Sounds page
Note: more sound clips, including several complete movements, can be found on the Extremes page. There are also clips for each example on the Quirks list.
Two complete early recordings. These recordings, made in late 1926 using the then-new electrical process, are the first recordings of more than merely historical interest.
Sir Henry Wood, Queens Hall Symphony Orchestra. The Scherzo is the fastest on record, with all repeats taken. This was not to make it fit on one side (it was still too long for that in 1926). Digitization kindly provided by Damian Rogan
1 Allegro con brio (13:02) 9MB mp3
2 Marcia Funebre (13:49) 10MB mp3
3 Scherzo (4:48) 3MB mp3
4 Finale. Allergro molto (10:51) 8MB mp3
Albert Coates, unidentified orchestra (actually the London Symphony). This performance remained in the catalog for many years. The first movement is one of the fastest performances ever; Coates had a reputation for quick tempi, so it's not necessarily a response to this particular music. The third movement, taken at a more usual pace, has its repeats cut so it fits onto a single side.
1 Allegro con brio (12:14) 15MB mp3
2 Marcia Funebre (14:53) 18MB mp3
3 Scherzo (3:45) 5MB mp3
4 Finale. Allergro molto (10:33) 14MB mp3

Swarowsky at last. In the LP era, it was common to split the Funeral March over the side-break; this was facilitated by a pause in the music (two eighth rests) in the middle of measure 104. In one case, however, only the second half of the movement made it to the CD reissue -- and the mistake has gone uncorrected through several successive issues, on several different labels! Since, to my knowledge, this movement has never appeared intact on any CD, I present it here.

Hans Swarowsky, Munich SO (ca. 1970)
2nd movement, complete
mp3

Mystery #1: can anyone identify the performers on this recording? It was issued pseudonymously on Pickwick CD SMC 61. It's stereo, but the master tape was in mediocre condition. It's not the same performances as Allegro LP ALL701 (1964), which credits the same performers. That performance is mono (probably pre-1950), and has a live audience. (CD from the collection of Bill Summers.)

'Fritz Schreiber, Dresden State SO'
1st movement
mp3

Mystery #2: this pseudonymous performance was issued before 1953 on Parade 2005. (The third movement was also issued separately on one side of a 45rpm 7" disc, Parade 9041). Warning: the LP is in bad shape, I cleaned it up as best I could.

'Hans Ledermann, Sonor SO' ([1952])
1st movement
mp3

Please send your best guess to eroica_project@hotmail.com

Here are some other examples of the first movement, including three of the earliest recordings.

Oskar Fried, Berlin State Opera Orchestra (1924)

From the first complete recording. Sounds remarkably good for its time, and whatever re-orchestration has been done to accomodate the acoustic (pre-electrical) recording process is tasteful. Recently reissued for the first time by Arbiter.

wma
Frieder Weissmann, unidentified orchestra (1924)

The opposite of the Fried: "orchestra" is probably too kind a word to describe this motley ensemble, and the piece has been rearranged for something like a dozen instruments, with prominent tuba. Never reissued.

wma
Max von Schillings, Vienna State Opera Orchestra (1929)

A fine musician but an ardent Nazi, his timely death (in 1933) saved him from gross infamy, relegating him instead to general obscurity. Never reissued.

wma
Wilhelm Furtwängler, RAI Rome (1952)

Alas, probably the worst of Furtwängler's many preserved 'Eroicas'; don't judge him by this one. Recently reissued on several labels.

wma