 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom J.
Date: 2004-06-29 01:50
I would be interested to know each person's opinion as to which players represent their ideal in clarinet tone quality. Which players of any national style, living or deceased, foreign or domestic, or even of other instruments, possess a sound worthy of emulating, and why.
There is such a wide variety of concepts as to what makes great clarinet tone that I became really curious how various players characterize their ideal sound.
I have found numerous postings documenting HOW sound should be approached but have not found any interesting chatter concerning WHOM may be considered outstanding exponents of great clarinet sound.
Anyway, most of these guys are gone but here are my picks for some of all-time great sounds:
Robert McGinnis, NYPO - gigantic sound with cajones
Isaac Roginsky, Leningrad PO - the best Russian sound I've heard
Victor Polatschek, BSO - great sound for reeds like Popsicle sticks
Leopold Wlach - the ideal sound for Brahms
Peter Simenauer, NYPO - recorded a great Mozart 5tet
Ralph MacLane, PO - unequaled
Robert Marcellus, CO - the gold standard
Ted Oien,DSO - absolutely great
Andrew Marriner - an American sounding Brit
Ron DeKant - the first real sound I heard
Guy Deplus - a French white cream sauce
Artie Shaw - like candied yams
Benny Goodman - soulful
If this topic has already been discussed please point me in the direction of any previous links.
Tom J.
Post Edited (2004-06-29 14:35)
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-06-29 02:10
On Bass, Eric Dolphy, without a doubt. For Jazz, Classical, or anything in between, he just had that universal sound that would sound godly no matter what style you hear it in. On soprano, I rarely play any classical literature, and mostly jazz, so my tastes will probably be a bit skewed. I try to aim towards something between Paquito D'Rivera and Benny Goodman. Of course, just because I aim doesn't mean I hit anywhere close to mark!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-29 02:10
Jon Manasse - the current "American sound"
A few European clarinetists:
Ernst Ottensamer
Hans Rudolf Stalder
Bela Kovacs
Kalman Berkes
Gervase dePeyer
Daniel Bonade - the clarinet as a human voice
Robert Marcellus - taking Bonade to the next level
Harold Wright - sophistication and impeccable taste...GBK
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2004-06-29 05:14
GBK --
Another vote for Jon Manasse. He was one of the guest artists at the Colorado College summer festival recently and wowed all of us with his sound and musicianship.
Tom J --
I am glad you included McGinnis and McLane, but where is Bellison? I also feel that Roginsky had the greatest Russian sound, although I suppose that most of us would vote for Bellison as the greatest Russian clarinetist.
My vote for the most gorgeous clarinet sound (even though his phrasing was not in the same league as his successor in the BSO) would be Gino Cioffi.
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-06-29 12:52
Current favorites:
World: Karl-Heinz Steffens(Solo- Berlin PO)
USA- Steve Barta(Baltimore SO)
deceased- hands down Bonade(listen to the Bonade CD titled The Legacy of Daniel bonade to hear just how great he was)
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-06-29 13:35
Mark Nuccio
Dieter Klocker
Robert Marcellus
David Shifrin
Gervase de Peyer
Eddy Vanoosthuyse
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Author: Clarinetist
Date: 2004-06-29 14:47
Kalman Berkes´ recording of the Krommer´s concerto for clarinet is one of my favorites. IMO he has a really good sound, at least in that recording (Haven´t heard his other recordings) and it is the best recording of the Krommer´s concerto.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-06-29 16:12
Rusinek with Pittsburgh...rich colorful sound, warm but without the dullness that I associate with the word dark. Best Rach. 2nd (heard it on NPR radio)
Wright...natch, and best use of vibrato
Burt Hara...full and woody, projective, the old Phila sound
Michele Zukovsky
Marcellus of course....listen to his Scherazade
There were mp3's avail online, now no longer available, of some older recordings of Abe Galper who posts on the Klarinet list....nice even stuff.
Drucker on older recordings.
Sabine Meyer on Weber stuff, not her Mozart with Bassett.
