The response I received as a result of posting the reverse side of this disc just a couple of days back led me to transfer and upload this title, another waltz by Horatio Nicholls. Once again, if you are prepared to forget that this is a well-loved recording and not be too concerned about the quality of the recorded sound, you will find much to enjoy in the performance of this well-schooled ensemble. John Henry Squire (1880-1956) was a man with an unusual history. His father was a piano-maker - apparently, he was the 'son' in B. Squire & Son (which had evolved from William B[rinsmead] Squire & Sons) - but J. H. was given no musical training as a child.
At the age of 11, Squire ran away to sea. When he finally ended his seafaring career around 15 years later, he could tell of having learned to play the cornet, killed a man in a fight, served with the Brazilian Army and spent many years as a bandsman with the British Navy, there learning to play the 'cello.
After leaving the Navy, Squire eked out an existence as a 'cellist for several years. In 1912, he saw an advertisement seeking musicians to play in the 800-seat palm court of Fred Karno's new luxury hotel 'Karsino,' and thought it a perfect opportunity. In conjunction with Fred Moss, who had a quartet, Moss and Squire formed the Moss-Squire Celeste Orchestra, which auditioned for Karno and was engaged to play for 12 weeks. The group then went to play in the west end, and it was engaged to make Edison cylinders.
Subsequently, Moss and Squire went their separate ways, and Squire got together other combinations. The one that endured was the J. H. Squire Celeste Octet. Squire had no doubts as to the reasons for both its success and its survival. The first related to the merits of the group, the members being hand-picked by him on the basis of individual excellence. The second related to its exposure, which was largely due to the gramophone.
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