Merle Alcock
Merle Alcock (February 6, 1884 - March 1, 1975) was an American contralto who sang with the Metropolitan Opera in 236 performances from 1919 to 1929, officially signing in with them in 1924. Alcock's concert debut was in London in 1914. She also sang with the Boston and New York Symphony Orchestras. She found a patron in Mrs. Charles Schwab in 1916. Mrs. Schwab was herself a singer as a young woman. Alcock first sang at the Met in a performance of Verdi’s Requiem Mass on Dec. 14, 1919. Her opera debut was on Nov. 15, 1923, when she sang the role of the fiddler Beppe in L’amico Fritz. Alcock trained other singers in her retirement such as Eileen Farrell. Alcock was born Merle Tillotson in Andover, Missouri, to Zula and the Reverend Elijah Tillotson. She graduated from Drake University’s Conservatory of Music in 1906. She married Bechtel Alcock, a tenor, in 1914. The two would often perform together. She died on March 1, 1975, and is buried in Wooster Cemetery in Wooster, Ohio. |
Birth and Death Data: Born 1890 (Andover, Missouri), Died January 3, 1975 (Phoenix)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1928
Roles Represented in DAHR: contralto
Notes: Born Merle Tillotson; wife of tenor Bechtel Alcock. Victor ledgers give her address as 42 West 12th Street, New York City.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-22696 | 10-in. | 4/22/1919 | Gentle Annie | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-22697 | 10-in. | 4/22/1919 | 'Tis all that I can say | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-22698 | 10-in. | 4/22/1919 | Suo-gan | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-22699 | 10-in. | 4/22/1919 | The meeting of the waters | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with harp and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-22800 | 10-in. | 4/23/1919 | Goodbye, sweet day | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-24180 | 10-in. | 6/23/1920 | Sad at heart | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-24355 | 10-in. | 7/26/1920 | I cannot sing the old songs | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-24624 | 10-in. | 10/14/1920 | I have a dream | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25200 | 10-in. | 4/12/1921 | Caresses | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with xylophone and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25201 | 10-in. | 4/12/1921 | Monastery bells | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with bells, celeste, chimes, and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25513 | 10-in. | 8/15/1921 | The old road | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25514 | 10-in. | 8/15/1921 | Ship o' dreams | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25578 | 10-in. | 9/27/1921 | The Virgin's lullaby | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | C-25585 | 12-in. | 10/5/1921 | The radiant morn hath passed away | Lyric Quartet | Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25586 | 10-in. | 10/5/1921 | Rock of ages | Lyric Quartet | Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25792 | 10-in. | 12/5/1921 | Rock-a-bye baby | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with violin, harp, and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-25793 | 10-in. | 12/5/1921 | My trundle bed | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-26459 | 10-in. | 5/9/1922 | Violets | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with violin and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-26460 | 10-in. | 5/9/1922 | Not a sparrow falleth | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-27019 | 10-in. | 10/11/1922 | My task | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-27020 | 10-in. | 10/11/1922 | The little sandman | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-27098 | 10-in. | 12/4/1922 | Grass and roses | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-27378 | 10-in. | 1/8/1923 | Sweet spirit, hear my prayer | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-27752 | 10-in. | 4/12/1923 | Hold thou my hand | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with violin and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-28128 | 10-in. | 6/18/1923 | We'd better bide a wee | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | B-30237 | 10-in. | 6/2/1924 | I'm wearin' awa', Jean | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | CVE-41651 | 12-in. | 1/26/1928 | Chanson bohême (Les tringles de sistres) | Maria Jeritza | Soprano vocal solo, with contralto vocal solo and orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | [Trial 1916-03-13-07] | Not documented | 3/13/1916 | Turn ye to me | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | [Trial 1916-06-12-04] | Not documented | 6/12/1916 | Oh, that we two were maying | Bechtel Alcock ; Merle Alcock | Female-male vocal duet, with piano | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | [Trial 1916-06-12-05] | Not documented | 6/12/1916 | O dry those tears | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, contralto | |
Victor | [Trial 1918-06-26-02] | Not documented | 6/26/1918 | His lullaby | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4213 | 10-in. | approximately 1909 | Bonnie sweet Bessie | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4214 | 10-in. | approximately 1909 | Sweet Genevieve | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4314 | 10-in. | ca. 1909-Feb. 1910 | The rosary | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4326 | 10-in. | ca. Jan.-Apr. 1910 | Song of the soul | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4341 | 10-in. | ca. Jan.-Aug. 1910 | That sweet story of old | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4364 | 10-in. | ca. Jan.-Apr. 1910 | Last night | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4421 | 10-in. | between January and June 1910 | Looking this way | Merle Alcock ; John Young | Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4553 | 10-in. | ca. Jan.-Sept. 1910 | Good bye sweet day | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 4773 | 10-in. | ca. Jan.-Oct. 1910 | Daddy | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 19105 | 10-in. | 11/11/1910 | Katisha's song | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 81492 | 10-in. | 1/18/1924 | Oh baby (Don't say no, say maybe) | Elsie White | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 81493 | 10-in. | 1/18/1924 | A man never knows when a woman's gonna change her mind | Elsie White | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 30366 | 12-in. | between January and July 1910 | Ai nostri monti | Merle Tillotson ; John Young | Vocal duet (contralto and tenor), with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 30384 | 12-in. | ca. Jan.