 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-05-16 15:54
One of the favorite CD's in my collection is a CSO-Fritz Reiner disc recorded in 1959 under RCA Victor. (RCA Victor has a whole series of remastered recordings of the orchestra) On it is Debussy's La Mer, and Respighi's Fountains of Rome & Pines of Rome.
That recording of Pines of Rome is a classic, the sound is a bit aged but the playing is fabulous. The long clarinet solo of the 3rd movement was done nicely, played very quietly and with a feeling that it was approaching from a distance far off. The big leaps from throat A to high B seemed easy and effortless.
Now, the question is: who was playing clarinet in that recording? I'm pretty sure Combs only came to the orchestra in the 70's, and Yeh isn't old enough to be playing there in 1959.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-05-16 16:00
Sorry I don't know but those are faves of mine too...I have the cassette tapes which were issued after the vinyls.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-05-16 16:19
The clarinetist was most likely the legendary Clark Brody, but may have been Robert Marcellus who spent a short time in Chicago with the CSO before going to "warmer" California.
Marcellus made the side comment that, "Had I stayed in Chicago, maybe Larry Combs would never have had the chance...." in a master class at the University of Wisconsin--Madison a couple of summers ago. Presumably, that could have also applied to Brody.
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Author: senza bs
Date: 2004-05-16 16:38
Clark Brody was principal of the CSO from 1951-1978. He played on virtually all the Reiner recordings, the Martinon recordings and some of the Solti recordings as well. Before going to Chicago, he played 1st clarinet in the CBS orchestra in New York, one of the best gigs in the country at the time. Playing 2nd to him for a while was his teacher, Daniel Bonade.
William, you must be confusing Robert Marcellus with Mitchell Lurie, who moved to California after a year or so with Chicago.
I know Mr. Brody and he is one of the great gentlemen of the profession. He still lives in Evanston. He will be 90 this year.
Clark Brody is one of the great principal players for many reasons. First, his flawless sense of rhythm, the fundamental all working musicians must rely on. His special ability to play super pianissimo, his fantastic articulation and his ability to sight read anything and transpose on the spot are also notable.
Mr. Brody was a part of the unbelievable greatness of the CSO during some amazing years. Countless recordings, commercial and live, testify to the comprehensive virtuosity of the orchestra.
Also notable with the Pines recording is that he follows what is marked in the score which is often not done.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-05-16 20:33
i might hunt this recording down
my version of the Pines has awful clarinet playing
i won't say which orchestra it is, but if i we played like that now we wouldn't get any gigs (and my recording ain't that old, either)
i have heard nothing but good things about Clark Brody as both a player and personality.
donald
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-05-16 21:18
William and Senza, thanks for identifying the clarinetist.
Donald, here's the CD:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003FUG/qid%3D1084742260/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-8500521-8250448
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Author: William
Date: 2004-05-16 23:32
senza bs--you are absolutely correct, ML not RM. But ML, nevertheless, was made the statement in his clinic here (which I found interesting).
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-05-17 14:59
Ignatius Genussa was principal in Chicago for a year or two, prior to Brody. It's Iggy playing on the famous mono recording of Pictures at an Exhibition conducted by Rafael Kubelik. I'm not sure whether he left before Reiner came.
To hear Brody at his best, get the Reiner Tchaikovsky 6th, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003FAU/ref=ase_classicalnetA/104-1425914-9484754?v=glance&s=music. Brody's control at ppppp is amazing, and you'll never hear the solos played more beautifully.
David Hattner, who used to post here, is a former Brody student and has done a lot of work on his playing. HAT -- are you listening? Which Brody solos are your favorites?
Ken Shaw
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-05-17 15:11
Speaking of Famous BB Posters of Yesteryear, where is HAT? And Dan Leeson? And didn't Alexandro Carbonare used to post here? I imagine at least some of these folks (the last-mentioned for sure) are too busy performing to be bothered.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-05-17 15:25
I too have wondered why many old-time posters have either quit posting cold turkey or rarely post at all -- HAT, Brenda Siewert, Greg Smith (not as frequent as he once was), and others. Have we new kids spoiled it?
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-05-17 16:31
Hat's out there (I'll be seeing him this evening). He actually did not study with Mr. Brody. When he and I were at Northwestern, they were taking six freshmen a year into the program. One of those six was slotted to study with Mr. Marcellus, and the balance split between Mr. Brody and Mr. Dagon. Hat got the Marcellus slot (well deserved -- his reputation from Interlochen was that he was the guy to beat). I opted for Mr. Brody because I had already studied with him for two years as a snot-nosed teenager and was just beginning to comprehend the depth and breadth of what he could teach me.
Aaaaanyway, Hat did a video interview and recorded retrospective with Mr. Brody a few years ago that is incredibly informative. Frankly, it is such a worthwhile piece that it should be slated for the ICA meeting.
OBTW, the Reiner/CSO Scheherezade certainly ranks up there with Mr. B's most humbling orchestral moments. The delicateness and quality of his articulation is stunning.
Ralph, on your last point, I think if the topics and discussion on the BBoard were a little more "meaty" and in areas where those guys could add value, you'd hear from them. The relative merits of plastic reeds, plastic clarinets, and community band politics aren't likely to draw them in.
Best, M.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-05-17 16:51
David Spiegelthal wrote:
> Dan Leeson?
Never posted here. Only on the Klarinet mailing list.
> And didn't Alexandro Carbonare used to post here?
No, but he posts frequently on the Clair mailing list.
> Brenda Siewert
From a recent mail from her - she still plays, but is less involved in the clarinet world than before and is very busy with other things.
Generally, the questions raised here, while important to us, rarely rise to a really involved level.l
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2004-05-17 21:43
I miss HAT also. He is certainly someone who knows a lot about the clarinet, and will give it to you straight, without bs.
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