 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2005-07-30 21:08
I've been listening to an Emma Johnson set of CDs---what is her clarinet/ set-up of choice?......
......said wjk having spent weeks listening to Leister......
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-07-30 21:13
I know that she's an Eaton artist.
Bradley
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Author: ajhogan
Date: 2005-07-30 23:42
What have you listened to of hers, and what do you think of her style?
Austin
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Author: wjk
Date: 2005-07-31 00:54
The CD set covers a lot of ground---I've so far listened to Mozart and Schumann. So far, her sound is more "covered" than I expected it to be, and I think she has a good command of dynamics. I also believe I detected a hint of vibrato in certain passages. I've been listening to Leister for weeks, and I happened to come across the Johnson set locally and decided to "give it a try." What do others think of her?
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-07-31 01:02
fair, just fair.........
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-07-31 01:29
She uses Vandoren reeds strenghths 2.5 & 3.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-07-31 03:40
Post Edited (2016-10-03 08:41)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-07-31 03:46
Have liked her for years.
Bob Draznik
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Author: ajhogan
Date: 2005-07-31 06:21
I have her playing Mozart and Weber Quintets and I did not care for her Weber interpretation. I do not feel one way or another about her playing so far, and I have not listened to her Mozart as much yet so I cannot say.
Austin
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-07-31 18:24
I have Emma's Weber CD and her CD with Weber 2, Crusell 1, and Spohr 1.
I like her vibrato and most of her musical interpretation. Her tone to me is what I'd classify as "reedy". Not my favorite tone, but overall good musical presentation and great technique. Out of all of my clarinet CD's, my favorite would be Weber played by Kalman Berkes (seems to play with spirit and passion. I LOVE his Weber Quintet-IMHO even better than Jon Manasse's, heaven forbid!). Emma plays musicality with passion, but sometimes I wish I could hear a little more spirit in the faster parts. She has spirit, but I don't know, Berkes just has something I can't put my finger on 100%, but it just seems like he loves to play. Either way, I think Emma is great and I'm sorry for getting off on my Berkes tangent.
Yeah, she plays on Eaton's. Lucky duck!
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2005-07-31 18:42
Bradley, your favourite Brit? I've gone off you...
lol
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-07-31 20:58
Steven Ritter, who reviews most clarinet recordings for "The American Record Guide" these days, gave this set an ecstatic review. To read him is to believe that Ms. Johnson is the greatest clarinetist since someone first put a single reed mouthpiece on a recorder. Except for the Schumann, Burgmuller, et al CD, I think I have all her recordings in their earlier ASV incarnations and, I must admit, while reading Ritter's review, I wondered what he was actually listening to (or smoking) when he wrote it. Certainly not the recordings I have. I guess there's no accounting for taste (his or mine).
Don't get me wrong, FWIW (not much) I think that Emma Johnson is an accomplished clarinetist and musician and, for someone who doesn't have much recorded clarinet music, the set is a remarkable bargain. But I don't think, on any of her recordings, there is a single performance that I would regard as my favorite for the work in question (at least where she has any competition). For me there is something intangible missing in her playing, perhaps subtle nuance of tone color and phrasing, that, separates her from the first rank. The work that first made this clear to me was, oddly enough, Howard Blake's "Walking in the Air" from one of her "Encore" CD's. When I first heard it, my reaction was "What a great, fun, little piece." (Being familiar with the original from the soundtrack for "The Snowman" was probably an influence.) I ordered the sheet music on the spot. Only later, when I heard Richard Stoltzman's performance of the same piece with a jazz combo, did I realize how flat and lifeless her performance seemed (to me) by comparison. (Stoltzman certainly has an advantage by having the combo for accompaniment rather than a piano, but the clarinet playing is for me, anyway, the difference between night and day.)
BTW, she has a very nice website at: http://www.zadok.demon.co.uk/ .