Monasse...sorry, I dont find it as beautiful as others do...in fact, dull and lifeless....guess I am old fashioned
Jazz...Shaw. Great
Ken Popolski (sp?)
Against the windmills of my mind
The jousting pole splinters
Post Edited (2004-06-29 16:17)
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-06-29 16:19
Igloo Bob!
I love Eric Dolphy, don't get me wrong. But if the question is one of tone, you have to give major consideration to Harry Carney. Just listen to any Ellington recording on which he doubles bass clarinet - Carney anchors the whole band with that amazing bass sound of his - it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
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Author: matilda
Date: 2004-06-29 17:37
I notice a lack of female clarinetists, both generally and here in this discussion. I think that Emma Johnson, the great English soloist, makes a truly beautiful sound.
For those of you in the US who may not have heard of her http://www.zadok.demon.co.uk/
I have heard her play live, definatley worth it if you have the chance, her tone is perfectly perfect.
Anyone else heard her play?
Matilda.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-06-29 18:26
"A pretty sound is an in tune sound"
Professor James Smith, conductor
Univeristy of Wisconsin (Madison) Wind Ensemble
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2004-06-29 18:36
Matilda Said:
>I notice a lack of female clarinetists, both generally and here in this >discussion. I think that Emma Johnson, the great English soloist, makes a >truly beautiful sound.
>For those of you in the US who may not have heard of her >http://www.zadok.demon.co.uk/
>I have heard her play live, definatley worth it if you have the chance, her >tone is perfectly perfect.
>Anyone else heard her play?
>Matilda.
Just got her two "Encores" discs and her recording of the Crussell Concerti. I agree, she has a wonderful sound!
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-06-29 19:07
ok, want females:
I already mentioned sabine m and michele z
now I will include BeitHalachmi
and the inimitable Vehrdehr.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-06-29 21:00
My vote goes for the M&M Boys -- Marcellus and Manasse. Listening to Manasse on the Copland cadenza makes me cry... which isn't good since I mostly listen to it while I'm driving. Guess I'm a big fan of that bland, homogenized American sound (sorry CPW)
I used to have a Pro-Arte CD of American music that included the Shaker Hymn from Appalachian Spring played by the Houston Symphony under Commissiona. The clarinet opening was by far the sweetest I've ever heard. I assume it's David Peck.
What little I've heard of McGinnis and McLane is 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: Sylvain
Date: 2004-06-30 00:17
Harold Wright: for his recordings of the Brahms sonatas and the first recording of Mozart clarinet concerto I heard.
Marcellus: for his flawless orchestra work
Paul Meyer: because if I didn't know about the clarinet I would never guess he is going over the break.
Karl Leister: he defines the german sound.
Alfred Prinz: he defines the Austrian sound.
Bob Crowley Montreal SO: because I got to hear him at each of my lessons for 4 years and I still haven't quite recovered yet.
But my heart goes to the italian Alessandro Carbonare whose recording of Brahms and Mozart quintet have left dumbfounded. I did not know one could make so many timbre changes without ever using vibrato.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-06-30 00:25
larryb, I've heard a few recordings by Ellington, but never heard (or perhaps didn't notice, which seems unlikely, from what you said of his sound) any Bass Clarinets. Perhaps I just got the wrong few recordings! I'll be on the hear-out next time I hear an Ellington recording in the future, though, and let you know what I think once I do. Any particular songs I should look for?
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Author: Tom J.
Date: 2004-06-30 16:41
Wow !! Thanks for a tremendous response to a question about a very subjective topic. Keep them coming.
GBK,
Yeah, I forgot to add Ottensamer to my list. His Spohr recordings are preferable to Leister's.
John Scorgie,
Bellison, like Langenus, seems to have edited everything with the word "clarinet" on it, but I did not know he was so highly regarded as a player. Are there any available recordings of him, either as soloist or with orch. ? What years did he play with the NYPO and with what conductors ?
matilda,
If gender distinction is at all necessary then Michele Bloch has my vote.
I have not heard John Manasse. What are some representative recordings ?
