Klarinet Archive - Posting 000575.txt from 1996/01

From: thehat@-----.ORG
Subj: Reg. Kell
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 00:41:14 -0500

I offer this information re: attaining rare Reginald Kell lps. A friend of
mine in Evanston, IL, Gerry Canter, runs a business in old lps. I placed
an order with him recently and he mentioned that he had a few of Kell's
American Decca lps. These are hard to find, as most of you know, and
American Deccas, for some unknown reason, tend to be in pretty rough shape
when they do turn up.

Anyway, since I have little to no interest in Kell myself, I offered to
put Gerry's number here in case any of you would like to purchase what he
has. He can be reached at (718)864-3981. Please remember that this is his
home, and time your calls accordingly.

There are Kell cds you can get at a good record store, including a new
release on a new label of Kell's recordings from the old Concert Disc LP
label. The cd includes the Mozart and Brahms Quintets with the Fine Arts
Quartet. Kell's older recording of the Brahms with the Busch Quartet is
available on the EMI label. THere are also Kell Performances of Schumann,
Schubert and Weber (and Probably others) on cd as well.

The only American Decca recordings to make it to CD as far as I know are
the Brahms Sonatas with Joel Rosen (he also recorded them with Horzowski
for Mercury, very rare). The Rosen Brahms may already be out of print
again. Thus the LP is currently the only way you can hear Kell play many
pieces he did not record for any other labels.

You should expect to pay between $35-$75 for a Kell lp. depending on the
rarity and condition. The Mozart Concerto might be cheap, but the Bartok
Contrasts will be much more, etc.

I did not ask Gerry which Deccas he has. You'll have to call. He is also
likely to have or know where to get copies of records by other famous
clarinetists (or other classical artists in which you may have interest).
Another clarinetist collectors find interesting is Leopold Wlach, the
terrific Austrian clarinetist, who recorded a particularly fine Brahms
Quintet for Westminster along with most of the rest of the major clarinet
repertoire. He also recorded tons of wind octets of sextets with his
colleagues from the Vienna Philharmonic. These are less rare than the
Kells, but the cost range can be similar, depending on the vintage of the
pressing.

Let me know if any of you out there find some treasures! I get no
kickbacks, believe me!

David Hattner
clarinetist-at-large, NYC

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This copy of Freddie 1.2.5 is being evaluated.