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Paul A. Rubens

Paul Alfred Rubens (29 April 1875 – 5 February 1917) was an English songwriter and librettist who wrote some of the most popular Edwardian musical comedies of the early twentieth century. He contributed to the success of dozens of musicals.

Born in Kensington, London, he attended Winchester College before studying law at University College, Oxford. He began writing songs for shows at the age of 10 and had his first major success with "The Little Chinchilla" for the hit musical The Shop Girl when he was 19 years old. This was soon followed by songs for, among others, the hit musical San Toy. In 1899, he wrote songs for the international hit Florodora, which brought him wider fame. Producer George Edwardes hired him as an "additional material" writer for, among others, The Messenger Boy (1900), The Toreador (1901), A Country Girl (1902), The Girl from Kays (1902), The School Girl (1903), The Cingalee (1904) and The Blue Moon (1905), writing some of the most successful songs in these shows. He composed the hit musical Miss Hook of Holland (1907).

Later compositions include The Balkan Princess (1910), The Sunshine Girl (1912), The Girl from Utah (1913), Tonight's the Night (1914), Betty (1915) and The Happy Day (1916). Rubens began a relationship with the actress Phyllis Dare during this period, but they soon parted due to Rubens' severe consumptive illness, from which he suffered for the rest of his life. As a result, he retired to Cornwall and died of tuberculosis, aged 41.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 29, 1875 (London), Died February 5, 1917 (Falmouth)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1903 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, songwriter

= 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 [Pre-matrix A-]2161 7-in. 4/3/1903 Three little maids selections Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2161 10-in. 4/3/1903 Three little maids selections Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor A-422 7-in. 9/16/1903 The miller's daughter Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor B-422 10-in. 9/16/1903 The miller's daughter Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor A-482 7-in. 10/2/1903 The miller's daughter Mina Hickman Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor B-482 10-in. 10/2/1903 The miller's daughter Mina Hickman Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor B-4541 10-in. 5/29/1907 In Venice Alice J. Shaw Whistling solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-4593 10-in. 6/17/1907 I love you, ma cherie Henri Leoni Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-8665 10-in. 2/28/1910 The sweep's intermezzo Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-10003 10-in. 2/24/1911 Dear delightful women Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor C-10033 12-in. 3/7/1911 Gems from The Balkan princess Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor C-10621 12-in. 6/27/1911 Gems from The country girl Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12981 10-in. 3/11/1913 Sunshine girl tango Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor C-13775 12-in. 9/12/1913 Gems from The sunshine girl Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-15307 10-in. 10/27/1914 Your king and country want you Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor C-15760 12-in. 3/4/1915 To-night's the night Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-24696 10-in. 11/18/1920 In Venice Margaret McKee Whistling solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-53979 10-in. 8/7/1929 I love the moon Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 1113 7-in. ca. 1903-Oct. 1905 Everybody's awfully good to me Edward M. Favor Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 1113 10-in. ca. 1903 Everybody's awfully good to me Edward M. Favor Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 1143 7-in. ca. 1903 The coo song George Alexander Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1143 10-in. ca. 1903-1908 The coo song George Alexander Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1586 7-in. ca. 1903-Oct. 1905 Three little maids : Selections Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 1586 10-in. ca. 1903 Three little maids : Selections Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 1591 10-in. ca. 1903 The miller's daughter J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Columbia 1661 10-in. ca. 1903 The girl you love Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 30684 12-in. 3/8/1911 The Balkan princess : Selections Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 30691 12-in. ca. Jan.-May 1911 Dear delightful women Henry Burr ; Margaret Mayew Female-male vocal duet composer, lyricist  
Columbia 36710 12-in. 4/24/1913 The sunshine girl : Selections Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 36795 12-in. approximately 1913 The Argentine Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia [W]148520 10-in. 5/13/1929 I love the moon Jack Carney ; Tom Clines and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia 6424 12-in. approximately 1914 The homes they leave behind Maggie Teyte Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 6425 12-in. approximately 1914 Your king and country want you Maggie Teyte Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 6490 12-in. approximately 1915 Tonight's the night, selections, part 1 London Revue Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6495 12-in. approximately 1915 Tonight's the night, selections, part 2 London Revue Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6496 12-in. approximately 1915 Valse London Revue Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6497 12-in. approximately 1915 Valse London Revue Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6681 12-in. approximately 1915 Tina, selections part 1 London Theatre Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6682 12-in. approximately 1915 Tina, selections part 2 London Theatre Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6722 12-in. approximately 1916 Tina : Valse London Repertoire Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 6839 12-in. approximately May 1916 Yours to the end Thorpe Bates ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 6840 12-in. approximately May 1916 Love and war Thorpe Bates ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus songwriter  
Columbia 6841 12-in. approximately May 1916 I dream of you Winifred J. Barnes ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 6842 12-in. approximately May 1916 Someone Winifred J. Barnes ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 6843 12-in. approximately May 1916 The seasons José Collins ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus songwriter  
Columbia 6844 12-in. approximately May 1916 Bohemia José Collins ; Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus songwriter  
Columbia 6845 12-in. approximately May 1916 The happy day, selections, part 1 Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 6846 12-in. approximately May 1916 The happy day, selections, part 2 Daly's Theatre Orchestra ; Merlin Morgan Orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 28911 10-in. approximately 1912-1914 The girl from Utah : Selections Regt. Band of H. M. Scots Guards ; Frederick. W. Wood Band composer  
Columbia 28912 10-in. approximately 1912-1914 The girl from Utah : Selections Regt. Band of H. M. Scots Guards ; Frederick. W. Wood Band composer  
Columbia 28918 10-in. approximately 1914 Valse Regt. Band of H. M. Scots Guards ; Frederick. W. Wood Band composer  
Edison 493 Not documented approximately Dec. 1910 I'd like you in velvet Maurice Farkoa Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 3253 10-in. between 8/221914 and 8/31/1914 Only to you Helen Clark Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 3259 10-in. Aug. 1914 or later Waltz hesitation National Promenade Band Band composer  
Edison 3301 10-in. between 9/16/1914 and 9/17/1914 The music of love Marie De Kyser ; Reed Miller Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra composer  
Edison 3434 10-in. Nov. 1914 Your king and country want you Helen Clark Soprano vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 3565 10-in. 2/5/1915 I'm a millionaire Joseph A. Phillips Baritone vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 3580 10-in. 2/12/1915 Please don't flirt with me Helen Clark ; Joseph A. Phillips Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 3581 10-in. 2/12/1915 The only way Albert Farrington Male vocal solo and female vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 3662 10-in. 3/25/1915 The only way Albert Farrington Male vocal solo and female vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 3671 10-in. 3/29/1915 Please don't flirt with me Helen Clark ; Joseph A. Phillips Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 4059 10-in. 8/20/1915 Knitting Helen Clark Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 5082 10-in. 10/20/1916 Dance with me Irving Kaufman ; Gladys Rice Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rubens, Paul A.," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104031.

Rubens, Paul A.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104031.

"Rubens, Paul A.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104031

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