Klarinet Archive - Posting 000252.txt from 1995/02

From: "Chris J. Vaughn" <saxmastr@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Brahms Op 120 Recommendations
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 1995 21:00:06 -0500

On Sat, 11 Feb 1995, Roger J. Shilcock wrote:

> Michael Collins, like Queen Emma, won the BBC "Young Musician of the year"
> contest in 1980-something. Comparisons are odorous, but ....
> Roger Shilcock

Yes but one need only to listen to the recording of Michael Collins to
realize that to compare his playing to Emma Johnson is like comparing a
professional Buffet to a plastic Bundy clarinet. (With Michael being the
Buffet of course). Have you Roger ever heard the recording I mentioned?
Have you ever heard anything by Michael Collins? If not, then how can
you lump the two into the same boat simply because they've both won the
BBC contest you mentioned? So what? Michael's tone and technique are
far superior to Emma's. (Disclaimer here, I'm not trying to re-kindle an
old discussion of the "three queens" here or try to objectivly tell
anyone anything, I'm simply stating my opinion.) His interpretation of
the Brahms Sonatas are among the best I've ever heard (and I listened to
many when preparing the pieces for my recitals a few years ago.) Oddly
enough, even though he's British, he doesn't choose to use vibrato with
his playing, but rather chooses to shape his phrases through use of
dynamics and tone color instead. (No, I'm not trying to start the whole
vibrato thing again either.)
So, to conclude, until you've heard the (or any) recording of the player
of whom I'm speaking, please don't compare them to Emma or anyone else
based simply on what they've won.
Just my $.02 worth.

Chris Vaughn

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"There is a fine line / Send me a giraffe, we need a /
between ignorance /-- giraffe around here. /--
and stupidity... /---- /----
Only I have managed ----/ Christopher J. Vaughn ----/
to erase that line." --/ Seattle Pacific University --/
--Dr. Science / saxmastr@-----.edu /
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