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 (Results 26-50 of 87 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 87 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Alcock, Merle," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113828.

Alcock, Merle. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113828.

"Alcock, Merle." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113828

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