The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Marcellus's Mozart

Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-01-05 11:22

I tend to find the whole discourse on equipment to be somewhat tedious, and by this we are talking about two giant clarinetists(who sound great on just about anything)

and coming back to a salient point would be emphasize that some players can easily sound or emulate a given player but still have no artistic soul or capability in playing a piece convincingly.

Much of what I hear is equipment talk,

for example Wright owned Ralph MacLane's A which I played several times and found to be a beautiful sounding instrument. Yet, I had the feeling it was also a fine instrument because it was simply taken care of and tuned by Moenning. Wright tended to use this instrument more in chamber music, rather than orchestra.

I have the sensibility as a former student of Wright's to realize that Harold Wright would have sounded great on plastic clarinets if he had to...so the real key is that artistry must come down to individuality and not ...equipment.

As to interpretation, I feel key aspect of the Marcellus K622 recording's main problem is microphone placement, and we still must be thankful that the people at CBS recorded it at least,

but I tend to find the sound not the most pleasing for a classical recording. I find it is the dessicated sound which annoys most in the Szell/Marcellus cycle of CBS records...this is pronounced in the era of 61 to 62. I am sure it is close microphone sound which robs the resonance from this disc. This is another factor in evaluating any audio recording ....it robs the artist of their harmonic series...

Harold Wright with Ozawa is a splendid recording (sonically) on Deutche Gramphone...it is also a fine example of Wright's individuality. As to tempi and style it may not suit all tastes either!

we could only have one wish and that is if Marcellus was able to record on DG things would be better ...

David Dow

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics

Author

Date

Marcellus's Mozart new

theclarinetist

2003-12-31 04:56