 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-05-11 16:31
Anybody with the new Jon Manasse CD, go to 2:06 into the Mozart Adagio. Are people making out near the mikes? Sounds like some smooching going on.
I think it's a fine CD, though you shouldn't place much stock into my critical abilities. The Mozart overal l has a few interpretations that I wouldn't take if I were playing it (namely the full cadenza after the second fermata in the Allegro), but JM definitely has the smoothest, most close-to-perfect tone of anyone I've ever heard (I wish Marcellus could ha ve been recorded with today's technology). And he has the softest piano imaginable after the eingang in the Adagio, with both JM and the orchestra playing barely above a whisper.
I've never heard the Nielsen before, but he seems to impart the frantic, disturbed nature of it very well. This piece really is an acquired taste. I'll have to hunt down Drucker's recording for a comparison.
It's been a long time since I've heard the Copland -- once in college I checked out the Goodman recording from the library and can't really remember specifics -- but I believe JM takes the second movement of this more lightly that Copland and BG intended, playing the major themes as light as a feather but packing a big punch in the tutti sections. Still, I like that light touch. I got the sense, though, the orchestra (the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra) wasn't quite able to find a Copland-esque groove that an American orchestra could settle into. But that's a minor quibble, and they delivered a fine job nonetheless.
To those who don't have the disc, grab 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
Post Edited (2004-05-11 16:34)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-05-11 18:35
Ralph -
One of the problems with digital recording is that the background "noise floor" is so low. I have a CD of a live performance of Shepherd on the Rock with the same performers as on the famous LP, Benita Valente, Harold Wright and Rudolf Serkin. Someone is sitting on a stool and rocking back and forth, and the squeak is clearly audible, particularly through headphones. On some bassoon recordings, the keys rattle so loud you can hardly hear the music.
For great advice on the Nielsen Concerto, incuding recordings, see
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/Nielsen.html
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/NielsenNotes.html
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-05-11 18:51
Ken,
I don't know how obvious the noise on the SotR recording is, but the smooch on the Manasse disc is really obvious. It sounds like someone laid a big ol' wet one right on the mike screen. I'm assuming this isn't simply a glitch on my copy because it appears to be part of the track.
While picking up a sandwich at lunch I heard my local public radio station introducing this CD and playing the Mozart. I'm glad it's getting some airplay, even though it's just way down here in South Texas.
Thanks for the Nielsen links. I ran across those yesterday but will study them closer. n
________________
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
Post Edited (2004-05-11 18:54)
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-05-11 19:51
Isn't Mr. Manasse brilliant? You should check out his weber cd's if you liked that cd.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-05-11 20:42
I just checked my Ur-text of K622, and after the fermati "con molti bachi sloppissima" is clearly indicated.
Couldn't say if this is Mozart's intentions, as there is also a note to pickup the dry cleaning...
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-05-11 21:15
Synonymous Botch:
Thanks for the laugh... GBK 
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-05-11 21:28
Already have them, LeOpus. They're wonderful.
________________
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: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-05-12 19:01
SB, I suggest that was a performance note added by Stadler. He was that sort of guy, y'know.
Regards,
John
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-13 19:06
Ralph, sorry, but I didn't hear it. I listened carefully in the timeframe mentioned & couldn't pick it up -- this was on the first mvmt of k.622, right? My wife says I have "selective" hearing, perhaps I was so enthralled with Manasse's tone, control & dynamics that I flat missed it.
Manasse was in total control - he LAID BACK somewhat on his tempo - and that was somewhat different for me. Would like to hear what others who have listened thought about Manasse's tempi throughout. I'd guess that Manasse's tempo was closer to the Marcellus rendition - single digit 100's would be my guess.
I was listening to Janet Hilton the day before yesterday - interesting contrasting the 2. Janet is very talented, too.
Thanks to all for the assist in letting us know about the availablilty & (obscure) URL for ordering.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-05-13 19:23
Actually it's in the Adagio, the second movement.
My first thought was that it's the closest to a "copy" of the Marcellus edition I'd yet heard, in terms of tempo and smoothness. I don't particularly agree with the way he stretches out the first note of some 16th runs, but he is indeed in total control of what he does. And the cadenza is really beautifully played, although I don't think one is needed.
I'm loving his style on the Copland more and more each day as well.o
________________
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: mw
Date: 2004-05-13 23:37
Sorry, I'll learn how to read next time as you said "Adagio". Mea culpa.
Ralph, that's exactly what I was referring to on Manasser's tempo. A former teacher (sax player) always talked or referred to it as "laying back on the note" - YES @ the 1st note of the runs. I didn't notice this in the Rondo, though - I'll play again & see.
I'll check on the Adagio tonight, although I played through the Cd twice last nice. Perhaps the 3rd time is the charm.
Cadenza - you mean the (late in the) Allegro (1st) Movement's Eingang ?
Post Edited (2004-05-14 01:05)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-05-14 16:55
Haven't heard the CD but from playing in my college band I know that when an oboist or bassoonist sucks backwards into their reed (perhaps to clear spit?) it can sound like a smooch. Maybe, if that noise is clearly there, this or a similar sucking of some reed instrument might be the cause. In any event it's a pretty neat mystery to try to solve.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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