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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000060.txt from 2007/07

From: "HAROLD" <harold@-----.br>
Subj: [DR-L] JCFischer report(oboist/composer)
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 05:13:43 -0400

Plse delete immediately if you can't stand hearing reports on other's
performances

Dear List and Jerry Caldwell(who first accompanied me on this project):
I just realized one my oboistic/musical dreams last evening performing the
Johan Christian Fischer (better known as JC-1733-1800) "Eb concerto" here in
the tropics.
(Imagined reply from my Online nemesis David Metzger:
"So what?That and a turnstile ticket will get you into the NYC subway.")
Here is my full report for those interested and who might want to perform
this lovely but neglected work by a composer who was born in Freiburg im
Breisgau ,Germany,played at the Court in Dresden until 1764,went to London
in 1768,becoming a member of the Queen's Band but "returned (according to
Grove's) to the Continent when not being made Master of the King's Band in
1786.Returned to London in 1790 and married Gainborough's daughter.Mozart
wrote variations on his Minuet (1773).
(Metzger: "Can't you write about anyone but yourself?"
Me:Mirror ,mirror on the Wall!....)

Report

Why the works of this virtuoso oboist/composer are neglected probably is
the same reason double reeders play the same instrument brands as their
teachers:Tradition! (Dancing with chairs on the heads of the singers and
double reeders)
All my oboistic life I seemed to have been studying the Mozart,Haydn and
Strauss but--although I know the famous recording--are there others?-- by
Swiss oboist Andre Lardrot, only for the last two years have I been
dedicating myself to this difficult but NOT impossible work which I liken to
the Pasculli of it's epoch. ( I ordered it--published by Breitkopf & Hertel
published in 1963(!) from an online discount houses )and paid about 200
dollars with the score,parts.To me this was a worthwhile investment.)

In any case,the Concerto's biggest obstacle is its difficult Cadenza which
was actally written by Raymond Meyland ,so I guess we could write out own
cadenza. (A viola player--whom else?--commented when I first played the full
Cadenza at rehearsal "The composer must have been an enemy of oboists""Well
not really it requires continued practice for months ,years and slowly but
surely will come)
One lister has written me that Fischer died while playing one of his
difficult concertos(The C major is a bit easier) and I wondered as I
performed the Eb last night if this one was concerto about which the Lister
was referring.In order to lighten up the atmosphere,I announced the
oboist's- composers death and the audience laughed,easing the tension.
What else is there to report?
There are many difficult parts within this work which when played with the
string orchestra seem easier because they are often tutti lines. They should
be worked on constantly,daily and slowly. The Cadenza should be memorized
and played in public many times--I erred to allow myself only one try at the
full candenza in front of the ensemble.
The second movement--with its improvisations written out by CPE Bach--is a
jewel and I took it in 3 (rather than six) and wonder just how fast it
should go?(Sounds almost like a menuet in three)
The last movement in 6/8 or 2, is sort of the music used for the "chase"
with foxes and horses accompanying the horns. I wrote on my part :"Not so
Fast!"
What else is there to report other than saying I am still alive after
playing the concerto which might have killed JC Fischer and the audience
reacted very well indeed to the work. (Query:How did the composer play it on
a primitve boxwood oboe with little keys?) And,I continue to ask,why is
this lovely work still neglected?
Have a lovely day Mr. Metzger!

Rgds,

Harold Emert
Rio-Brazil

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