Klarinet Archive - Posting 000032.txt from 1996/04

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Suite Ancienne Clarinet Solo (fwd) [from Top 10 Discussion]
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 15:38:56 -0500

I found the following message sufficiently interesting, both from a
historical perspective and also because of the listings of unfamiliar works,
that I am taking the liberty of forwarding it to the List.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 15:22:34 +0200 (METDST)
From: Jarle Brosveet <Jarle.Brosveet@-----.no>
To: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.com>
Subject: Suite Ancienne clarinet solo

At 15:08 28.03.96 -0800, you wrote:
>
> 1. "Suite Ancienne" by Johan Halvorsen - A marvelous
>composition, which is rarely played nowadays, this suite contains, among
>other things, a theme and variations, one of which is devoted to an early
>classical style clarinet solo. I have a vinyl LP from ca. 1960 of the Suite
>performed by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Oivin
>Fjelstad. The very appealing tonal quality produced by the clarinet soloist
>was on the 1950s-1960s French side, somewhat like the sound produced during
>that period by the solo player from the Suisse Romande Orchestra.

I can inform you that the soloist was Richard Kjelstrup, born 1917, the
'grand old man' among Norwegian clarinettists, who studied with Cahuzac and
introduced the French tradition of clarinet playing in Norway. As a tribute
to his fine playing some of his existing recordings have been reissued on
this Norwegian CD recently:

Richard Kjelstrup Portrett. Lindberg Lyd LILY 112

Ferdinand David: Introduction, Theme and Variations, Op. 8 (rec. 1951)
w/piano
Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen: Troytt hjarte, Op. 42 (rec. 1963) Three songs
w/soprano
Bjarne Brustad: Serenade for violin, clarinet and bassoon (1947) (rec. 1960)
Bjarne Brustad: Clarinet Concerto (1969) (rec. 1971) w/Oslo Phil. Orch.
Louis Cahuzac: Arlequin (rec. 1960)
Edvard Fliflet Braein: Divertimento for clarinet, violin, viola and
cello (1962) (rec. 1962)
Carl Nielsen: Wind Quintet, Op. 43 (rec. 1962)

These are radio broadcasts of variable sound quality that have been cleaned
up quite well. Kjelstrup sounds a bit reedy at times. Still it is a valuable
document of the art of a notable clarinettist and some of the works written
for him. Generally the music is enjoyable, his tone full and his technique
admirable. This seems to confirm the impression that your got from your old
LP of the Suite Ancienne, which I have not heard.

Jarle Brosveet.