Tom J.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-06-30 16:58
Tom J.,
Check out Jon Manasse's discography on this site. They're all available from Amazon.
http://www.parkerartists.com/NewPages/manasse.html^
________________
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: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-06-30 16:58
Quote:
I have not heard John Manasse. What are some representative recordings ?
I've heard he did an excellent recording of the Weber Concertino.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-06-30 17:07
Igloo Bob wrote:
> I've heard he did an excellent recording of the Weber
> Concertino.
He has recorded all the Weber clarinet pieces.
Many (myself included) think that there are none better than Manasse's recordings of the complete Weber clarinet works. ...GBK
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-06-30 17:28
Manasse's recording of the Weber Concertino is unbelievable, particularly the beginning. He also has a new CD out; I think it is called "Jon Manasse Plays 3 Clarinet Concertos". I've also heard some good things about one of his older CD's named "Jon Manasse Plays Clarinet Music From 3 centuries", which contains a delectable performance of the Mozart Quintet.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-07-01 01:40
I'm gonna say now that having not had the chance to hear any of Jon Manasse's work, I had (sort of) dismissed him...Not *entirely* but I just don't have the funds to run out and buy more Weber by the latest "name on the block."
Tonight that changed. I heard a broadcast on National Public Radio's "Performance Today" with him playing at the aforementioned Colorado College series. The work in question was the Hasenohrl "Till Eulenspiegel--Einmal Anders!" (which I love BTW). I got in the car in the middle of it and was wondering throughout WHO could be making that gorgeous sound...even thought to myself, "wonder if that's that Manasse guy?" And lo and behold...when they announced at the end, it was!
I'm gonna hafta rob a bank or something to get those recordings...LOL!
Katrina
p.s. Anyone know (roughly) how old he is?? Not that it matters a whole lot...I just want to know how jealous I should be...LOL
Post Edited (2004-07-01 01:42)
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-07-01 02:52
He's pretty young compared to most of the other clarinet virtuosi out there, judging by those pictures on the covers of the CD's. Probably close to or younger than the ages of Nuccio or P. Meyer.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-07-01 04:11
He won the ICA competition in 1979 when he was 14. Gotta figure he's about 38 or 39 now.
________________
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: Garret
Date: 2004-07-01 04:21
A big vote for Jon Manasse from me too. Don't forget about Robert DiLutis, William Blayney and David Weber too.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-07-01 04:31
Quick note for anyone interested in Manasse's latest, "Jon Manasse Plays Three Clarinet Concertos" -- it ships much faster from UncommonlyClassical.com and ClassicalCDs.net than it does from Amazon.
http://www.uncommonlyclassical.com -- click under the "Xlnt Music" link.
http://www.classicalcds.net/xlnt/
________________
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: Kevin
Date: 2004-07-02 02:23
I'm going to get a copy of the new CD. Manasse's playing of the Copland cadenza is just incredible.
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2004-07-02 03:17
I was totally and utterly amazed by Charles Niedich's performance with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He played with an amazing sound and amazing interpretation. It was also cool that he used a basset clarinet so he could play it as Mozart wrote it.
-------------
"You have to play just right to make dissonant music sound wrong in the right way"
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-07-02 05:34
eric dolphy has an amazing sound both on bass and soprano clarinets. actually i like his sound on alto sax better than any other alto sax player. on flute he is of course great too and his sound is very good, my favorite flute player.
on bass clarinet i don't think there is anyone that sounds better than louis sclavis (from the living at least). he has a great sound on soprano sax too.
i can't say anyone has an 'ideal' sound. i'm sure everyone tries to have their own 'ideal' sound. i would never want to sound like any other player, just like myself and improve my own sound.
Post Edited (2006-01-10 04:37)
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Author: jez
Date: 2004-07-02 14:44
I can't believe that this thread has gone so far without mention of Jack Brymer.
He may have had some limitations in his playing but here we're discussing tone and in that department he was unparalleled (IMHO)
jez
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-07-02 19:01
Andrew Marriner - an American sounding Brit??????
