 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: whhawks
Date: 2009-01-14 20:39
I bought Bela Kovacs "Homages a..." and it says that there is a CD available with the composer performing the pieces. Does anyone know the source for that CD?
whhawks
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2009-01-15 13:43
Hello,
There's a store in Budapest called "Rose" that sells all the Kovacs CDs and music. Here's the link: http://www.rose.hu/html/index_eng.html.
Unfortunately, the site isn't great and you won't find any info about the CDs (in English anyway). But there is an order form. You are correct, he has recorded his Homages (that's the name of the disc) and it is incredible. The playing is superb. There's also another disc of him playing his music and arrangements called "Bela Kovacs plays just a little bit different" or something to that effect. Also stupendous.
Kovacs Bela (as he is known in Hungarian) is now retired and was never that well known outside of Europe. But in Hungary and in much of Europe, he's a God. I met him several times and have listened to his CDs often. I can tell you that he is far above most top-flight professional clarinetists in terms of basic chops and stylistic range. Plus he has taught dozens of great players over the past 45 years or so. He's also a first rate pianist.
Incidentally, Kovacs Bela and his Hungarian counterparts always played Buffet clarinets and standard French mouthpieces and reeds. Many people assume that Hungarian players play German instruments but this is not the case. The only player I know who can play both French and German systems with equal facility is Kovacs Bela's first great student, Balogh Joszef -- absolutely amazing.
Get the CDs. You'll be blown away.
Cheers,
Post Edited (2009-01-15 13:44)
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Author: donald
Date: 2009-01-15 21:22
actually Balogh Joszef IS his name, but we english speaking people feel a need to say it the other way around for some reason.
dn
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2009-01-15 21:34
Correct: Balogh Joszef is his name. All Hungarian names are said "backwards" with the family name first. Of course, when you know someone, you call them by their first name. Balogh Joszef is a friend of mine and when I see him, I call him Joszef.
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2009-01-16 03:43
The CD of The Hommages is a fantastic CD as well as the "Bela Kovacs Plays Clarinet ... just a little bit differently" CD. This man plays with "style". I find the interpretations much more musical than the the performances I've heard live by most American players. There are still a few who can make music defy gravity.
Tom Puwalski
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2009-01-16 15:33
In case you have not yet had a look at Kovacs' "Homages," you should. If there ever was a composer who can capture the essence of his predecessors, it is this man.
He is the guy we should waterboard into writing the 2nd Mozart Clarinet Concerto, the Beethoven Clarinet Concerto #1, ...
Bob Phillips
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-01-16 15:35
Bela Kovacs has a web site with audio samples of all his Hommage compositions.
http://kovacshommages.freeweb.hu
Clarinet Redux
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2009-01-17 00:41
I have an old vinyl record of him performing the Bartok Contrasts. Brilliant player.
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