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George Hamilton Green

George Hamilton Green Jr. (May 23, 1893 – September 11, 1970) was a xylophonist, composer, and cartoonist born in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born into a musical family, both his grandfather and his father being composers, arrangers, and conductors for bands in Omaha. His father was the conductor of an army band and growing up in his house, he had access to many musical instruments. From age four G.H. Green showed a prodigious talent as a pianist; he then took up the xylophone and by the age of eleven was being promoted as the “world’s greatest xylophonist” and was playing for crowds of 7,000-10,000. In 1915, when Green was 22 years old, a review in the United States Musician stated: "He has begun where every other xylophone player left off. His touch, his attack, his technique, and his powers of interpretation in the rendition of his solos being far different than other performers. To say his work is marvelous and wonderful would not fully express it." George Hamilton Green wrote several pieces for solo ragtime xylophone with accompaniment, as well as a xylophone method book which continues to be used by percussion pedagogues across the country. Some of his compositions for xylophone include: "Ragtime Robin", "Cross Corners", "Charleston Capers", "Rainbow Ripples", "Log Cabin Blues", "The Whistler", "Chromatic Fox Trot", and "Jovial Jasper" for piano and xylophone because of his experience on both instruments.

He was a popular recording artist starting in 1916 with the Edison Company and was employed, along with his two brothers, Joe and Lew Green, as the original sound music crew for Walt Disney's first three cartoons.

According to Nathaniel Shilkret, Green was not only a "wonderful xylophone artist," but an inventor. Shilkret said that Green designed the vibraharp at Shilkret's request.

Green was an important ragtime composer and authored many pieces that remain standards for the instrument even today. He retired from performing in the late 1940s to pursue a successful career in cartooning. Green would die in 1970, just a few years before a revival in the popularity of his ragtime xylophone music, and before his induction into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1983 The rebirth of his music was led by members of the NEXUS Percussion Ensemble in the late 1970s. Through their efforts, G.H. Green's xylophone music has been preserved and remains a relevant part of contemporary percussion pedagogy and performance.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 23, 1893 (Omaha), Died 1970

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: xylophone, composer, vibraphone, marimba, arranger, celeste, leader, percussion, bells, lyricist, songwriter, drums

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 355 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor LBS-81314 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 1/25/1934 My faith looks up to Thee Green Brothers Vibraphone ("Deagan vibra-harp") and chimes duet arranger, instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Victor LBS-81315 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 1/25/1934 Jesus, Saviour, pilot me Green Brothers Vibraphone ("Deagan vibra-harp") and chimes duet arranger, instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Victor LBS-81316 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 1/25/1934 Adeste fidelis Green Brothers Vibraphone ("Deagan vibra-harp") and chimes duet arranger, instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Victor LBS-81317 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 1/25/1934 Silent night, holy night Green Brothers Vibraphone ("Deagan vibra-harp") and chimes duet instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Victor VAVE-3071 16-in. 2/5/1929 Children of the Ritz Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with mixed vocal chorus instrumentalist, xylophone  
Victor [Trial 1920-03-12-01] Not documented 3/12/1920 Alabama moon Hawaiian Trio Instrumental trio (Hawaiian) instrumentalist, xylophone  
Victor [Trial 1922-05-16-01] 10-in. 5/16/1922 Liebesfreud Victor Arden ; George Hamilton Green Xylophone and piano duet instrumentalist, xylophone  
Victor [Trial 1922-05-16-02] 10-in. 5/16/1922 Schon Rosmarin Victor Arden ; George Hamilton Green Xylophone and piano duet instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 77942 10-in. 7/1/1918 A bunch of roses George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78052 10-in. 9/18/1918 Frivolity All Star Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78053 10-in. 9/18/1918 Just blue All Star Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78415 10-in. 5/3/1919 Four little blackberries George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78418 10-in. 5/8/1919 The vamp George Hamilton Green ; Joe Green Xylophone duet, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78419 10-in. 5/8/1919 Friends George Hamilton Green ; Joe Green Xylophone duet, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78860 10-in. 12/12/1919 Clover land George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78861 10-in. 12/12/1919 Intermezzo russe George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 78862 10-in. 12/12/1919 American patrol George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 79517 10-in. 11/12/1920 Isle of Paradise Ferera and Franchini ; George Hamilton Green Instrumental trio (Hawaiian) instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 79565 10-in. 12/8/1920 After awhile Paul Biese Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Columbia 140179 10-in. 12/15/1924 Cross corners George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 140180 10-in. 12/15/1924 The ragtime robin George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 49807 12-in. 4/28/1920 Alabama moon Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 140421 10-in. 3/10/1925 Happy moments Sibyl Sanderson Fagan Whistling, with male vocal solo, 2 xylophones, orchestra, and barking instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia 140422 10-in. 3/10/1925 Bells Sibyl Sanderson Fagan Whistling, with male vocal solo, 2 xylophones, and orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W140571 10-in. 5/1/1925 At dawning George Hamilton Green Vibraphone solo, unaccompanied instrumentalist, vibraphone  
(Results 126-150 of 355 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Green, George Hamilton," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861.

Green, George Hamilton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861.

"Green, George Hamilton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861

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