OMG, I'll tell him that, he'll fall over laughing, I can hardly see for tears.
Andrew Marriner makes one of the definitive English clarinet sounds. We need to get away from this idea that we all play on 1010s and honk like anything.
I'd like to add Michael Collins and Karl Leister...I'm going to stop now before I split my sides.
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2004-07-02 21:01
Another Manasse fan here. I bought his "Jon Manasse Plays Clarinet Music from 3 Centuries" on a lark and was awestruck. I had no idea a clarinet could sound so sinewave-like. At least that's the best way I can think to describe the sound.
Bob Schwab
Is it my imagination or do Buffalo wings taste like chicken?
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-12-24 22:03
Jon Manasse- his tone is like drops of Heaven. I saw him perform live at the OU clarinet symposium and it was amazing! He played my favorite piece of all times (the Weber Quintet) and I enjoyed it so much! His tone is just pure liquid, like a stream of gold. I want my tone to be like his.
Kalman Berkes- his tone is brighter, yet round. It's different, but I enjoy it! I actually prefer his interpretation of the Weber Quintet more than Manasse's. Berkes just seems to be so lively and he has so much spirit, but yet he can be beautiful in the Fantasia. Man, I love his interpretations!
I do enjoy Paul Meyer's tone as well. It sounds more English to me and it has a nice blend of vibrato mixed into it. I love his playing on the Brahms 1 and 2.
Robert Springs has a rather different tone (but his playing style is rather new age too!), but I love his vibrato when he plays in the altissimo. His tone overall is very round to me. I'm just impressed with all the tricks he can do with his clarinet. He's really inspired me.
I like Emma Johnson's use of vibrato her tone sounds good to me most of the time, although it can sound a little "reedy". She has the English sound, which isn't always my cup of tea, but it is good none the less.
Harold Wright has a lighter tone to me, but it is still brighter. I love his vibrato and his tone overall.
I thought this was an interesting topic, so I resurrected it again!
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-12-25 01:23
I have recently discovered Harold Wright's great sound as portrayed on Behn's mouthpiece website, under "Our Story" then under "Concept". I'm also a big Manasse fan----such a deep sound, even up high. I wonder what people would say about him if he used a touch of vibrato, though, like Wright did. I guess I'm a chedeville-mouthpiece-chamber-lover (I use an M15, and it's nice; I wanna try the M13). But Manasse's smoothness overall is astonishing. Emma Johnson has a very soloistic sound; but I agree that it can get reedy. Brilliant vibrato usage. I don't care for Paul Meyer's tone. In the "F. Sharp Hall" of the OU school of music, I think anyone would sound great! Heard an orchestra concert there recently. Fountains of Rome. Oh yeah. Clarinet solos. Yeah.
Sabine Meyer has a tone which is extremely lively, but not bright or edgy. Hard to describe. Very soloistic.
Ok I'm done. Gotta get ready to play a Christmas Mass.
-Tyler
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-12-25 20:12
--------------------------
There were mp3's avail online, now no longer available, of some older recordings of Abe Galper who posts on the Klarinet list....nice even stuff.
--------------------------
There still are! I'm just waiting to release them (already have full permission)
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2005-12-25 22:16
Antony Pay has my favourite tone. It's very sweet, gentle and lively! I have heard his Mozart Concerto and his 2 cds with the 2 Weber Concertos and Concerto with all 3 Crusell Concertos and they're just so beautiful.
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2005-12-26 17:20
Pete Fountain - Such joy and energy.
Eddie Daniels - This guy plays so smooth, many people don't recognize the instrument he plays.
Eric Dolphy - A smooth ride down jazz alley.
They make me want to play clarinet, even though I am a saxophonist. :o)
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2005-12-26 18:10
Someone asked for more women earlier, so I start with two:
Emily Bernstein - I had never noticed her sound until The Terminal came out. Immediately, I was floored. She had exactly the sound I want for myself.
Monica Kaenzig (non-principal clarinet for the LA Phil) - I've had the privelage of seeing quite a few LA Phil concerts over the last year and she's played all of them. And each time I notice her sound and find it sweeter than the principal next to her. Maybe it's because she's usually playing lower notes (which I like).
