.: 1954 or prior

    HMV HLP 5/6/7 [LPx3, 25cm] or RCA Victor LM 6016 [LPx2]
    History of Music in Sound Vol. III Ars Nova and the Renaissance
    Rel.: 1954 or prior

    HMV HLP 8/9/10 [LPx3, 25cm] or RCA Victor LM 6029 [LPx2]
    History of Music in Sound Vol. IV The Age of Humanism
    Rel.: 1954 or prior

  20. Elaine Music Shop (EMS) Recordings

    1950?-1954? Original recordings (total=5)

    (Elaine Music Shop appears to be a records store that was doing business in the late 1940's in New York City; it was located at 9 East 44th Street, New York. The owner was Jack Skurnick; he was the editor of the Magazine Just Records, and the founder, and director of EMS recordings; he died September 6th, 1952 (from In Memoriam on EMS 219).
    In 1949/1950, it seems that he signed a contract with "Pro Musica Antiqua" to release at the rate of nine LPs per year, 41 albums (one with two LPs) under the general title "Anthology of Twelfth to Seventeenth Century Music ". This ambitious, if not grandiose, project aborted after 5 releases. A complete listing appeared in "Notes" in December 1950 and March 1951; the first record was probably released around November, 1st 1950.
    It is quite possible that many un-issued releases were later released by other labels, notably Archiv.)

  21. Elaine Music Shop EMS-201 [LP, mono]
    Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries: Trouveres, Troubadours, Menestrels, Minnesaenger, Leoninus Magister (12th C.); Perotinus (1189-1236); Sacred and Secular Polyphonies
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol.1
    Rec.: 1951 or prior

  22. Elaine Music Shop EMS 202 [LP, mono]
    Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377) - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 2
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 063

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 203 [LP, mono]
    Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377) - Mass
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 3
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 063

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 204 [LP, mono]
    The French Polyphonists (1350-1400) - Mass
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 4
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 019

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 205 [LP, mono]
    Francesco Landino (c. 1325-1397) and the Italian Polyphonist of the Fourteenth Century
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 5
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 019

  23. Elaine Music Shop EMS 206 [LP, mono]
    Guillaume Dufay (c. 1400-1474) - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 6)
    Rec.: 1950

  24. Elaine Music Shop EMS 207 [LP, mono]
    Guillaume Dufay (c. 1400-1474) - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 7
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 019

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 208 [LP, mono]
    Gilles Binchois and his Contemporaries - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 8
    Rec.: never released, see Vanguard "The Bach Guild" BG-634 or Amadeo AVR 5028

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 209 [LP, mono]
    John Dunstable and his contemporaries (? -1453) - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 9
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 069

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 210 [LP, mono]
    Johannes Ockeghem, Antoine Busnois (?-1492) and their Contemporaries - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 10
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 069

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 211 [LP, mono]
    Johannes Ockeghem (1430-1495) - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 11
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 212 [LP, mono]
    The Contemporaries of Johannes Ockeghem - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 11
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

  25. Elaine Music Shop EMS 213 [LP, mono]
    Josquin Des Prés (1445-1521) - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 13
    Rec.: 1950

  26. Elaine Music Shop EMS 214 [LP, mono]
    Josquin Des Prés - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 14
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 171 / SAPM 198 171

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 215 [LP, mono]
    Jacob Obrecht, Hendrik Isaac (1450-1517), Pierre de la Rue and their Contemporaries
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 15
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 032

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 216 [LP, mono]
    Jacob Obrecht (1430-1505) - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 16
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 217 [LP, mono]
    Pierre de la Rue (?-1518) and his Contemporaries - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 17
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 218 [LP, mono]
    Italian Laude and Frottole (C. 1500)
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 18
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

  27. Elaine Music Shop EMS 219 [LP, mono]
    Spanish Music circa 1500
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol.19
    Rec.: 1952 or prior

  28. Elaine Music Shop EMS 220 [LP, mono]
    French Chansons and Netherland Lute-Songs of the Sixteenth Century
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 20
    Rec.: never released, see Period SPL 738

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 221 [LP, mono]
    The Chanson Française
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 21
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 042

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 222 [LP, mono]
    Instrumental Music (Attaignant, Susato, Phalese Collections) - Music for Lute
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 22
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 032 and Period SPL 738