-May 1910 | Meet me where the lanterns glow | Henry Burr ; Merle Tillotson | Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Columbia | 30578 | 12-in. | ca. 1910-Feb. 1911 | 'Neath the southern moon | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 2965 | 10-in. | Apr. 1914 | I'm wearing awa' | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 2986 | 10-in. | Apr.-May 1914 | Auld Robin Gray | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 2998 | 10-in. | May 1931 | Bes' ob all | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3027 | 10-in. | May 1914 | Blow, blow, thou winter wind | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3046 | 10-in. | May 1914 | Sing, smile, slumber | Merle Alcock ; Mary Carson ; Elizabeth Spencer | Female vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3055 | 10-in. | May 1914 | Come to me | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3057 | 10-in. | May 1914 or later | Abide with me | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3063 | 10-in. | either May or June 1914 | Angel's serenade | Merle Alcock ; Clementine de Vere | Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3064 | 10-in. | either May or June 1914 | Little Daisy's evening prayer | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3242 | 10-in. | between 8/22/1914 and 8/31/1914 | A summer night | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 3816 | 10-in. | 5/24/1915 | Little Daisy's evening prayer | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4140 | 10-in. | 9/23/1915 | O sing to God | Anita Rio ; Merle Tillotson | Female vocal duet and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4361 | 10-in. | 12/22/1915 | I love to tell the story | Metropolitan Quartet | Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4371 | 10-in. | 12/28/1915 | I will sing of my Redeemer | Metropolitan Quartet | Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4407 | 10-in. | 1/10/1916 | Songs we used to sing in Dixie land | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4537 | 10-in. | 2/28/1916 | Bela figlia del'amore | Vocal Quartette [Edison] | Vocal quartet (soprano, contralto, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4549 | 10-in. | 3/2/1916 | Wake up, America! | Arthur Fields | Male vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4555 | 10-in. | 3/3/1916 | When it's orange blossom time in Loveland | George Wilton Ballard | Male vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4561 | 10-in. | 3/7/1916 | Ora pro nobis | Frederick J. Wheeler | Male vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4584 | 10-in. | 3/15/1916 | Sing me to sleep | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4598 | 10-in. | 3/21/1916 | Down where the Swanee River flows | George Wilton Ballard | Male vocal solo and mixed vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4642 | 10-in. | 4/7/1916 | [Unknown titles(s)] | Merle Alcock ; Donald Chalmers ; Wallace ; John Young | Mixed vocal quartet | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4643 | 10-in. | 4/7/1916 | [Unknown title(s)] | Merle Alcock ; Donald Chalmers ; Wallace ; John Young | Mixed vocal quartet | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4649 | 10-in. | 4/11/1916 | Turn ye to me | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4708 | 10-in. | 5/5/1916 | Time's garden | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4716 | 10-in. | 5/10/1916 | An Irish folk song | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4718 | 10-in. | 5/10/1916 | His lullaby | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4740 | 10-in. | 5/23/1916 | Asthore | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4755 | 10-in. | 5/31/1916 | Two roses | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4758 | 10-in. | 6/1/1916 | My old Kentucky home | Thomas Chalmers | Male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 4765 | 10-in. | 6/5/1916 | I'm a-longin' fo' you | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 5629 | 10-in. | 6/18/1917 | Bella figlia dell' amore | Merle Alcock ; Guido Ciccolini ; Arthur Middleton ; Alice Verlet | Mixed vocal quartet (soprano, contralto, tenor, and bass), with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 5770 | 10-in. | 9/7/1917 | My ain folk | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 5774 | 10-in. | 9/10/1917 | Let me dream again | Merle Alcock | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 5787 | 10-in. | 9/14/1917 | Sextet : Chi mi frena | Merle Alcock ; Enrico Baroni ; Guido Ciccolini ; Arthur Middleton ; Henri Scott ; Alice Verlet | Vocal sextet (soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, and 2 basses), with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 5839 | 10-in. | 10/8/1917 | The fields o' Ballyclare | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 6466 | 10-in. | between 11/12/1918 and 11/27/1918 | Voce di donna | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 6475 | 10-in. | between 11/12/1918 and 11/27/1918 | Danny boy | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Edison | 6489 | 10-in. | between 12/2/1918 and 12/11/1918 | Largo | Merle Alcock | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Zonophone | [Zo cat 5737-A] | 10-in. | Before May 1911 | Dear delightful women | Merle Alcock ; Henry Burr | Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto | |
Zonophone | [Zo cat 5753-B] | 10-in. | Before July 1911 | Irish lullabye | Merle Tillotson | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, contralto |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Alcock, Merle," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/113828.
Alcock, Merle. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/113828.
"Alcock, Merle." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Merle Alcock
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Alcock, Merle, 1890-1975 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2007149584
Wikidata: Merle Alcock - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q42064563
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/68724828
MusicBrainz: Merle Alcock - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a79d82d5-d202-405a-b5e6-22d2f73d3530
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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