Einar Johannssen - vibrato usually isn't my cup of tea, but his is quite nice.
Dieter Klocker - His sound reminds me of what the clarinet likely sounded like when Mozart was still writing. I highly recommend the recording of the Mozart clarinet quartet (k. 317d)
Benny Goodman - nuff said.
Also, good call on Emma Johnson. I took a trip over to her site and had a listen.
Andres Cabrera
South Bay Wind Ensemble
www.SouthBayWinds.com
sbwe@sbmusic.org
Post Edited (2005-12-26 18:16)
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Author: bulldoggy1
Date: 2005-12-27 02:02
Isn't this a ridiculous exercise?!! Everyone mentioned above (and many others) have the "best" tones. All is subjective and simply an individual, personal taste. My purely personal preferences are fist and foremost, REGINALD KELL, the Kenny Davern, Richard Stoltzman, etc., etc.
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-12-27 02:04
Early classical= Sabine Meyer, Gervese de Peyer is not far behind
Impressionist/Early 20th Century= Stanley Drucker
Modern/Rihm, other weird stuff= Burt Hara
Jazz/Swing= gotta be Benny Goodman
Ben
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-27 15:26
I admire Benny Goodman's smooth, clean delivery style and creamy tone. His upper registers "sing."
Although my clarinet prof. used to make fun of Richard Stoltzman, I still enjoy his music.
I love Ricardo Morales. I'd have to put him at the top right now.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-12-28 04:02
I just got a Stoltzman CD for Christmas and I don't see why people make fun of him! I think he has a pretty good tone (I'll have to listen to more of it, but his tone in no way was a turn off.) and he had wonderful technique and musicality. I respect him and I think people should lay off of Stoltzman. I wish I could play as good as he did.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2005-12-28 18:49
Larry Combs has THE most natural sound of anyone yet mentioned. His legato is flawless and his interpretations are simply beautiful.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-12-28 19:11
-----------------------------
I love Ricardo Morales. I'd have to put him at the top right now.
----------------------------
I second that. I really like McLane's playing also
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2006-01-07 19:04
DAVE, I love Larry Combs too! His tone is very clear, and pure.
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Author: Pathik
Date: 2006-01-07 20:53
For someone with a really beautiful sound, flawless technique and superb musicianship, check out Buddy DeFranco, one of the greatest jazz musicians ever.....but because he plays modern jazz clarinet, also the most ignored. He's recorded with nearly all the jazz greats of the modern era, and as late as during the 90s made some stunning CDs with pianist Dave McKenna. Buddy is now nearly 83 and still going strong!
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2006-01-07 22:57
I'll also second the suggestions of Karl Leister, Anthony Pay, Jack Brymer (The few Clarinetists that have made it onto my heavily flute and oboe play list).
I recommend using Itunes (or other media player with online library) and search for clarinet concerto (or Sonata or whatever).
Once you've narrowed down a particular concerto / piece of music you like then search again for that specific work and listen to all the various versions.
You will definately hear things you like... and do not like outright. Jot down the names of the people you like and head on to Amazon or some other CD outlet and get their CDs.
Regards,
Stephen
♫ Stephen K.
Post Edited (2006-01-07 23:12)
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Author: 68fordfalcon
Date: 2006-01-09 03:43
Louis Cahuzac hasn't been mentioned yet, and I believe he was a "Tone Master". I feel this way from recordings I have heard.
Campbell MacDonald
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2006-01-09 11:33
Eddy Vanoosthuyse
Eddie Daniels
Walter Boeykens
and many others.....
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-09 11:37
I'm with Bassie there.
Michael Collins deserves more than a mention.
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Author: DaveF
Date: 2006-01-09 19:17
I was glad to see someone finally mention Walter Boeykens, as I've always been a great admirer of his wonderful consistent tone.
Sharon Kam I don't believe has been mentioned, strong solid tone.
Other US players I admire for fine tone that I haven't seen mentioned yet are Charles West, Frank Kowalski, and Nathan Williams.
