Klarinet Archive - Posting 000685.txt from 1999/01

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Selmer 10-G
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 19:35:23 -0500

In a message dated 1/15/99 4:15:22 PM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org writes:

<< Tom the problem that you mentioned must have been corrected by the time I
bought my 10-G's. I do NOT encounter sharpness in the low register, the A,Bb,
B, and C are very stable, on the Bb and A. >>

I mentioned privately to Walter that I was going to listen to my old LP of
David Shifrin. It was his first record, made in 1975 for the Advent (now
Telarc) label and distributed by Selmer. He plays 10-Gs for a program of
Brahms (Sonata no. 1), Tartini (Concertino), Stravinsky (3 Pieces) and
Debussy.

My impression on listening to this album after many years is that the pitch is
quite exceptionally good. I feel that the Brahms Sonatas are as hard to tune
as anything ever written, and he does very, very well. There are many passages
in the lower right hand register that are not sharp at all, and those that
creep up a little (mostly very soft ones) are no more glaring that what would
occur with any fine clarinet. The upper register left hand is similarly good,
with stable, accurate pitch. He uses the 1/1 b-flat up there almost
exclusively (especially in the Debussy) which I find interesting, but it
sounds good and is well in tune.

All in all, it is a fine record, and shows what is possible on a fine Selmer
intstrument. The performances are lovely, depite some wrong (not missed) notes
in the Debussy, including a glaring misreading of some c-flats in the piano
toward the end. The A clarinet he uses in the Stravinsky is similarly good and
stable in pitch.

Shifrin's tone has changed much since 24 years ago, but he sounds as beautiful
as he ever has on this record. Perhaps Selmer has some copies still laying
around in Elkhart. . .

David Hattner, NYC

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