JOSEP CERVERA - BRET
Peralada 1883 - 1969 Roses
Musician, composer and performer for double bass
The master Millet or their advisers, including Josep Serra knew that he had good acceptance in the Paris the Sardana music. In October 1908, the couplet Antiga Pep, had the first stay in Paris performing in theaters like Odeon, Olympia, and others. The advertisement was "a few shepherds in the mountains of info to view Empordanès be given to music and dance."
As for the novelty, the curiosity of the French public and the quality of musicians and entertainment, or all, the case which had a remarkable acceptance. They went for a few days, but remained nearly a month.
Taking advantage of his stay in France, they record some drives to the French label "Pathé Frères". In these discs, as recorded on both sides, there is sardaners and dances of the time, generally, the authors Josep Serra, Pep Ventura and Albert Coto.
The restoration of this music presents a great difficulty. The house Pathe, in constant conflict with the "Berliner Gramophone of" patent for the flat disc, recorded a similar system, but completely different from the "Gramophone".
The groove begins on the inside and ends on the outside. Just the opposite of the traditional record. It rotates at 80-82 rpm, while the rest are at 78 rpm. The recording is vertical and on either side of the groove. That is why these records can only be played on turntables, vibraphones and Pathé needles. There are currently serious difficulties in listening to this music.
Unfortunately for our musical history, this cobla made the first and successive recordings on the record label "Pathé". At fonovilassar78 we have a few records from that period and later. In November 1908, after the cobla's stay in Paris, it was hired to perform at the Coliseum in London. They are so pleased with the cobla's performance in London that they were offered for a two-year tour to New York. This offer was not accepted because it deviated from the objectives of the cobla.
During their stay in London I am not aware that they recorded any other records. In the cobla's discography there is a recording that reads: "Antiga Pep de Figueres Catalan Symphony Orchestra". It is proof that musical training was very well regarded both here and abroad.
Therefore, it is shown that in both Paris and London, years ago, Catalan music and even sardana had already triumphed.