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 223 [LP, mono]
    Nicolas Gombert (1500-after 1556) - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 23
    Rec.: never released, see Period SPL 738

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 224 [LP, mono]
    The French Polyphonists of the Sixteenth Century - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 24
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 225 [LP, mono]
    Roland de Lassus (c. 1530-1594) - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 25
    Rec.: never released, see Period SPL 738

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 226 [LP, mono]
    Roland de Lassus - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 26
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 227 [LP, mono]
    Italian and Netherlands Madrigalists
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 27
    Rec.: never released, see Archiv Produktion APM 14 042

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 228 [LP, mono]
    Italian Sacred Music of the Sixteenth Century
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 25
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 229 [LP, mono]
    German Polyphonists of the Sixteenth Century - Secular Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 29
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 230 [LP, mono]
    German Polyphonists of the Sixteenth Century - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 30
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 231 [LP, mono]
    Secular Spanish Music of the Sixteenth Century
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 31
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 232 [LP, mono]
    Sacred Spanish Music of the Sixteenth Century
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 32
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 233 [LP, mono]
    The Tudor Polyphonists - Sacred Works
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 29
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

  29. Elaine Music Shop EMS 234 [LP, mono]
    William Byrd (1545-1623) - Masses
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 34a
    Rec.: 1954 or prior

  30. Elaine Music Shop EMS-235 [LP, mono]
    William Byrd (1545-1623) - Masses
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 34b
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS-236 [LP, mono]
    Elizabethan Keyboard Music
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 35
    Rec.: 1952 or prior

    Elaine Music Shop EMS-237 [LP, mono]
    The Elizabethan Madrigalists
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 36
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS-238 [LP, mono]
    Elizabethan Instrumental Music
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 37
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS-239 [LP, mono]
    The English Lute-Song
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 38
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS 240 [LP, mono]
    John Dowland (1563-1626) - Lute Songs
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 39
    Rec.: never released, see Period SPL 727

    Elaine Music Shop EMS-241 [LP, mono]
    Andrea (1520-1586) and Giovanni (1557-1612) Gabrielli
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 40
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Elaine Music Shop EMS-242 [LP, mono]
    Claudio Monteverdi - Madrigals (1567-1643)
    Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol. 41
    Rec.: never released, no other evidence of a later release

    Archiv (Deutsche Grammophon Gesselschaft) Recordings

    1950?-1956? Original recordings (total=9)

  31. Archiv Produktion APM 14 018 [LP, mono]
    II. Research Period - The Central Middle Ages, Series A: Troubadours, Trouvères and Minnesänger « Adam de la Halle: Le jeu de Robin et Marion », Series C: Early Polyphony before 1300 « Adam de la Halle: 13 Rondeaux » & Series B: Music of the Minstrels « Anonymi: 17 Danses du 13e et 14e siècle »
    Rec.: 1953

  32. Archiv Produktion EPA 37 076 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    II. Research Period - The Central Middle Ages, Series A: Troubadours, Trouvères and Minnesänger « Adam de la Halle - Le jeu de Robin et Marion » & Series C: Early Polyphony before 1300 « Adam de la Halle: Rondeaux »
    Rec.: 1953

    Archiv Produktion EPA 37 002 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    II. Research Period - The Central Middle Ages, Series B: Music of the Minstrels « Anonymi: 10 Danses du 13e et 14e siècle »
    Rec.: 1953

  33. Archiv Produktion APM 14 019 [LP, mono]
    III. Research Period - The Early Renaissance, Series A: The Florentine Group « 8 Madrigals and Caccias from Codex of Antonio Squarcialupi » & Series D: The Netherlanders to Okeghem « Guillaume Dufay: 8 Sacred Songs »
    Rec.: 1953

  34. Archiv Produktion EPA 37 003 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    III. Research Period - The Early Renaissance, Series A: The Florentine Group « 8 Madrigals and Caccias from Codex of Antonio Squarcialupi »: Francesco Landini
    Rec.: 1953

    Archiv Produktion EPA 37 057 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    III. Research Period - The Early Renaissance, Series A: The Florentine Group « 8 Madrigals and Caccias from Codex of Antonio Squarcialupi»: Guillaume Dufay - 3 Sacred Songs / 3 chants religieux
    Rec.: 1953

