Klarinet Archive - Posting 001177.txt from 1999/04

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: section deafness
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 23:50:25 -0400

>>>The Michigan Band under Revelli and later under Reynolds never had this
problem. I would assume neither did U. Illinois with Hindsley or (later)
Begian. There are many university bands that played magnificently.<<<

Hmm. . .I heard the U of M band at Carnegie hall within the last 2 years. I
went with a friend who is an alum of the school and the band. It was so damn
loud that we both covered our ears a couple of times, and we were way up in
the balcony. Only one other time in Carnegie have I heard anything nearly so
loud, and that was Belshazaar's Feast with 2 antiphonal brass ensembles and a
200+ voice choir. It was all brass sound, there were at least 6 trombones and
4 tubas and god knows how many trumpets and horns up there. The woodwinds
were completely drowned out (I am not exaggerating) during any passage above
mf. We were both very underwhelmed. And of course they played the fight song
as an encore, as if we weren't already deaf.

I never heard the band under Revelli other than some recordings. Those
recordings are impressive (very impressive indeed) in terms of balance, blend
and intonation, if not musical taste. I did talk to a bassoonist who told
me he never had to play so softly in his entire life as he did under Revelli.
I doubt any band player will ever say that again.

-David Hattner, NYC

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