Klarinet Archive - Posting 000690.txt from 1998/11

From: "Benjamin A. Maas" <bmaas@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] bass clarinet CD
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 07:51:02 -0500

Not to start a Flame war, but how could you possibly equate Giora Fiedman to
Kenny G?!

I (and many other people I know) consider Fiedman to be the best example of
Klezmer music. The word Klezmer comes from the Hebrew words that mean
literally "instrument of song." He is one of the most lyrical, soulful
players of any sort I have ever heard. His style is very "old-world" for
lack of a better description... Rather than playing lots of notes, (as
many newer Klezmer bands do), he emphasizes the soul of the music.

Today, most of the "klezmer" we hear is a result of a combination of the old
world music and the 1920's vaudeville music that the original players were
forced to play (to earn a living) when they got to this country. It is a
hybrid music now, but Fiedman doesn't play in this style.

Regarding Bass clarinet CDs, check out Spasm by Michael Lowenstern (New
World Records #80468-2), Roger Heaton's CD on Clarinet Classics (#CC 0009),
and Renate Rusche's CD on the DG Scene CD (MDG 624 0556-2). Spasm has
compositions for Bass Clarinet by and written for Lowenstern, The Heaton has
a variety of stuff (including several pieces where he plays all the parts in
a clarinet choir), and the Rusche has the Schoeck Sonata, Genzmer sonata,
Erdmann concerto and a couple other pieces.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Clarinetist and Digital Recording Engineer
Student, University of Southern California
Executive Director, Digital Renaissance Consort
bmaas@-----.net
bmaas@-----.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: Farfl <farfl@-----.ca>
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 1998 7:59 PM
Subject: [kl] bass clarinet CD

>I think you should be forewarned that Giora Fiedman is the Kenny G. of the
Klezmer
>world. He should not be taken as a good example of what Klezmer music is.
What
>type of music are you interested in? If you're looking for bass clarinet
music of
>any type, you may want to check out
>Eric Dolphy
>Flip Phillips
>Ben Goldberg
>etc.......
>Regards,
>Steven Lederman
>
>> > Greetings list!
>> > I wanted to know if anybody knew of any "awesome" bass clarinet and/or
Eb
>> > recordings. I saw one in Tower called "Spazz" which was bass clarinet.
>> > Anybody recommend that one? I know Mr. Yeh of the CSO and DePaul has
>> > some Eb ones, but which are recommended?
>> >
>> > I just want to add to my cd collection! Thanks!
>>
>> Giora Fiedman has an absolutely fantastic recording of a cello work (I
>> think it's R. Schumann...) on bass clarinet, along with some 20th century
>> klezmer+choral works. Truly breath-taking, and I don't have the name off
>> the top of my head. Dr. Borchert has the CD...perhaps he could give you
>> the specifics...sir?
>>
>> J. Shouryu Nohe
>> http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
>> Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
>> One of Key's 30,000 Friends
>> ---------------------------------------------------------
>>
>
>

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