Klarinet Archive - Posting 000352.txt from 2000/05

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Michael Lowenstern (was: [kl] Hi)
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 15:46:28 -0400

> Yes, it's New World Records 80468-2. I agree that it's a
> phenomenal CD, but
> the liner notes make clear that it's an astonishing feat by
> Lowenstern the
> recording engineer, along with the other four recording
> engineers, as much as
> by Lowenstern the bass clarinet player. I don't mean to take
> anything away
> from Lowenstern's playing, which is superb and goes way beyond
> typical bass
> clarinet technique. He explores the possibilities of sounds the
> instrument
> can make, instead of sticking with the mundane. However, this is a very
> heavily engineered recording of bass clarinet sounds layered onto
> many tracks
> and manipulated electronically. I think the CD is well worth
> buying, just
> for the gosh-wow factor, but IMHO, clarinet students in typical home or
> school practice environments (without the studio resources) will
> find only
> limited *practical* inspiration about bass clarinet playing from what
> Lowenstern does here.

I have seen Lowenstern play live and the recording is not that heavily
"engineered." Spasm is his own composition for Bass and tape part made from
sampled bass clarinet sounds. I saw the premiere of it and his playing was
perfect. I have also seen him play total absorbtion and he is of the
quality to play that one live as well... As somebody that has [attempted
to] perform a piece like Spasm live, you don't appreciate what he can do
until you see the music in front of you.

>
> All of the music is contemporary. According to the liner notes,
> "Six of the
> ten works on this recording were produced by composers associated
> with the
> State University of New York at Stony Brook...." The only
> standard on the
> CD, Gershwin's "Summertime," gets thoroughly Lowensternified.

What is wrong with releasing a CD without a "standard." Face it, we're in
the 21st century now. Let's examine some recent music. Old stuff is great,
but it is exactly that- old.

> A lot of this
> CD is music to climb the walls by: frantic, howling, screeching,
> thumping,
> popping. The title, "Spasm," says it all. I find that I'm not in a
> wall-climbing mood (or willing to be put into a wall-climbing mood) often
> enough to listen to this CD very frequently.

Not all music is soothing to listen too. I will totally agree that not
everything on the CD is easy to listen to, and yes, you do have to be in the
mood to listen to some of the pieces. *But* can't you say that about any
music? I usually don't feel like listening to Mozart. To each our own...

> Several months ago, I liked this recording better than I do now.
> Now that
> I'm no longer goggle-eyed with amazement at the technical feats,
> the music
> hasn't worn well for me, especially the final track, "But Would
> She Remember
> You?" Composed by Lowenstern, it features, "the taped voices of five men
> discussing important women in their lives, accompanied by bass
> clarinet and
> electronic tape with manipulated bass clarinet sounds." Heard once, it's
> interesting (if somewhat pretentious) performance art. Heard the second
> time, it's irritating. The third time, it's unbearable.

I'd actually tend to agree with you here. I personally couldn't stand this
piece. But, I listen to the other pieces on the CD. That is the great
thing about Contempory music is that it is so totally varied...

Just my thoughts.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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