Klarinet Archive - Posting 000243.txt from 1999/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Funny Nielsen recording
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 10:55:20 -0400

At 06:44 AM 10/9/1999 -0700, you wrote:
><<Our 20th Century literature would be so much the
>poorer without Benny.>>
>
>Absolutely, but... the point of my post was that
>Goodman must have been so in love with himself, that
>he thought his classical playing was
>performable/recordable. Most high school and college
>freshmen have better technique than Goodman did. I
>highly doubt he felt "obliged" to record the many
>works written for him. I will assume that Stravinsky,
>Bartok, Milhaud, etc. were all aware of his technical
>and musical shortcomings in "legit" music. Both
>parties came out smelling like roses in the end.
>Benny commissioned new works dedicated to him (ego
>maniac), and the composers were heralded by John Q.
>Public - i.e. more press.
>
OK, so Goodman was not the world's finest classical clarinet player. I'll
bet Reginald Kell's jazz playing sucked, too! Goodman was never fully
comfortable in the serious music area, largely because of his background.
But that has nothing to do with technique. When playing in his own idiom,
he was unmatched! He was well aware of his limitations in classical music,
but he did try to get better, including taking lessons from Kell (which
resulted in screwing up Benny's embouchure). His fame may have helped him
get commissions, but I believe it was mostly his MONEY, which he earned
through his brilliant jazz playing, that allowed him to pay (read
"commission") composers to write for him. I own several Goodman classical
recordings and, yes, I do believe he could have done a better job, but his
name on the cover sold records and the recording companies knew it.
Aesthetics are nice, but economics is where it's at.

>Most clarinet players I know have at least some
>admiration for the King of Swing, including myself.
>But can one honestly say that his classical playing
>and recordings were good, or even ok? I cannot even
>listen to him playing the Nielsen anymore, because it
>makes me feel embarrased to be alive. This may be one
>of the first cd's I will throw in the rubbish - no
>joke. After listening to it twice, I reneg on my
>origional statement that the recording was valuable as
>a "bad cd and/or how not to play" example. Benny's
>legit playing was an insult to the great classical
>players of the day, who did not have the fame, press,
>and clout to elicit a commision from a great composer.
> Even so, I'm sure they still al kissed Mr. Goodman's
>behind! :)
>
>
>
>=====
>
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>
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Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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