Klarinet Archive - Posting 001236.txt from 1998/12

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Gran Partita recordings
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 01:31:27 -0500

> From: MX%"klarinet@-----.49
> Subj: RE: [kl] Gran Partita recordings

>
> I am fortunate to own a copy of the Toronto Chamber Winds recording of the
> Gran Partita. It was recorded on April 24, 1981 at Massey Hall, in Toronto,
> Ontario. The Toronto Chamber Winds performed the Gran Partita at a live
> performance at Trinity Church either just prior to or just after the
> recording. I attended the live performance and recall reading, in the
> program notes, about the Basset Horn specialist who came up from
> California.
>
> This performance was my second exposure to a Basset horn in live
> performance, the first being at a Boston Symphony rehearsal of the Mozart
> Requiem, in 1960. Mr. Mazzeo was playing the first Basset horn, in the
> rehearsal. I believe that Dan purchased a Basset horn from Mr. Mazzeo.
> Perhaps my first two exposures to Basset horn, in live performance,
> involved hearing the same instrument.
>
> The recording was produced by Kneptune International Records and is catalog
> no. KIR 1202. The recording is excellent and contains a program note
> authored by Dan Leeson. It would be wonderful if Chris proceeds with a
> release of the recording for CD. I understand that the recording equipment
> used was state of the art.

While the equipment used was state of the art, the recording session
was plagued with noise due to the fact that Massey Hall (named after
the family of the great actor Raymond Massey) was an old facility
in the middle of town with very little soundproofing. So when we
were recording and a truck went by, we had to stop and start again.

The recording was done in the late evening to minimize the number
of trucks that went by. I think we finished after midnight. There
were no fixes. We just recorded each movement several times and
Chris Weait picked what he felt was the best one.

It was the first chance I had to hear Jim Campbell up close and it
was a wonderful experience. It was also a pleasure to play second
to Dave Bourke's wonderful first.

>
> If anyone would like further information please e-mail me privately. I also
> own some Anthony Pay records from before the days of the CD.
>
>
> Paul Gollom
> Toronto, Ontario
>
> pgollom@-----.com
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
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