The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-02-15 18:33
The article says he was a distant relative of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, which reminded me of Ralph Vaughan Williams "Sinfonia Antarctica" (Sym. #7), based on film music written as the score to a movie about Sir Robert Scott's tragic failed Antarctic expedition. The Vaughan Williams is a really evocative piece of music and ought to be on everyone's "to listen" list. It will literally give you the chills.....
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-02-15 18:54
Very sad. I shared several notes back and forth with him. Very sorry.
Bill Fogle
Washington, DC
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-02-15 19:19
TKS JJM, so young, as compared to several of us. Being a believer in the dire effects of global warming, I'll try to find some of his learned [I'm sure] writings, no doubt teaching some [most?] of us the mathematics involved which are likely useful in clarinet research. I have heard that he had quite a collection of woodwinds, is there any info re: ?gift? to museums, Bate et al ? Wasn't he interviewed by the ICA, not long back ? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2006-02-15 22:11
When exactly, there was no mention of him in the Times here in the UK. Big shame, what will happen to his collection of clarinets?
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2006-02-15 22:57
Nicholas Shackleton had largest private collection of historical clarinets in the world.
As a student I met Nicholas on a chamber music course (which he was also attending as an "amateur"). Quick to recognise anyone that shared his passion, he invited me to visit him at his home in Cambridge. His lifelong dedication to the collection of historical instruments is breathtaking. He owned something like 250 clarinets and 150 basset horns from various periods in history. His rooms looked like clarinet forests! I am extremely grateful for the time that he took to show and discuss his collection with this humble student, and that he even let me touch and play some of these instruments. He contributed to many prominent periodicals and publications, and many modern makers of historical clarinet copies borrowed his instruments for study.
Besides his contribution to the field of Geology, this is a great loss to the clarinet world.
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2006-02-16 10:27
I knew Nick at Clare College in the 1960's and 70's. He was a friendly face for students, always cheerful - usually wearing sandals barefoot, even in winter. He gladly played in our student orchestra when we needed more wind power. He was passionate about his clarinet collection - and other woodwinds (I once sold him an ancient oboe). He was enthusiastic about sharing his musical knowledge and encouraged us to play instruments from his collection. I remember going around Village Colleges in Cambridgeshire with him and others, and playing period instrument performances of Mozart Divertimenti using rickety but playable boxwood clarinets and basset horns. Something I shall never forget. A great loss to the academic world.
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Author: John25
Date: 2006-02-16 17:42
I'm very sorry to learn of Nick's death. I played basset-horn trios with him at his house several times. His collection of clarinets was fantastic - the one that stands out in my memory is a basset-clarinet in Bb - the only time I have ever seen such an instrument.
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Author: graham
Date: 2006-02-27 07:55
This sad news prompted me to dig out my LP recording of the Gran Partita on original instruments in which Nicholas Shackleton plays second basset horn. It dates from 1987, on the NATO label, and directed by Alan Hacker. It's a very nice account and Shackleton plays with a lovely tone.
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