O.J.'s Trumpet Page Artists and personalities

George Eskdale

George Eskdale

George Salisbury Eskdale (1897 - 1960) was born in Tynemouth at the mouth of the River Tyne on the North-East coast of England. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Greenock in Scotland. George was taught cornet by his father who was a bandmaster. He became a young prodigy, playing solos with various bands.

He was principal trumpet with London Symphony Orchestra from 1934 to 1956. From 1956 he played 3rd trumpet for a while.

George Eskdale died in London, January 1960.

The first recording of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto:
Thursday night, June 23, 1938, [Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto] was broadcasted by B.B.C. Soloist was George Eskdale. He played the second and third part, (Andante and [Allegro]). This broadcast was later made into a 78 rpm phonograph by Columbia Records (Col. 70106-D). It is believed to be the first recording of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto.

Later in 1954, Eskdale recorded the complete Concerto (Vanguard Records - VRS 454).
Early recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2:
The first recording of the [2nd Brandenburg Concerto] was done in 1932. Swiss born Paul Spörri (1909-1982) played the trumpet part.

The second recording of  this concerto was done with Eskdale on trumpet. London in October, 1935. Released in January, 1936 on HMV.  The recording was preceded by a performance at Queens Hall the day before. The orchestra was conducted by Adolph Busch who also played the solo violin.

Boosey & Hawkes made him a small trumpet in F specially for this recording.

On June 20, 1946 he also recorded the second Brandenburg Concerto. Released October 1946
Players:
Boyd Neel String Orchestra
Boyd Neel, conductor ,G. Eskdale, trumpet, A. Gleghorn, flute, F. Grinke, violin, E. Rothwell, oboe

Riisager Concertino:
On January, 27 and 28, 1949, he recorded Concertino for trumpet and strings by Knudåge Riisager (1933) with The Danish State Radio Orchestra.
Here, a sound sample from the first part, [Allegro].

Devoloping trumpets:
In the late 1930s, Eskdale worked closely with a craftsman at Boosey & Hawkes to produce two trumpet models - a C/Bb and an Eb/D. These instruments had a sligthly larger bore than the previous models used in symphony work. The mouthpipe was slightly conical.

Said about Eskdale:
"We used to get on very well. We would sometimes go for each other, but always laughed afterwards. We understood each other. He sometimes complained that I played faster than he did, and that I was sharp; but he sometimes jumped the gun and played even sharper! He was a unique player, he broke all the rules but he could always get away with it." Jock Ashby, principal trombone LSO.

Sources:
Note:
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o.j. 2007-2013

Thanks to:
Bill Dishman for the recording of the Haydn Concerto from 1954