Would anyone who attended ClarinetFest last year in Japan comment on any Japanese players who particularly stood out, worthy of this tonemasters collection?
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2006-01-10 00:22
Is there a clarinetist who hasn't been mentioned on this thread?
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Author: vin
Date: 2006-01-10 04:45
I think Tom Martin of the Boston Symphony has a terrific sound- there is a Miraculous Mandarin with BSO on Philips from right after Harold Wright died and I believe it is him- great sound.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-01-10 04:54
"Would anyone who attended ClarinetFest last year in Japan comment on any Japanese players who particularly stood out, worthy of this tonemasters collection?"
I wasn't at ClarinetFest but I was at the world bass clarinet convention and there were some amazing players there.
For sound I first have to mention Giora Feidman (who is simply a great musician). On Bb clarinet Patrick Messina is also worth mentioning. Most played bass clarinet and from those the some of the most beautiful sound was of Benny Maupin. Also worth mentioning for a great sound on bass clarinet are Lori Freedman, Josef Horak, Michael Lowenstern.
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2006-01-10 04:55
The original poster asked: "Which players of any national style, living or deceased, foreign or domestic, or even of other instruments, possess a sound worthy of emulating, and why."
Of course it's subjective, and most of you won't know or care, but of the Greek folk clarinetists on Albert/Simple system you'd have to consider:
Yiorgos Anestopoulos and Kostas Yiaouzos.
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
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Author: Pathik
Date: 2006-01-10 08:15
Someone that hasn't been mentioned, but deserves a mention is Georg Reiss from Norway. He plays folk/ethnic/ragtime/jazz clarinet and has the most beautiful tone you could imagine, and is a supremely accomplished musician in all respects. Another exceptionally good and very original Norwegian clarinettist is Terje B. Lerstad. He plays mostly contemporary music on all sorts of clarinets. Check out his CD "Lyrical Punk Clarinet" - not for the fainthearted!
Post Edited (2006-01-10 09:24)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2006-01-10 13:05
Disclaimer: I produced her John Williams Clarinet Concerto recording
I like Michele Zukovsky's sound and interpretations - Nice dark robust sound.
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Author: jezzo
Date: 2006-01-11 21:26
I think that Benny Goodman is the best, also, maybe to you unfamiliar, from my country, there's a band called Terrafolk and their clarinetist(Gombac) is great.
My hot clarinet blog
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2006-01-12 18:10
Glad to see someone finally got around to mentioning Yona Ettlinger. He was my teacher and friend and I believe his beautiful purity of sound -- which he put totally at the service of making music -- has seldom been equalled.
Regards,
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-10-15 17:38
Ralph G wrote:
<<I used to have a Pro-Arte CD of American music that included the Shaker Hymn from Appalachian Spring played by the Houston Symphony under Commissiona. The clarinet opening was by far the sweetest I've ever heard. I assume it's David Peck.>>
I realize this is an old thread, but since I think I have an answer to this question, I'd figured I'd tie up this loose end.
Principal clarinetist of the Houston Symphony under Commissiona was Richard Pickar, so he's mostly likely the one playing on that recording.
These days he conducts the Galveston Symphony, so there's a nice little bio of him of their website:
http://www.galvestonsymphony.org/the_conductor.html
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Author: Shi-Ku Chishiki
Date: 2008-10-15 19:17
Thank You Jim and Suzy.
I read over 41 post's that listed 88 different players names, of which I knew of only two, ie: Artie Shaw & Benny Goodman, before "Mr Stick Man, Pete Fountain's" name was mentioned.
Thank You Jim & Suzy.. Thank You! I second, well seeing it's Jim AND Suzy, I THIRD the name of my main man.. "Pete Fountain".
Shi-Ku Chishiki ShiKu.Chishiki@Gmail.com
It's not the clarinet that makes the player, but the player that makes the clarinet!
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Author: Shi-Ku Chishiki
Date: 2008-10-15 19:58
Brenda said: "I love Ricardo Morales. I'd have to put him at the top right now."