  35. Archiv Produktion APM 14 032 [LP, mono]
    IV. Research Period: The High Renaissance, Series A: The Netherlanders from Josquin des Prés « Anonymous: 9 Chansons from the "Notenbücher der Margarete von Österreich" » & Series G: Dance Music « Tielman Susato: 16 Danseryes »
    Rec.: 1952

  36. Archiv Produktion APM 14 042 [LP, mono]
    IV. Research Period - The High Renaissance, Series D: Social Music in Italy « Giovanni Gastoldi: 12 Balletti » & Series I: The French Chanson « Clément Jannequin: 7 Chansons »
    Rec.: 1954

  37. Archiv Produktion EPA 37 033 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    IV. Research Period - The High Renaissance, Series D: Social Music in Italy « Giovanni Gastoldi: 12 Balletti »
    Rec.: 1954

    Archiv Produktion EPA 37 096 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    IV. Research Period - The High Renaissance, Series I: The French Chanson « Clément Jannequin: 7 Chansons »
    Rec.: 1954

  38. Archiv Produktion APM 14 063 [LP, mono]
    II. Research Period - The central Middle Ages, Series D: The Ars nova in France « Guillaume de Machaut: La Messe de Nostre Dame & 10 secular works »
    Rec.: 1956

  39. Archiv Produktion APM 14 068 [LP, mono]
    II. Research Period - The Central Middle Ages, Series A: Troubadours, Trouvères and Minnesänger « Chansons et Motets du 13ème siècle » & Series C: Early Polyphony before 1300 « École de Notre Dame: 2 Organa »
    Rec.: 1956

  40. Archiv Produktion EPA 37 140 [45 r.p.m., mono]
    Judaea et Jérusalem
    Rec.: 1956

  41. Archiv Produktion APM 14 069 [LP, mono]
    III. Research Period - The Early Renaissance, Series C: John Dunstable and his Circle « John Dunstable: Motets » & Series D: The Netherlanders to Okeghem « Johannes Okeghem: 5 Chansons »
    Rec.: 1957

  42. Archiv Produktion APM 14 171 / SAPM 198 171 [LP, mono / stereo]
    IV. Research Period - The High Renaissance, Series A: The Netherlanders from Josquin des Prés « Josquin Desprez: Missa Pange lingua & 8 Profane Works »
    Rec.: 1959 / 1960

  43. Archiv Produktion DGG 629 517/8 [LPx2]
    La musique flamande dans la société des XV et XVI siècles
    Pro Musica Antiqua - Safford Cape, dir. & others
    Rec.: [various date, prior to 1965]

    Deutsche Grammophon 136 306 IMS [LP]
    Musikkunde in Beispielen - Musik des Mittelalters und der Renaissance
    Dr. Michael Alt (narrator and project director) with various artists
    Rel.: ca 1965

    Period Recordings

    1950?-1956? Original recordings (33 r.p.m.) (total= 2)

  44. Period SPL 587 [LP]
    18th-century lute trios
    Rec.: 1954 or prior; rel. 1954

  45. Period SPL 727 [LP, mono]
    John Dowland The First Book of Ayres
    Rec.: 1958 or prior

  46. Period SPL 738 [LP, mono]
    French Chansons and Dances of the 16th Century
    Rec.: 1958 or prior

  47. Vanguard (& Amadeo) Recordings

    1954-1968 Original recordings (total= 1)

  48. Vanguard "The Bach Guild" BG-634 or Amadeo AVR 5028 [LP, mono]
    Music at the Burgundian Court
    Rec.:1962 or prior


PART II

Re-editions (CD)

  1. Vanguard 08 6124 71
    Music at the burgundian Court
    Pro Musica Antiqua, Safford Cape

  2. Archiv/Special Imports #453162
    Messe De Notre Dame/Sacred Songs - Machaut Du Fey Leoninus
    Pro Musica Antiqua, Safford Cape


PART III

Composer's list

under construction

....And thanks to all contributors....
Todd McComb <mccomb@medieval.org<
Georges Lobo
Henry Buchtel
Steve Hopkins
Jerome F. Weber
I am waiting.... for others...

Pierre-F. Roberge

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