The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 13:17
For those in the NYC area, they probably already know about WQXR. However for those who don't, it's a classical station that ALSO includes internet broadcasting of their music. I just logged on for the first time today and will be making frequent trips.
Well, today, appx. 11:30 AM EST will be David Shifrin performing Weber's Introduction, Theme and Variations. Even if you're not in the NYC area, the internet streaming will allow you to listen in to the fun. Just letting you know. They also have a playlist so you can check out what's coming up for the rest of the day ('hence' how I know about David Shifrin being on in two hours).
Just letting those out there know so they can visit it and perhaps bookmark it for future references (sure wish I had known about it)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-04-07 15:15
Thanks, Alex. I'll listen if it's at all possible.
I used to live in New Jersey and listened to WQXR quite a lot, now catch them on the internet occasionally. They stream in both Windows Media and Real Audio.
The net is a wonderful source for such music from a great number of sources: fr, ch, cz, br, mx, and so many other countries, each lending its own character to the programming. Good music and fascinating cultural study.
Regards,
John
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 16:52
AlexiWilliam Hughes wrote:
> Darn daylight savings time! Missed it by an hour.
lol. Sorry to hear that. I would've figured by WEDNESDAY of this week . . . (poke poke . . . )
If it's any consolation, I didn't think it was as good as Neidich's recording of it. And I didn't particularly like the syle. I find his playing to be very smooth and "round" (uh oh . . . here comes the adjectives . . . ) Neidich puts much more 'edge' on it, as well as repeating certain sections so it's a little longer and you get hear all the wonderful stuff TWICE.
But that's my opinion of David Shifrin's playing overall (judged from a few recordings). Wonderfully round, which is great during smooth legato parts, but not enough edge. If Neidich was a runaway railroad, Shifrin would be spinning tea-cup.
Both fun, but Shifrin just isn't my cup of tea (I must be butter cause I'm on a ROLL today. Or would 'crumpet' be the better choice here? I'm sorry. I'll stop.)
But hey, now you know a site to check out and keep an eye out for some music.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-04-07 17:28)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-04-07 18:25
TKS, Alexi, I missed this DS perf. dern it, but am getting acquainted with WQXR and my Real Player, putting it into my Favorite Places and adjusting volumes. What a goodie! For me, it supplements our "sorta-local" [KS to OK] FM classics played via FM stereo, on larger speakers!, whereby the bass is much better. Cant have everything, I guess. Thanx, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-04-07 19:07
Shif's recordings of the Brahms Sonatas are among the very finest...they are on Delos...exceptional clarinet artist...
David Dow
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 19:16
D Dow wrote:
> Shif's recordings of the Brahms Sonatas are among the very
> finest...they are on Delos...exceptional clarinet artist...
>
I'll be sure to check 'em out!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Chedmanus
Date: 2004-04-07 20:36
Sfalexi, if David Shifrin is a spinning tea cup, then Charles Neidich is a smashed beer can lying in the street by comparison. In my humble opinion, Neidichs recordings cant even touch Shifrins. Neidich may have more edge as you say, but along with that edge comes a whole truck load of things I dont want to hear. Shifrin is the greatest blend of musician and clarinetist. At times he can be a bit on the conservative side, but better that then disorderly chaos, a la Neidich.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 20:41
Chedmanus wrote:
> Sfalexi, if David Shifrin is a spinning tea cup, then Charles
> Neidich is a smashed beer can lying in the street by
> comparison.
Well that all depends . . . what kind of beer?
We all have our opinions. I have my favs and you have yours. Let's leave at that.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 22:24
Quote:
It is easy to make the mistake of listening for what ISN'T there rather than simply appreciating what is. You make a VERY good point. It's so easy to, despite loving this aspect or that aspect of a musician, to nitpick and WISH they did this better or interpretted it more like this. I tend to do that much more often when it's a piece for a specific instrument or for a chamber group. But I do realize that David Shifrin is amazing and a GREAT musician. Just that we all have to have our role-models and people that we would like to sound like (especially when beginning out). For me, that's a mixture of people (this one's blurring speed, that one's staccato, this one's tone, this one's interpretations, that one's cadenzas, etc.) Unfortunately for me, as great as David Shifrin is, he's not on that list of "people I want to sound like".
Doesn't mean I won't listen to his stuff or go see him if I get a chance though. He's still up there for me.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2004-04-08 02:13
I for one greatly enjoy Shifrin's and his Chamber Music Society colleagues' performances. Their Weber variations was fine with me, especially Shifirin's clarinet playing. Shifirin has one of those warm and easy tones that makes you feel as if clarinet playing is a breeze. I feel this makes him as pleasent to listen to as anybody else. And of course, his team of chamber musicians is undeniably an elite group as well.
