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10 Box Set of Beethoven - DG/Poyldor - 1972

Someone just gave me a 10 box set (10 boxes, not 1 box with 10 records) of Beethoven that was produced by Deutsche Grammophon in 1972 for the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. It was produced by Polydor in the US. Each box has 5 or 6 albums in it, along with a large format booklet on works in that box. It also came with a large format book of his life and works. It is in English, but it seems to have been translated from German.

I have not found out much about this set. I can look for information on each individual performance but that is a lot of work. This looks like a majority (if not all) of the DG recordings of Beethoven, re-pressed and re-packaged for the set.

Anyone familiar with this set? Are the pressing really good or just average? Were they done from original masters? Were they re-edited for this edition. etc.

Most of the records have hardly ever been played and some may be unplayed.

Any information would be appreciated, especially if they happen to be rare and valuable. Should I buy my dream home in Maui? Probably not, but any info would be appreciated.

Three of the boxes say Part 1, but I do not have a part 2 to go with them.

The 10 boxes are

I Symphonies and Overture - Part 1
II Symphonies and Overture - Part 2
III The Concertos
IV Piano Sonatas
V Music for the Stage
VI Choral Music
VII String Quartets - Part 1
VIII Music for Piano - Part 1
IX Chamber Music
X Music for Violin and Cello - Part 1
128x128dtc
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I get to see them quite often in unattended attics of friends and their neighbors that give away unwanted items for free. Otherwise at goodwill or salvation army stores they could be purchased for $3 per box. If I happen to desire to purchase similar item I would usually negotiate to knock-off another buck off box or claim to have only 'few bux left in my pocket' to pick up the whole thing for buck-per-box.
I came accross Tchaikovsky 3 box sets for $2 and it was $4 short:-)
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,400 posts
 
I wonder what it cost when new....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vntg-1972-Complete-Set-8-Boxes-40-LPs-Deutsche-Grammophon-Beethoven-Bicentennia-/400300361875?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d33c2c893
elee
28 posts
 
This was a set produced for the Beethoven Bicentennial. At the time, you signed up via mail and they would send 1 volume per month. The pressings are comparable to DG individual LPs of that era. The initial offer was only for 10 volumes, then there was an option for an additional 7. On eBay, most sales are for items from the 1st ten volumes. There is also a large format book index of all the pieces, though this is quite rare and I've only seen available occasionally. The initial 10 volumes were popular at the time (kind of the classic bound books in homes of people that never read them). My parents got the 1st 10 volumes, and I rounded out the collection a while back via eBay, $100 for all 17 volumes.
dtc's avatar
dtc OP
1,047 posts
 
Thanks Elee. That seems consistent with the bits and pieces I have been gathering, but adds good detail. The subscription sales explains why there are so many sets out there. I do have the book, although it is not on my coffee table. Seems like these were really just standard re-issues of the DG portfolio in a convenient set sold by subscription. For Polydor/DG just a way to get revenue for not a lot of extra work.

Lowrider57 - thanks for the link. I missed that one. Looks like the price there is about $40 a box, which is consistent with what I have seen from dealers. Of oourse they do say that the 8 boxes are the complete "rare" set. Individuals are, of course lower, and Goodwill, etc. are rock bottom, but you are never quite sure of the quality of the disks. However, there is a good chance that many have not been played all that much, other than the symphonies perhaps.

Looks like, as with the other albums my friend gave me, I need to cherry pick the things of interest and figure out what to do with the rest.

Thanks.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,400 posts
 
Dtc... I think you're very lucky to have received such a gift.
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