Unicorn-Kanchana

Unicorn-Kanchana is a British independent record label associated primarily with classical music, film music, and recordings by British composers. It was founded by John Goldsmith, a former London police officer who died in 2020. The label originally operated under the name Unicorn Records; the name Kanchana was added later. In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Kanchana is a female name associated with an apsara, a spirit connected with clouds and water. The label developed a catalogue that combined established performers, composers, conductors, film-score specialists, and works that were comparatively neglected by larger recording companies. Its artists and contributors included Andrzej Panufnik, Jascha Horenstein, Jennifer Bate, Henry Herford, Peter Maxwell Davies, Bernard Herrmann, and Laurie Johnson. Unicorn-Kanchana also issued recordings of lesser-known British composers such as Havergal Brian, George Dyson, and Cipriani Potter. Under licence, it released four discs of recordings made in London by the American composer Alan Hovhaness, helping introduce his work to European listeners. Among the label's notable projects was the first commercial recording of music by Havergal Brian. The Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra recorded Brian's Symphonies Nos. 10 and 21 at De Montfort Hall in Leicester in 1972. James Loughran conducted the Tenth Symphony and Eric Pinkett conducted the Twenty-First; Robert Simpson served as producer. Unicorn Records issued the resulting LP in 1973, and the project received substantial critical attention. A special edition of the television programme Aquarius also covered the recording session. The label's classical catalogue included Jascha Horenstein's interpretations of Mahler's First, Third, and Sixth Symphonies, as well as works by Carl Nielsen. Horenstein's recording of Nielsen's Fifth Symphony was described as the first recording released by the new label. In 1970, Unicorn recorded Andrzej Panufnik's Universal Prayer at Westminster Cathedral. The work, written for four vocal soloists, choir, three harps, and organ, was conducted by Leopold Stokowski in the presence of Panufnik. Unicorn-Kanchana also maintained a substantial film-music and television-music strand. Bernard Herrmann released albums of his film scores through the label, along with a symphony and his opera Wuthering Heights, based on Emily Bronte's novel. Laurie Johnson recorded film scores and an album drawing on music from The Avengers, The New Avengers, and The Professionals. He also issued Synthesis, a symphony for jazz orchestra. The label was among the companies that experimented with Ambisonic recording during the 1970s and 1980s, including Laurie Johnson's re-recording of Herrmann's score for North by Northwest. Unicorn-Kanchana stopped producing its own CDs during the 1990s. Much of its classical catalogue was subsequently reissued on the budget Regis label, while its film-music recordings were licensed to several smaller labels. Some recordings that had been unavailable for years began returning to music-download services in 2008. In 2017, an agreement with the intellectual-property company Treasure Island Music allowed Heritage Records to resume manufacture and distribution of material from the Unicorn-Kanchana catalogue. The label is therefore best understood as a historically significant independent catalogue brand whose continuing presence has depended largely on reissues, licensing, and digital availability rather than on a documented programme of new in-house CD production.

Unicorn-Kanchana emerged as a British independent record label founded by John Goldsmith, a former London police officer. The company initially used the name Unicorn Records and later incorporated Kanchana into its identity. Rather than competing primarily through mainstream commercial repertoire, it built a specialist catalogue spanning classical music, neglected British composition, film scores, and television music. One of its early areas of importance was the documentation of British composers whose music had received limited commercial exposure. The label released recordings involving Havergal Brian, George Dyson, and Cipriani Potter. Its work with Havergal Brian was particularly notable: in 1972, the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra recorded Symphonies Nos. 10 and 21 at De Montfort Hall in Leicester. James Loughran conducted the Tenth Symphony, Eric Pinkett conducted the Twenty-First, and Robert Simpson produced the sessions. Unicorn issued the recording as an LP in 1973, and the release was critically well received. A special edition of the television programme Aquarius brought additional attention to the recording process. The label also developed relationships with internationally recognized conductors and composers. Jascha Horenstein's catalogue on Unicorn included Mahler's First, Third, and Sixth Symphonies and recordings of music by Carl Nielsen. The Nielsen Fifth Symphony was identified as the first recording of the new label. In 1970, Unicorn recorded Andrzej Panufnik's Universal Prayer at Westminster Cathedral. The work calls for four vocal soloists, choir, three harps, and organ, and the performance was conducted by Leopold Stokowski with Panufnik present. Unicorn's remit extended beyond the concert-hall repertoire. Under licence, it released four discs of London recordings by the American composer Alan Hovhaness, contributing to the composer's exposure among European listeners. The label also represented performers such as Jennifer Bate, Henry Herford, and Peter Maxwell Davies. This combination of recognized artists and less frequently recorded repertoire became a defining feature of the catalogue. Film and television music formed another important strand. Bernard Herrmann released several albums of his film scores through Unicorn, as well as a symphony and his opera Wuthering Heights. Laurie Johnson recorded scores and related material for the label, including music associated with The Avengers, The New Avengers, and The Professionals. Johnson also issued Synthesis, a symphony for jazz orchestra. These releases helped connect the label's classical and screen-music interests. During the 1970s and 1980s, Unicorn was among the labels using Ambisonic recording technology. One prominent example was Laurie Johnson's re-recording of Herrmann's score for North by Northwest. The use of multichannel recording techniques reflected the label's interest in presenting specialist repertoire through technically distinctive formats as well as preserving works that might otherwise have received limited recording attention. The label ceased producing its own CDs during the 1990s. Its later history therefore became increasingly associated with catalogue stewardship rather than regular new production. Much of the classical output was reissued through the budget Regis label, while film-music recordings were licensed to several smaller companies. In 2008, a number of recordings that had been unavailable for years returned through digital-download platforms. In 2017, an agreement involving Treasure Island Music and Heritage Records enabled renewed physical manufacture and distribution of Unicorn-Kanchana recordings. The documented record does not establish whether the brand currently operates as an active label, so its present status is best treated as unknown, with its principal continuing significance residing in its historical catalogue and reissue activity.

