Klarinet Archive - Posting 000196.txt from 2007/02

From: "James Sclater" <Sclater@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Kell
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:53:34 -0500

It has been very interesting to read the various comments, both negative
and positive, about Mr. Kell. About ten years ago I had the pleasure to
research his life and work in preparation for what turned into a series
of articles for the ICA journal. From what I have learned, the rubato
aspect of his playing was as much an issue as the vibrato. His playing
seemed to inspire intense reaction, both positive and negative. Those
who judge his playing by the Decca recording he made in the USA get only
a small part of the picture. In 1997, Steve Trier gave me a copy of a
memorial tribute to Kell which he put together for the BBC after Kell
died. There are several excerpts on it which contain some of the most
wonderful playing I ever hope to hear.

In 1961, I had the pleasure of hearing Kell play the Vaughan-Williams
Folk Song Studies in a mini-recital in Mobile, Alabama. By this time he
had not played professionally for about nine years, but he made such
glorious music that day. His individual approach to the instrument
taught me a great deal. It makes me wonder whether his many critics
really took the time to listen closely to what he was trying to do.

Jim Sclater

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