The History Of Music In Sound

The History of Music in Sound (HMS), produced by His Master’s Voice (HMV), was an attempt to create a recorded historical anthology in the 1950s. Originating in a BBC radio series, HMS was issued by HMV in 10 volumes between 1953 and 1959. Nineteen hours of music were published on 78rpm shellac discs (10 volumes, 229 sides of 78s) with explanatory booklets containing substantial music examples and texts. The HMS was intended to accompany the New Oxford History of Music (NOHM), published 1954-1990. The recordings were meant for use by students as well as by the interested public. Late 50's and early 60's selected parts the recordings were reissued on vinyl by HMV in the UK and RCA Victor in the US. Some recordings on the vinyl editions were replaced by new ones due to criticism about the quality of the performances and recordings of the originals.