Klarinet Archive - Posting 000424.txt from 1997/01

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.net>
Subj: Re: John McCaw [was: My favorite Nielsen!]
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 12:15:42 -0500

I second the recommendation of McCaw's Nielsen recording. He was
interviewed in The Clarinet 15:2 (Feb '88) and mentioned that he did the
Nielsen and Mozart (which is on the other side of the LP) in three
three-hour sessions - the Nielsen is basically one take, with a few patches.

Instrument-wise, yes he does play Buffet R-13 (with a Boosey & Hawkes 926
mouthpiece!) but I don't know that he ever played 1010's. (It doesn't say
what he played before the R-13's, except that he started on Eb because his
hands were too small for Bb, and that in the orchestra in New Zealand
(1946-48) he couldn't get an Eb at the right pitch so he played Till
Eulenspiegel etc. on Bb!) He has done major modifications on both clarinets
and mouthpieces and makes his own barrels, and has collaborated with Luis
Rossi, who studied with him years ago and now makes clarinets (which have
been discussed on the list).

And he's a really nice guy (I met him a few years ago).

> Another old recording of the Nielsen not mentioned yet that I highly
> recommend for anyone, but particularly students, is the Jack McCaw release
> on the Unicorn label (UNS 239). I do not know if it is currently available
> but if not, it would be worth looking for in used record shops. For my
> taste it is still the most interesting interpretation ever recorded. His
> tempos are noticeably slower in the really difficult places, but his
> playing is extremely musical. Many players attempt this "Mt. Everest" of
> our repertoire with the attitude of faster is better or "I'm going to play
> it that fast because I can!" McCaw explores a musical side of this piece
> which gave me as a student, and now my students, things to consider in
> formulating a unique interpretation.
>
> Just to plant a seed for a somewhat new topic of discussion, I believe
> McCaw, who was Solo Clarinetist with the Philharmonia and then New
> Philharmonia Orchestra in England, was one of the first English
> clarinetists (although he is actually from New Zealand) to abandon the
> Boosey 1010 in favor of the Buffet. I have always admired McCaw's playing
> and would be interested in reading more discussion about him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGB Lorne G Buick St. John's
lgbuick@-----.net Newfoundland
Canada