 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-16 22:42
Just got my copy of the latest BBC Music Magazine ... contains a wonderful recording of "A Sea Symphony" with the BBC Symph. Interestingly the magazine features the Copland Concerto, with a very erudite review of many different recordings available. Interstingly the American God of clarinet gets quite a luke warm review. Those who know me by my real name will see a letter I wrote in the "letters to the editor" column.
Any of you read this magazine? I love it and have every issue from it's beginnings 13 years ago.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mystery science dieter
Date: 2004-08-16 23:48
What do you expect from the BBC? They probably said that Bax could have written it better too. What the hell to they know about music or clarinet playing or anything else?
I heard a BBC radio review of Copland COncerto recordings. They preferred an English player, of course. What a shock. . .
Post Edited (2004-08-16 23:53)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2004-08-16 23:52
i read this yesterday at the magazine shop next to where i buy my coffee.... i was picking up my copy of SLIDE (longboarding magazine). Annoying articles like the one Diz describes are why i don't bother with this magazine.
The article neglects to mention quite a few recordings of the Copeland (at least 3 of which i own...) but does make some good points. It describes Goodman as "cautious" in the cadenza and 2nd mvt, if my memory serves me correctly. Given this, i hate to think what the reviewer would have said to Larry Combs live performance i heard some years back. A more elegant "charleston-like" rendition i thought, quite becoming!
i don't need to pay money to read what some guy thinks about various Copeland recordings. but you are quite welcome to of course, and i guess the enclosed CD is often interesting.
keep playing the good tunes
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-16 23:58
Diz... The BBC Music Magazine is one of the better magazines available, in spite of the editor's obvious biases. I also have every issue from the past 13 years. I noticed your letter in the Letters to the Editor column. How could I not recognize your distinctive wit? ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
I don't agree with their assessment of the different available performances of the Copland Concerto. Although it was a well written, informative article, I would have preferred they compare Manasse, Blount and Wright along with their choices. Their reviewers always seem to be partial to British clarinetists, but that is a small quibble and a discussion for a different day.
By the way - the current included recording of "A Sea Symphony"" is the best I have ever heard...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-17 00:22
GBK ... my letter is very obvious ... you just need to read my real name and city location and you'll figure it out.
Also, the Sea Symphony is a wonderful piece, and I agree, it has that thrill that performing at a big arts festival like the Proms can inspire.
Can anyone recommend a North American performance?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-17 01:28
diz wrote:
> Also, the Sea Symphony ....
> Can anyone recommend a North American performance?
The recording by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (Robert Spano) has gotten good reviews, but I haven't personally heard their performance...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-17 01:37
GBK - thank you, it would seem that you North Americans steer clear of Elgar, Bax and Vaughan Williams ... is there a reason? Having said that, I own a wonderful recording of Elgar's 1st symph with the Baltimore bunch.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda
Date: 2004-08-17 02:44
Diz,
Elgar and Vaughan Williams get a good share of play time on the Canadian CBC II, and our orchestra's played their pieces, but can't speak for the U.S. Can't say I've heard about Bax, but you know what'll happen, just because you wrote about this composer his stuff will be all over the radio all of a sudden.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2004-08-17 06:08
Diz,
I feel that the BBC Music magazine is one of the best. Not only have I learned a lot about composers and performers, I have been exposed to music I would not normaly buy. The monthly CDs I have received for over ten years have included Shostakovich's Cheryomushki, Giuliani's Guitar Concerto #1, John Adams' The Chairman Dances, Ravel's L'heure espagnole, Handel's Messiah arranged by Mozart, etc. These wonderful works are CDs I treasure.
Mike Blinn
P.S. They saved the best letter for last.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-08-17 08:48
Mystery science dieter wrote:
What do you expect from the BBC? [...] What the hell to [sic] they know about music or clarinet playing or anything else?
Well, they know enough about music to run the biggest classical music festival in the world.
If you want to hear some really nationalistic/chauvinist commentary on music, try France Musique.
-----------
If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-08-17 14:07
There's been a dust-up on the Klarinet board recently about "swinging" the Copland Concerto. Some say that Copland wanted his music played "classically," exactly as he wrote it, while others say he wrote it for Benny Goodman and put jazz licks in, which he expected to be played eith that affect.
As usual, IMHO the answer lies in the middle. My favorite Copland Concerto recordings are by players who have jazz backgrounds and know how the the jazzy parts should go.
I think the best is the original monaural Goodman recording with Copland conducting the "Columbia String Orchestra" on a Columbia LP from the 1950s. Goodman was in excellent form, and his "easy" tone production and jazz instincts combined perfectly with his classical chops. He definitely swings the jazzy parts slightly. I don't think this recording has been reissued. His stereo recording is only a shadow (and the world premiere, with Reiner conducting the NBC Symphony) is an embarrassment.
I've never heard a recording by a non-American player that works well, no matter how technically brilliant they are, and even the recordings by American players without jazz experience (e.g., Wright, Neidich) miss the boat for me.
