78's and Cover VG
The mysterious fraternal organization known as Freemasonry can trace its origins all the way back to the Middle Ages. But its roots took hold sometime at the end of the 16th Century with the organization of the first Masonic lodges. (Lodges are basic structures within Freemasonry and can be simply described as a meeting of a group of Masons.)
It wasn’t until the early 18th Century that Freemasonry was reorganized into larger more distinct units whose presence spread across Europe.
In the same month that Haydn applied for membership to a Lodge, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was inducted into Freemasonry. On December 14, 1784, Mozart became a member of Lodge “Zur Wohltätigkeit,” or “Beneficence.” Unlike Haydn, Mozart was an active member of the Freemasons and wrote a number of works for them, including one entitled “Masonic Funeral Music,” which employed Masonic symbolism.
He also composed pieces for his musician friends who were also Masons such as the clarinetist Anton Stadler. Both the Clarinet Concerto and Clarinet Quintet were written for Stadler.
Arguably the most talked-about composition of Mozart’s to honor the Freemasons in its use of symbolism is the opera “The Magic Flute,” which incorporates the number three, a particularly important number in Masonic symbology. The use of the number three and other symbols are found in the overture as well as the “March of the Priests” and the aria “O Isis und Osiris.”
ABOUT COVER ARTIST: Vladimir Bobri (Bobritsky) was an illustrator from the Ukraine. Well known for his innovative graphic design work in New York. He contributed to Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, McCall’s and many other magazines. Bobri was born in the Ukraine in 1898, he was educated at the Kharkiv Imperial Art School until the Russian Revolution began and he became embroiled in the ensuing civil war. He managed to escape from Russia using a hand forged passport so well done it fooled 4 different consulates. He got a job pressing wine grapes and then kicked around Europe for a while with various bands of gypsies (who taught him guitar), painted icons in Greece and signs in Turkey and ended up earning passage money to America in 1921 by designing sets for a ballet company. His work caught the eye of Saks Fifth Avenue and he was made their Art Director. From there he moved on to independent work, including seven covers for The New Yorker, numerous illustrations for Harpers Bazaar, McCalls, Vogue and countless advertisements for major brand names. In addition to his graphic design success, Bobri helped found The New York Society of the Classic Guitar in 1936 and served as editor of its publication The Guitar Review until 1985. He passed away in a house fire in 1986 that also sadly destroyed most of his works, thus, this record cover is rare, especially if the original was destroyed in the fire.
ULTRA-RARE! 2-LP Set hard cover that has strong binding & spine, featuring cover art by famous artist BOBRI.