Klarinet Archive - Posting 000421.txt from 2004/02

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Bravo Dan, Keith and Forest!
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 17:46:12 -0500

Monday night, Dan Leeson, Forest Aten, and Keith Bowen played an =
excellent
recital at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (with the help of some local
UNLV-based musicians).

I just wanted to write a quick note expressing what an enjoyable evening =
it
was. I've never seen 3 Basset Horns on one stage, ever.... And what a
sound it made. The "plaintive" tone (that's for you Dan.) of the
instruments was just beautiful. The blend of 3 basset horns and 1-3
clarinets is a sound that I wish more people could hear. =20

Dan and Keith's instruments are everything they have been described.
Stephen Fox is a genius maker- I've never played a clarinet of any type =
that
is that good (and as stunningly beautiful to look at).

About the music- Some of the works played are works that I have heard, =
but
the majority was new to me. Dan introduced every work on the program =
and
his commentary was quite engaging. It was the only time I've been to a
concert and heard a work stop mid-phrase, too... He introduced the =
Adagio
K484c as being tragic... I didn't realize why until about 30 seconds in =
to
this heavenly piece of music, everything stopped. Upon looking at the
program, I then noticed that it was nothing but a fragment. That is the
real tragedy.

There was also a very interesting demonstration of the Adagio K580a for
clarinet and 3 basset horns. Again, another wonderful incomplete work.
This time, they played the original and three different completions. =
They
ranged from a lush, romantic completion (that while pretty, didn't =
exactly
fit the style) to Robert Levin's completion...

On a completely separate note, it was great to finally get to meet some =
of
the people that I've seen post here on the klarinet list for so many
years...

--Ben

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

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