BTW, I'm pretty excited to get the chance to finally hear Shifrin in person one week from Friday. On the program of the CMS concert is the Poulenc Clarinet Sonata, among other works.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-04-08 08:32
Hey, Don: Those $2 speakers thy hand out with computers are utterly awful, and the $20 or so replacerments aren't much better. Soon after I started listening to the net a lot, I went to Best Buy and picked up a set of three Altec Lansing amplified speakers for around fifty bux. What a difference! Net music is transformed from tin-cans-and-a-string audio quality to something quite respectable. Do give it a shot. I suspect you'll be quite pleased.
Regards,
John
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Author: DTH
Date: 2004-04-08 09:33
I just had the pleasure of hearing David Shifrin in person and it was a memorable experience. He played with such ease and made performing look enjoyable. I look forward to hearing him perform again.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-04-08 13:42
Hey John - Many TKS, I was hoping for "audio advice/comments" with my open-ended question. My "powered" speakers [2] are Yamaha YST-M7, [10" high by 2" wide] selected by our pharm.-analytical-chemist son [quite knowledgable re: electronics]. I have obtained some improvement in bass response with tone-control adjustment, but making comparisons with two quite good stereo systems, would [always] like better !! Our nearest Best Buy is in Tulsa, also a Comp USA where I bought my Sony monitor [VG], so will look around , next trip , A L electronics have been VG for years! Re: David Shifrin, we [rite hear in River City, at our OK Mozart] had the great pleasure of hearing him, with a VG chamber orch, play the Moz. Conc., and with a VG string quartet, play the Moz. Quintet. I and others marveled at his and their facility and tonality. Wish I had them recorded !! TKS, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-08 15:35
Don,
I gave up on computer speakers. I have a small component stereo in my computer room and hook the aux output of my computer's sound card to the aux input of the stereo (along with having the aux output of the stereo hooked to the aux input of the soundcard for recording purposes).
If I was a "gamer" I might have that 6 channel surround sound system on the PC - but for me a hookup into my reasonably good 2 channel system is sufficient.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2004-04-08 15:48
Don,
David Shifrin has recorded the Mozart Concerto and Quintet on:
Delos D/CD 3020
FWIW, of all the recordings of the Mozart Concerto that I have (and I have quite a few, though not as many as Ken Shaw ), this is the one I constantly come back to.
SWK writes: "The thing that sucks about being David Shifrin or Charlie Neidich is that they have actually played thousands of concerts and made dozens of recordings. This makes them very easy to criticize."
I don't think that sucks at all. To me, it signifies that they are both in the top tier of their profession and are making a living [and probably a pretty decent one] with their music. Criticism goes with the territory. IMHO, however, the mistake that too many people make is to judge the performer rather than the performance/recording. To me that's generalizing from too small a sample.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-08 15:52
Quote:
Don,
I gave up on computer speakers. I have a small component stereo in my computer room and hook the aux output of my computer's sound card to the aux input of the stereo Ditto here. Plus you get the functionality of the mini-system (usually dual cassette, multiple CD changer, radio, and, if you want, you can splice in a record player into that "aux in" with some splitters, Y-adapters and the like.
Good idea Mark about putting the aux output to the computer. I never thought about that.
Alexi
PS - If you don't listen to your music loud, I don't think you'll need a very expensive mini-system. The more expensive it gets, the more it tends to just be you paying for higher quality at those high decibels. Bring a classical CD with you or whatever music you will be listening to to the store when you go to pick it out. They SHOULD let you put in your CD and adjust the volume to your taste so you can hear what it'll sound like. If they don't, go to a different store!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-08 15:56
sfalexi wrote:
> Plus you get the functionality of the mini-system (usually dual
> cassette, multiple CD changer, radio, and, if you want, you can
> splice in a record player into that "aux in" with some
> splitters, Y-adapters and the like.
Well, mine's not a mini-system but a true component system (and I'd never buy a system that had dual cassettes - it ends up that both are well-nigh useless for recording ) - but yes, the effect's the same.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-04-08 18:35
TKS, Mark, Jack, Alexi and SWK as well ! Great advice and commentary. Since my #2 stereo [not as good as #1] is in an adjoining room to my comp, I'll try a "wired-in" experiment if the BW doesn't complain TOO much [she has put up with my electronic {sound, speaker, FM antenna} idio[t]-syncraces[sp?] for umpteem years], re: my "research", and enjoy a second classical FM station in my declining years. {How's that for a complex SHORT sentence}. May report if all goes well. Again Thanx. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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