Klarinet Archive - Posting 000632.txt from 1995/05

From: "Steven E. Klimowski" <sklimows@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: RE>Re- Neidich
Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 18:16:06 -0400

On Sat, 20 May 1995, Neil Leupold wrote:

> ntouch Memo 05/20/95
> Subject:RE>Re: Neidich 12:10 AM
> John Baetens wrote:
>
> "But I think Neil was being a little too quick to judge when he returned his
> copy the very next day. Some of my favorite recordings were recordings I
hated
> the first time I heard them. This is especially true when I am listening to a
> style of playing that I have not heard before."
>
> I agree, there have been times for me as well when I disliked a recorded
> performance, only to find myself deriving enjoyment from it at a later time,
> for one reason or another. In Neidich's case, however, my opinion is a little
> more stronly established. My first experiences with Neidich's playing were
> live recitals from his days as the principal teacher at the Eastman School of
> Music. I didn't enjoy his playing back then, and that was in 1988, just before
> he left Eastman (to teach more regularly at NEC, if I remember correctly).
> Seven years later, I'm equally unenamored of his playing. I know I'm not
alone
> in this, for a friend of mine who got his degree from Eastman a couple of
years
> ago expressed the same lack of impression with Neidich's Weber/Rossini album
(I
> only state that he is an Eastman graduate to indicate that he would know good
> clarinet playing if he heard it; of course there's always somebody who'll say
> that just because one has a degree from a high level conservatory, it doesn't
> mean they have good taste).
>
> John Baetens also wrote:
>
> "My next task is to try to find the Mozart Concerto that Neibach [sic]
recorded
> that Neil did like."
>
> That's why I said it was ironic, for his Mozart recording came as quite a
> surprise to me. I never expected such a marvelous interpretation from him.
> Just because I've not been impressed with his style doesn't mean I don't
> appreciate what he can do. It takes all kinds. And hey, I wouldn't mind
being
> able to triple-tongue and circular breathe (maybe I'll work on it if that kind
> of technique becomes important in clarinet performance, which I don't
> anticipate). While John didn't see Neidich's technique as dominant over his
> musicality, I did. It's a matter of philosophy as well. Maybe there are
those
> who feel that technique is the end, and musicality only a means to that end.
> It sounds absurdly backward, though.
>
> As for the recording, I'm fairly sure it's out of print. Your best bet is to
> scope out record store outlets, like Wherehouse or Tower, which carry
catalogue
> cutouts. Tower Records, which is nationwide, has entire outlets dedicated
> exclusively to cutout inventory at cut-rate prices. Wherehouse (an
exclusively
> West coast record chain) sells used CD's, so you might get lucky in that
> respect. The search is well worth the effort. If I stumble upon it, I'll
> relay the UPC to the list for those who wish to join in the search for their
> own copies. I know with certainty that it is on Deutsche Grammophone with the
> Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (no conductor, of course).
>
> - Neil
>
Sorry to get in on the end of this conversation but if you're talking
about the Neidich Recording of the Mozart Concerto, BMG just sent it to
me as one of the freebees for joining. One has one's choice, of course.
Anyway, they must have a pile of them.

Steve Klimowski