Klarinet Archive - Posting 000092.txt from 1997/08

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Josef Horak?
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 11:46:48 -0400

>> Recently obtained an interesting CD of performances by a Czech Bass
>> Clarinetist named Josef Horak.
>
>Care to reveal title, contents, publisher, number?
>
>> According to the "liner notes" he has an international reputation and is
>> widely known as a skilled performer and teacher. I've been unable to find
>> anything about him beyond the material in those notes.
>
>Which makes me feel interested...

...pleased to pass on the information.

The CD is "Due Boemi di Praga," as the title implies performances of the
duo of Josef Horak [BCl] and Emma Kovarnova [Piano]. Seventy-plus minutes
of mostly modern material by seven contemporary Czech composers and Pablo
Casals. One of the cuts is Horak with a chamber group...the remainder with
Kovarnova, the piano accompanist. The label is "Panton," from Prague, and
the CD number *seems* to be 81 1441 - 2 111 [although this could be
Panton's phone number...I'm not fluent in Czech or Slovak! ;-)]

Now a subjective observation...you have to like modern stuff to fully enjoy
this disc...I'm a *great* lover of Stravinsky, Prokoviev, and the other
post romantics but I'm not sure I fully appreciate *all* these avante guard
Czech compositions.

But...the bass clarinet work is very interesting...particularly Horak's
wide range and tonal variations.

Unfortunately I'm about to go on travel so can't go into detail about
"contents," except for the generalization above, but will provide more
detail later if you wish.

This disc is obviously a digital rework of LP material recorded within the
last 20 to 25 years...it's not new.

Fred S.