Klarinet Archive - Posting 000211.txt from 1995/05

From: Lisa Gartrell Yeo <ux403@-----.CA>
Subj: More Copland Info
Date: Fri, 5 May 1995 14:21:40 -0400

Here is part two, which I hope to keep short. I could go on for ages
listing sources, but I don't think it's necessary. I gave you most
of the important ones last time. Thank you to Dan Leeson for
mentioning the autograph, would you believe that no-one thus far
has mentioned referring to it? How do I obtain a copy of it, Dan?
I would like to mention a few recordings. There are MANY of them.
Copland and Goodman made two recordings, both with the Columbia
Strings, one in the 50's and one in 1963. I have yet to hear the
1950's recording as it is no longer commercially available, but
Russell Daigon from Northwestern is sending me a copy. Hurrah!
There is also a recording with Goodman, Fritz Reiner conducting
and the NBC orchestra. I believe this is a recording of the radio
premiere, although the date listed in Opus (recordings source)
has the wrong year, 1951 instead of 1950.
There are recordings by the following clarinetists:
Gary Gray, Royal Philharmonic, Harry Newstone, cond. Unicorn
Kanchana DKP 9066, 1987.

Hilton, Janet, Scottish National Orchestra, Matthias Bamert, cond.
Chandos 8618, 1988.

Klein, K. Collins Classica, 10972. (all the info I have right now)

MacDonald, George, Northern Sinfonia of England, Steuart Bedford, cond.
DCA 568, 1986.

Meyer, Paul. Ebglish Chamber Orchestra, David Zinman, cond. Denon
CO-75289, 1993.

Schneider, D. Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, J. Yannatos, cond.
AFKA SK509.

Stolzman, Richard. London Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Leighton,
cond. RCA Vctor 7762-2-RC, 1988.

Stolzman also did a TV programme for Channel 4 in the UK with
Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony orchestra. It was part
of a series called Dudley Moore introduces Concerto! This video is
available (BMG Music) and I belive is also out on CD with
RCA Red Seal. I just located a copy of this video and am
most curious to see it!

A few more recordings:

Blount, William, Orchestra of St Luke's, Dennis Russell Davies,
Music Masters MMD 60162

de Peyer, Gervase, London Mozart Players, Bernard Jacob, Unicorn
RHS 314, 1973 (This is an LP)

Shifrin, David, New York Chamber Symphony, Gerard Schwarz, EMI 49095, 1989.

There are also recordings by Edouard Brunner and Ronald de Kant, but
I don't have the info for them as yet.

I think that's it, but if any of you know of others, please post them. I
am trying to get my hands on as many recordings as possible.

My thesis will be dealing mainlywith the existing performance practice
of the piece, and an examination of the Concerto's place in both
Copland's output and the with the genre of jazz-influenced works
of the time. As I keep saying, I am in the early stages of this research,
but a few issues are already formulating in my mind.
Is this a jazz piece? If so, how do we alter our clarinet playing
to suit the work?
How inportant a source are the recordings made by Goodman and
Copland as a indication of how the work is to be played? I think they
are very important. Having only heard one recording, though, I'm
not sure. If they are drastically different, that may change my
perception of things. It will also be intersting to hear the Reiner
recording and see if there are sgnificant differences.
Thsi piece is controversial; some people play it jazzy, others
straight (Benny played it pretty straight). The sources I mentioned
in these two postings I hope will help you to come to your own
conclusions about how to perform the work. I neglected to
mention that the piece is influenced by South American musical
idioms as well as jazz, and that is an important consideration.
Good luck, I don't wish to say more until I've done more
work, besides I don't want anyone to nab my topic before I'm
through!!

Lisa Gartrell Yeo
Victoria, BC