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: wlwg
Date: 2005-08-01 07:20
i think she uses an elite
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-08-01 20:20
From the FAQ's at Emma Johnson's website:
"Emma's clarinet and mouthpiece are designed and manufactured by the English maker, Peter Eaton. Peter's clarinets are not mass produced, so you will not find them for sale in the shops, but you can find out more about his clarinets from his web site. Emma uses Vandoren V12 reeds, strength 2.5 and 3."
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-08-01 20:53
Personally, bluntly put, I can't stand her sound and articulation. So what....
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Author: ken
Date: 2005-08-02 02:24
... believe I'll throw open a window now, gettin' a little stuffy in here. ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-02 11:21
"So what...."
So....it just goes to show you that there's a clarinet sound for each of us...Take care, Dave,Best Regards, bob
Bob Draznik
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-02 12:20
We all have different sounds and preferences.
That's what makes it interesting
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Author: Chris Chaloner
Date: 2005-08-02 14:25
I suspect we're into the variation of preferences across the Atlantic.... To me, the liquid tone she produces is incomparable. In contrast, I've never liked the sound made by Robert Marcellus, but I understand he is revered in the US.
About 10 years ago I went to a performance by Emma Johnson of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, and it was unbelievably good. I suspect she is one of those players best heard live - certainly that "Encores" CD was not her best. Her recordings of the Crusell concertos are exellent, though, and the Mozart Concerto played on the basset clarinet has that (to repeat myself a little) really liquid tone.
Chris
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-08-02 15:05
"We all have different sounds and preferences.
That's what makes it interesting"
Probably the most said sentence on the board.
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Author: hartt
Date: 2005-08-02 15:51
Irrespective of Ms. Johnson's tone, virbrato, reedy sound, etc......which is, as mentioned, personal preferences, we need not to lose sight of what she has done for the 'clarinet world'.
Like Richard Stolzman, Emma has also recorded many, many pieces which in toto have opened our ears/minds to clarinet music that perhaps would otherwise be unavailable to us. I add, that I have several of her CD's.
Yes, listeners can comment that she has fluid technique, an "English" sound, etc, etc. There are, however, other UK artists who are equally proficient that do not have an "English" sound. Of the female variety, Joy Farrall, for one, comes to mind. Victoria Samek is another. I've listened to a number of Ms. Farrall's recordings and found her musicianship, technique, phrasing, nuances, etc. extremely well done and pleasing. Her recording of Rossini's Theme/Variations is, IMHO, very well done but I do not care for the arrangement she chose to perform. I don't know which arrangement it is but it's not the Jost Michaels.
That's worth about 5 cents
dennis
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-02 16:08
and the most important phrase to remember.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-02 16:47
After reading this post recently I just happend to hear hear "Saint-Saens " on radio early this morning. I haven't been that familiar with the SS but I did enjoy her sound immensely. Not a recent recording either.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-08-02 17:02
Post Edited (2016-10-03 08:41)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-08-02 17:21
I owe the clarinet world a MAJOR apology -- my brain malfunctioned and my negative remarks about Emma Johnson's sound and articulation actually referred to those of THEA KING ---- boy do I feel stupid! I've only heard Emma Johnson's playing once on recording and I recall liking it very much --- it's Thea King's sound that turns me off (gee, I guess I can't tell one female clarinetist from another --- back to Sensitivity Training I go!).
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Author: hartt
Date: 2005-08-02 18:42
Bradley.....
I simply mentioned Soames as yet another female UK clarinetist. I, too, don't particularly care for her tone or style......and for that matter, Thea King, too. I do, however, enjoy Farrall's.
Again, it's the musical enjoyment they provide to us and the volume of clarinet music they have exposed to us.
Besides, without their recordins available to us, we wouldn't be so fortunate to be their 'overseas' critics.
Do you think theygive consideration to our comments ? ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
This may be worth 5 cents but in British pound, it's only worth 3 cents.
oh well
dennis
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