 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rbell96
Date: 2005-04-22 15:55
Can anyone suggest a recording of the Brahms Quintet on period instruments?
Thanks
Rob
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-04-22 17:11
Jean-Claude Veilhan specializes in period clarinets. I haven't heard his recording of the Brahms, but presumably it's on an Ottensteiner copy. He's a good but not overwhelming player. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000268W7/qid=1114186994/sr=1-103/ref=sr_1_103/002-7764452-6447206?v=glance&s=classical
Charles Draper was born in 1869 and heard Muhlfeld's playing, and he was one of the all time great players. He made the first electrical recording of the Brahms, which is still one of the best. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000WWX/qid=1114186897/sr=1-90/ref=sr_1_90/002-7764452-6447206?v=glance&s=classical However, he played a large-bore Boehm system clarinet. Nevertheless, Muhlfeld is said to have approved of Draper's playing. http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=178687&t=178489. Thus, his recording is probably reasonably close to what Brahms had in mind.
For biographic information on Draper, go to http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~ksherief/d5.htm and scroll down to entry 39.
The other possibility is Reginald Kell's recording with the Busch Quartet. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006ALUF/qid=1114189339/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-7764452-6447206?v=glance&s=classical. Adolf Busch was an eminent violinist and a "grandstudent" of Brahms's favorite violinist, Joseph Joachim, who was said to embody Joachim's style. Also, Brymer says that a violist who played with Muhlfeld said he used vibrato, which, of course, Kell also used.
Ken Shaw
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-04-27 11:27
And now, Thurston's 1941 recording on Testament, to which I will return in more detail in a later post.
I suggest a modern recording as well: Joan Enric Lluna and the Tokyo. This is very special playing.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-04-27 15:25
The Thurston recording was one of the last acoustic records made. It was buried by the success of Draper's electrical recording, so the set is rare. It's an excellent performance, even through the primitive sound.
Michael Bryant in London has a set and made me a copy. Some of the tempos are very fast, to fit movements on the 78 rpm sides. Also, turntable speeds weren't standardized, and Columbia acoustic sets were recorded at well over 80 rpm, and sometimes approaching 90. Michael told me that Testament used his set for the reissue. Presumably, they dubbed at the correct speed.
Michael's set is in worn condition, so the noise is difficult to listen through. I'm sure Testament has used sophisticated noise reduction techniques.
I checked at Tower about 3 weeks ago, but they told me that the CD was not yet available in the U.S. Another possible problem is that New York's highest court has just ruled that in New York (though not in England), the original issuer of a commercial recording has a perpetual copyright, in addition to the statutory term. Thus, Testament will have to license the recording for New York (and probably all U.S.) distribution, which may delay availability here.
I'll definitely watch for it.
Ken Shaw
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-04-27 16:53
Ken. It is the 1941 electrical recording with the Grillers (originally rejected by Thurston). Not the 1925 acoustic recording with the Spencer Dykes. And the tempi in the 1941 version are at places very driven. I will report back further on this when I have more time.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-04-27 20:49
Really?! The Thurston/Griller/electric is one of those holy grails that no one ever hopes to find. I believe it exists only as a master, and according to Michael Bryant, Thea King (Thurston's wife) had embargoed the release of all his recordings. She must be loosening up.
If it gets shut out of New York stores, I'll order it from England.
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