I had this same heated discussion on a different clarinet board a few days ago. I respect your opinion and am not looking to make this into a war of words, please don't misunderstand.. but, as I pointed out to the members of the other forum, they needed to be more SPECIFIC in their generalized statement of Ricardo Morales being the best.
My question was.. "at what"? Yes I know playing clarinet, but as I said to them.. only in playing his type of music, which I believe is classical, isn't it?
There is NO way I (as well as others), believe that Ricardo Morales is better than my main man, ie: "Mr Stick Man, Pete Fountain" when it comes to playing "Dixieland\Jazz" improvised, off the cuff, sans sheet music, etc.
Now even though I'm NOT into classical music and never have been (Dixieland\Jazz is my forte'), I have NO doubt (because of others comments like yours), that Ricardo leads them all in classical. Just like at the same time I wouldn't expect "Pete" to be able to play classical as easily as Ricardo.
Shi-Ku Chishiki ShiKu.Chishiki@Gmail.com
It's not the clarinet that makes the player, but the player that makes the clarinet!
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Author: Shi-Ku Chishiki
Date: 2008-10-15 20:08
Dave said: "I love Ricardo Morales. I'd have to put him at the top right now."
Boy.. you people and your generalizations about Ricardo Morales. Please read my previous post to Brenda.
Shi-Ku Chishiki ShiKu.Chishiki@Gmail.com
It's not the clarinet that makes the player, but the player that makes the clarinet!
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-10-15 22:52
Shi-Ku Chishiki wrote:
<<I respect your opinion and am not looking to make this into a war of words, please don't misunderstand.. but, as I pointed out to the members of the other forum, they needed to be more SPECIFIC in their generalized statement of Ricardo Morales being the best.>>
I have to agree with you, not just about Morales, but with regard to everyone's favorites. I think it's a lot more enlightening to find out what it is about certain players' style that people like and why. Maybe you hear something I don't or vice versa. That's how we all get to be better musicians, right?
In the case of Ricardo Morales, I haven't heard very much of his playing, but I've liked what I've heard. There's a certain smoothness to his playing and a woody resonance to his tone that I like. People who are more familiar with him, though, might hear different things than I do.
I'm not sure what it is about him that leads people to think that he is across-the-board better than *everyone else,* though. Not that I dispute anyone's opinion--I just don't feel qualified to judge who's better than who and haven't heard enough of Morales's playing to know what to listen for. So I'm interested to hear how it others evaluate his (and others') playing.
Post Edited (2008-10-16 00:40)
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-10-15 23:59
One that hasn't been mention here is
George Pieterson former solo clarinetist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
Einar Jóhannesson(Solo clarinetist of the Icelandic symphony) I attended his concert 3 weeks ago in Salurinn(The hall) in Kópavogur Iceland with Martin Berkovsky on piano and man the clarinet is just grown to him.
Reginald Kell,John McCaw and Walter Boyekens all get my vote too.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-10-16 19:09
Steve Girko; Bernard Portnoy; etc, etc, without end.
richard smith
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Author: c7a
Date: 2008-11-06 16:47
Alessandro Calbonare
Roman Gyout
Jon Manasse
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-11-06 18:38
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Karl Stamitz
Carl Maria von Weber
Johannes Brahms
Claude Debussy
Aaron Copland
Francis Poulenc
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff
Dmitri Shostakovich
Ottorino Respighi
Maurice Ravel
OK...I realize that's not what the original question was asking for, exactly.
But I did want to make the point that for me, the *real* tone masters are the composers and orchestrators whose music makes the clarinet sound good.
There are great performers out there, to be sure, and we've named a lot of them. But let's face it, when you hear the opening clarinet solo in Capriccio Espagnol, for example, it sounds colorful to the ear because the genius who wrote the piece knew how to make a clarinet sound that way. To me, Rimsky-Korsakoff was not just a tone master--he was a *tone genius*, because if I play his music correctly, he makes ME sound good. Same thing with all those other guys I mentioned.