• 2020

  Death of founder John Goldsmith

  [1]Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org

  John Goldsmith, the label's founder and a former London police officer, died.

• 2017

  Heritage Records distribution agreement

  [1]Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org

  An agreement with Treasure Island Music allowed Heritage Records to manufacture and distribute recordings from the Unicorn-Kanchana catalogue again.

• 2008

  Digital reappearance of unavailable recordings

  [1]Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org

  Several long-unavailable Unicorn recordings began to return through music-download services.

• 1973

  First commercial release of the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra's Brian recordings

  [1]Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org

  Unicorn released the first commercial recording of Havergal Brian's music, attracting critical acclaim.

• 1972

  Havergal Brian symphonies recorded in Leicester

  [1]Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org

  The Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra recorded Havergal Brian's Tenth and Twenty-First Symphonies at De Montfort Hall, with James Loughran and Eric Pinkett conducting.

• 1970

  Recording of Panufnik's Universal Prayer

  [1]Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org

  Unicorn recorded Andrzej Panufnik's Universal Prayer at Westminster Cathedral in a performance conducted by Leopold Stokowski and attended by the composer.

A specialist British independent label focused on classical repertoire, British composers, film music, and archival or under-recorded works. Its catalogue positioned it as a curator and preservation-oriented alternative to larger mainstream record companies, with later activity centered on licensing, reissues, and digital distribution.

• Classical recordings

  Classical music catalogue

  The label's central catalogue covered orchestral, choral, chamber, vocal, and organ repertoire. It combined recordings by established conductors and performers with works by composers who were underrepresented in the commercial recording market, including Havergal Brian, George Dyson, Cipriani Potter, Andrzej Panufnik, and Peter Maxwell Davies.

• Orchestral recordings · 1973

  Havergal Brian symphony recordings

  Unicorn's recording of Havergal Brian's Symphonies Nos. 10 and 21, performed by the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, was the first commercial recording of Brian's music. Recorded in Leicester in 1972 and released in 1973, the project became one of the label's most distinctive historical contributions.

• Classical recordings

  Jascha Horenstein recordings

  The Horenstein releases included performances of Mahler's First, Third, and Sixth Symphonies and music by Carl Nielsen. The recording of Nielsen's Fifth Symphony was identified as the first recording released by the new Unicorn label.

• Soundtracks

  Film and television music catalogue

  Unicorn-Kanchana released recordings by film and television composers, including Bernard Herrmann and Laurie Johnson. The catalogue included Herrmann film scores, his opera Wuthering Heights, and Johnson's music connected with The Avengers, The New Avengers, and The Professionals.

• Multichannel recordings

  Ambisonic recordings

  During the 1970s and 1980s, the label issued recordings made using Ambisonic technology. A notable example was Laurie Johnson's re-recording of Bernard Herrmann's North by Northwest score, combining specialist film repertoire with an experimental spatial-audio format.

• 2017

  Catalogue manufacturing and distribution agreementM&A

  Background

  After years in which much of the catalogue circulated through reissues and licences, Treasure Island Music reached an agreement concerning Unicorn-Kanchana's intellectual-property catalogue.

  Action taken

  Heritage Records was authorized to resume manufacturing and distributing recordings from the Unicorn-Kanchana catalogue.

  Aftermath

  The agreement restored a route to physical catalogue distribution, although it was not described as an acquisition of the label.

  Source

• 1990

  End of in-house CD productionStrategy

  Background

  The label's documented history states that it ceased producing its own CDs during the 1990s.

  Action taken

  Subsequent availability relied increasingly on reissues, licensing arrangements, and later digital distribution rather than regular in-house CD production.

  Aftermath

  Much of the classical catalogue was re-released through Regis, while film-music recordings were licensed to several smaller labels.

  Source

1. 1Unicorn-Kanchanaen.wikipedia.org