The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: graham
Date: 2006-11-12 11:28
Have just been listening to a 1945 recording on the radio of an obscure remembrance piece played by the Halle Orchestra and thought the clarinet playing was beautiful. Does anyone know who the players might have been?
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2006-11-12 12:46
They have their rosters back to 1858 online. Isn't google neat?
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-11-12 16:07
As I recall "Halle" was a major orch. back then
Bob Draznik
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-11-13 09:37
One of my all-time favourite recordings is Holst's Planets by the Halle, c. 1976.
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2006-11-13 13:51
Are they considered as a 'major' in London's music scene? They sure made some fine recordings, like the one with late great Babirolli conducting Elgar's Falstaff, fine woodwind section indeed, beautiful clarinet playing!
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Author: graham
Date: 2006-11-13 15:54
I have not heard of Pat Ryan, but his (her's - probably not) playing sounded lovely. Has anyone else heard of him? Jez for example?
Actually the Halle is currently doing very well and has a rising reputation under Mark Elder. They play rarely in London solely because London is stuffed full of orchestras.
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Author: John25
Date: 2006-11-13 17:33
Pat Ryan was principal clarinet in the Halle for many years. He has a legacy of many fine recordings. He never played on Boehm system clarinets. When virtually the rest of the UK had changed to Boehms, he remained faithful to his Clinton clarinets (Albert system with a "Barret" action Bb & C on the top joint). He also did some arrangementts for clarinet which were pubilshed & played forty years ago. When he retired he went back to his native Ireland.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-11-13 19:44
One well-known critic thinks the Halle is currently the best orchestra in the UK:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,585-2336781.html
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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.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2006-11-13 19:52
A little more googling yields this:
"Another Hallé stalwart who retired at the end of the same season (1957-8) was first clarinet Pat Ryan, whose many finely sensitive contributions can be heard throughout these performances, notably towards the end of Mendelssohn’s atmospheric portrait of the seas around Fingal’s Cave; all are typical of a quality of playing upon which Barbirolli had been able to rely ever since he re-formed the Orchestra in 1943. Even before Barbirolli’s arrival, of course, such artistry had stood out - for instance, in Sir Adrian Boult’s 1942 Halle recording of George Butterworth’s rhapsody A Shropshire Lad. Ryan’s thirty-six Hallé years stretched back to Harty’s time, and he was an orchestral ‘character’ with a real sense of humour and rarely at a loss for a response: typical was the occasion when a visiting conductor thought he was playing sharp and invited him to ‘come down’ (meaning in pitch); Ryan stood and surveyed the rostrum from his position high up on the platform risers before replying: “What, all the way down theer?” Barbirolli must have been sad to lose such a player, and such a man. "
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-11-14 11:53
Halle are not a London orchestra - they are based in Manchester, 250 miles North. They're a significant force in the UK. They got a shiny new concert hall a few years back (the Bridgewater) which is notable for being built entirely on mass-dampers so as to isolate the noise of the city traffic.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-11-14 17:35
A freind of mine played Principal Trumpet with this orchestra...his name was John MacMurray and he sadly passed away this summer...
He was from my home town here in Canada.......the Halle is indeed a super orchestra and plays very finely...I am still quite affected by his passing as he is a mentor of mine in every sense of the word...my prayers and thoughts go out to his family and freinds.
David Dow
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Author: Anthony_Madderson
Date: 2006-11-14 22:11
I have had the pleasure many years ago of meeting Pat and can confirm from hearing him, having a lesson here or two with him and also having a drink with the dear chap that he was both a wonderful musician and also a wonderful man.
His sound was indeed all that has been described above and it is a style of playing that I miss in todays players, both young and old. His clarinet's were indeed a older style system, but it never seemed to hamper his boundless musical enthusiasm.
Anthony Madderson
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-11-15 18:38
A pair of Clinton-Albert system horns previously belonging to Pat Ryan (according to the seller) were sold on ebay recently. Nice looking instruments, made by Boosey, if I remember correctly...
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Author: beejay
Date: 2006-11-16 18:07
The Halle alas recently cancelled a planned tour of the United States because of "mind-blowing" new visa requirements. <arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1742626,00.html>
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