Author: msloss
Date: 2004-02-27 19:55
Let's not read too much into the apparent variation in Marcellus' sound from recording to recording, regardless of what equipment he played at the time. There is some amount of variability in the equipment and techniques used to record the orchestra from session to session, and the equipment itself was subject to variability in how it behaved (ahhh, tuuuuubes). A change in the height, distance or pattern of a microphone(s), the speed the tape was run at for recording or mastering, gain levels, or the condition of the electronics could overwhelm such playing nuances, particularly for someone as consistent as Mr. Marcellus. Unless the orchestra sounds exactly the same, we simply cannot say for sure he himself sounded any different.
On the other hand, Ken's direct experience hearing him in concert and comparing that sound to the record is much more reasonable. Having had the opportunity to hear his playing sitting 3 feet away myself, I can say the same essential sound was there tossing off a casual orchestral excerpt as can be found on any of his recordings. It was beautiful and rich and alive, and it sure wasn't crystal. It was all him. Something (different for each recording) was lost in the translation -- goes with the territory.
And by the way, for those of you thinking of investing in the Cleveland back catalog, consider investing the couple hundred dollars in an SACD player and buy the hi-res remasters. That is as close as you will ever get to the master tapes, and the engineers have been doing a wonderful job with them. The detail is revelatory if you are used to listening through the haze of bad transfers, LP noise, CD grit, and everything else that has been bad about the prior releases.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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