L’OISEAU LYRE

Why to take interest in éditions de l’OISEAU LYRE ?

Foreword

As everyone knows, André CHARLIN worked for many records labels in the 50s.
As I have been interested for years in the work of André CHARLIN, I wanted to continue the authentication of the recordings he made on behalf of éditions de l'OISEAU LYRE.
My research led me to MELBOURNE where I was granted to consult the archives of the éditions de l’OISEAU LYRE.
I knew the éditions de l’OISEAU LYRE as a record label and I knew that André CHARLIN had realized a number of recordings for them, but I didn't know much more.

Further a search on the internet I discovered a foundation of éditions de l’OISEAU LYRE at the university of MELBOURNE. Mrs. Louise B. M. DYER, founder of éditions de l'OISEAU LYRE, being Australian, the existence of a foundation at the University of MELBOURNE was in itself nothing surprising.

Initially, after having launched a message on the internet, I had the pleasure of communicating by email with Jennifer HILL curator of rare and ancient music at the BAILLIEU LIBRARY of the university of MELBOURNE.
Jennifer confirmed that the foundation had take care of éditions l'OISEAU LYRE archives since its creation in 1932 in Paris and proposed me the opportunity to consult them freely.
Great ! I just have to organize a trip to Melbourne.

Appointment was made at the end of May 2016.
I was welcome at the university of MELBOURNE to take a seat in the reading room devoted to old and precious music. In front of me was standing no less than 17 boxes of archives concerning the “Life” of éditions de l'OISEAU LYRE.
I would like to thank warmly Jennifer and the whole team at the BAILLIEU LIBRARY. They provide me easy access to documentation and archives, which allowed me to easily do my research.

I was thus able to reach my goal and go back to the origin of the L’OISEAU LYRE recording catalog.
An assistant from the university, whom I thank very much, did a very useful job for me by inspecting and cataloging all the OISEAU LYRE records owned by the foundation. He edited a list of all references with André CHARLIN or CECE written either on the record or on the sleeve.

During this “consultation”, I got much more than I could imagine.
Initially my goal was simply to authenticate André CHARLIN's recordings made on the OISEAU LYRE's behalf.
By opening wide the "doors" of the label's archives, Jennifer allowed me to "get to know" and "live" for a week with people who were behind the éditions de l'OISEAU LYRE and I discovered great people and especially an extraordinary woman: Louise B. M. DYER.

Photo du passeport de Louise B. M. DYER-HANSON.
Document archives de l’oiseau Lyre University of Melbourne.

Louise B.M. DYER benefactress and patron in love with music and musicians devoted her whole life at music through her great life’s work: Les Editions de l’OISEAU LYRE.

After having lived a week in the company of these people, having shared their daily life and their little everyday annoyances through the archives of the OISEAU LYRE, I have the impression of knowing them a little.
I followed their relations with the Orchestra des Concerts du Conservatoire, with the musicians and performers. I was able to sympathize with their troubles with PATHE. I am aware of the plumbing problems at 122 rue de Grenelle…
I could see how difficult it was to get the record sleeves on time from the printers…
I assisted to manufacturing complications…
In short, if I may put it this way, I shared for a week a bit of their daily life.
This daily life is in fact a real story:
The extraordinary history of Editions de l'OISEAU LYRE.