My favorite modern recording is by Bill Blount, with Gary Gray close behind. I just got Jon Manasse's CD, but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-08-17 16:23
I too have noted a slight preference for the Brits by the Brits in the clarinet realm at times...
I also know of a problem with this in the Penguin guide at times...
a bit off topic but a singular instance...
the all time worst Mahler Das Leid von Der Erde with Haitink Recording on Philips...
and Dame Janet Baker who is all over the place in regards to pitch is constantly reccommended a being the best...listen to the kacking and bellowing in the ending and you wonder why classical music is going downhill...
I would rather listen to the dog bark then have the Haitink Baker Das Leid...
never could figure out the Penguin guide...
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2004-08-17 17:22
I'm not a Copland expert and the only version of the Conc. I've heard is by Sharon Kam and London Sym.Teldec. I find it quite listenable. I think it's quite and exaggeration to imply the Brits don't know anything about music.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2004-08-17 17:24
I any of you actually heard the radio 3 programme regarding the Copland clt concerto you'll know that it was Colin Lawson a fellow clarinetist who made the choice. Just because Richard Hosford with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe got it shouldn't put your American noses out of joint, you should be happy that us 'Brits' can play this stuff. Lets face it you guys arn't all that hot with the great English clt repertoire. And for the record the BBC didn't start the Prom Concerts Sir Henry Wood did with the Queens Hall Orchestra over a hundred years ago. It's a shame that we can't discuss things without people getting all het up because an American recording didn't come first in a silly English poll.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-17 17:57
cigleris wrote:
> I any of you actually heard the radio 3 programme regarding the
> Copland clt concerto you'll know that it was Colin Lawson a
> fellow clarinetist who made the choice.
Actually, the BBC Music magazine article which reviewed the different recorded performances of the Copland Concerto (and picked Richard Hosford as their first choice) was in fact written by Geoffrey Smith, a presenter on BBC Radio 3 ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2004-08-17 21:11
yay to Peter Cigleris- very good comments
on the other hand..... i have a recording of the Royal Phil playing the Ginastera variations, and the clarinet variation is so badly played that even a Violist noticed... most of us around the world just wouldn't have a gig if we played like that. Period. It's just so weird.... it's almost like... like we are being baited?
meanwhile- the WORST recording i have of the Copeland is by a European player i wont name.... ugly as sin. All of the english recordings i've heard come in way above that, so i don't think i'm predjudiced on the basis of nationallity, though the RSO tries to push me over the top!
i'd like to hear more people doing the "original" version (there are more than just the one run that were changed to make it easier)
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-17 23:32
Mike ... damn!! You've blown my cover!!
I agree ... I've got every issue and some of the CDs are very fine performances ... I love recording of Elgar's "Opera" (sorry, can't remember the name of the work, Spanish Lady??) especially and the very early one with Nielsen symphonies ... to name just a couple.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-08-18 12:15
Any opinion is as valid as any other...therefore the BBC are entitled to say what they like.
They do have something of a pedigree in this area...the Proms have already been mentioned, and while they didn't start it they do a fine job of running it.
Personally, I don't enjoy the version by the 'winner' of the poll...I do enjoy various non-British versions...and if the 'American God of clarinet' is supposedly who I think it is...I don't like that recording, and not because it's by an American.
I don't think a British sense of superiority exists...we have great respect for players of all nationalitys. I certainly don't think Bax would have done a better job of his clarinet concerto than Copland did, although Finzi did lol.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-08-19 16:10
Get a copy of the Penguin Cd guide and you will see alot of British recording get a thumbs up over the American counterparts...
As to clarinet recordings it is highly subjective...but tuning and tone are elements that one would hope a critic would listen for. As to others...well Carbonare and Cuper in France sound way better than most and get very little press. Maybe it is too refined for most!!
As to american players they can sound very dull....but so can Brits too...as to the British critics in music I find they really rant a good deal and rarely give a balanced judgement...but neither do American or Canadian critics!!!
Richard Hosford is very unlike your average British player...he used an american mouthpiece and plays with a far darker sound than most!!!
Mike Collins uses a Hite mouthpiece from the USA and never gets alot of mention either!
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-19 23:09
David Dow ... you are spot on about critics ... failed performers or frustrated "want to bes" in my opinion.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2004-08-20 01:15
Sorry diz,
Didn't mean to do that.
But your mentioning the Nielsen symphonies made me check, and sure enough I have the #4 Inextinguishable, with the clarinet concerto included.
I had forgotten all about this recording. The concerto features the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Tadaaki Otaka, and Robert Plane, soloist.
Thank you for reminding me,
Mike Blinn
Connecticut
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-20 06:21
Mike Blinn, both are quite "rough and ready" performances, but ones I often revist because I like the live quality of a lot of these BBC recordings ... some I've not listened to all the way through but I've at least heard a track or two for the most of them.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