How many times have you ever watched a TV show or movie with great actors/actresses in it, but terrible writing? Everybody knows that it's the writers that make the shows! Why is "Law and Order" still on TV after almost 20 years? It's certainly not the actors--I don't think there's a single actor on there today from the original cast, so it's not like there's some indispensable cast member that makes the show work. It's the *writing* that makes that show a success! I really don't think music is all that different.
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Author: Mike Baines
Date: 2008-11-07 06:42
The clarinetist Joan Enric Lluna, is certainly worth a mention. His: Rossini Y Espana with Nigel Clayton, (piano) on the Harmonia Mundi label is a delight.
Mike
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Author: graham
Date: 2008-11-07 07:20
The best thing about Lluna is his musicianship. His tone is good, but not necessarily better than many. But his insight into the music is amongst the best. Try his account of the Brahms Quintet.
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Author: graham
Date: 2008-11-07 07:31
Lluna is doing Shepherd on the Rock in Wigmore Hall (London) on January 11th.
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Author: Mike Baines
Date: 2008-11-07 07:32
Haven't heard Lluna's Brahms quintet but will certainly look around for it, thank you.
Mike
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Author: tdinap
Date: 2008-11-07 17:53
That's a very good point about the composer making the performance. It's definitely true to some degree--I'd still enjoy a merely "good" performance of, say, Mahler's 2nd Symphony just due to the fact that it's a great piece of music.
I do think, though, that some players are good enough to make even a mediocre piece at least somewhat enjoyable. Given the opportunity, I'd probably go to hear Harold Wright or Jon Manasse play "Hot Cross Buns".
What I love about this thread, though, is not the argument of who's the "best"--I think we can all agree that's a rather pointless argument (cue the "no, it's Ricardo" comment). It's the fact that it encourages me to think about all these incredibly various yet still great sounds and how I can apply what I like to my own playing. Who knows, maybe someone here will find some (currently unimaginable) way to combine Benny Goodman's tone with Karl Leister's and start a revolution.
Tom
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-11-07 18:25
But nobody said "no, it's Ricardo".....
His name was mentioned (by Brenda), and seconded (me), but not to the exclusion of all others. There are plenty of players with great sounds.
It's a crowded field..... with many opinions and options. What one person would say is "bright" another would say "is vibrant".
What someone else would say is dull, someone would consider it very dark.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2008-11-07 20:13
There is also a big difference between having a single beautiful yet very lonely tone and being a master of many many tones.
We, as clarinetists, are sometimes so focused on getting that beautiful ideal tone we dream about that we get stuck only being able to produce *one* sound, when we should really work at tapping into the entire color palette of the clarinet.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-11-07 20:16
Tom wrote:
<<That's a very good point about the composer making the performance. It's definitely true to some degree--I'd still enjoy a merely "good" performance of, say, Mahler's 2nd Symphony just due to the fact that it's a great piece of music.
I do think, though, that some players are good enough to make even a mediocre piece at least somewhat enjoyable. Given the opportunity, I'd probably go to hear Harold Wright or Jon Manasse play "Hot Cross Buns".>>
I'd agree with that. But what I was trying to say was a little bit more than just that these composers wrote good music for clarinet.
What I was trying to say (but didn't really state explicitly) is that these composers wrote music that brought out specific tonal colors and different aesthetic characters from the instrument. For example, in Capriccio Espagnol, Rimsky-Korsakoff makes the clarinet sound energetic and brilliant. Respighi and Copland (in Pines of Rome and the Clarinet Concerto, respectively) bring forth a dreamy, atmospheric sound from the instrument. And leave it to Shostakovich to create a clarinet sound that is as captivating as it is grotesque--actually Shostakovich expects the clarinetist to produce a pretty wide variety of tone colors, from piercingly bright to chocolate dark--often in the same piece!
My point was that it is as much the composer as it is the performer that gives the instrument its character. It is true that some performers are much better at bringing that character out in the music and that some performers have a richer palette of tone colors to offer, but we still need to give the composers their due for providing us with music that lets those colors shine through.
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The Clarinet Pages
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