The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2003-01-17 15:35
This Sunday Caroline Hartig will play the Finzi Clarinet Concerto with the Muncie (Indiana) Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to a nice thread started by Morrigan last November and an earlier review of Ms. Hartig's playing at the New Orleans ClarinetFest by another poster, I am well prepared for and eagerly anticipate a delightful concert experience.
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2003-01-17 20:58
i wish that i could be there- i really like this concerto (esp the slow mvt) and don't think it is performed or recorded enough... why don't more US/European players record this work?, past discussions on this have come up with the following suggestions....
... it is not difficult enough to use in the Competition circuit, so doesn't enter the repertoire of "soloist" types.
.... the orchestra part is deceptively demanding, and it's a bit risky putting it together in a hurry with an orchestra that may not be "first rate".
i do confess that i am not really that interested in hearing Emma J or Thea King play it (i do own these recordings however). i heard Larry Combs perform it at a conference some years ago- very lovely playing, lyrical phrasing and some "fire" when needed (without loss of quality in tone or articulation). There are many other players i'd love to hear perform this work (including Caroline Hartig).
donal
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-01-18 02:33
I've never seen the Finzi performed live, except when I did it. I loooooove this work! It's my dream to play it again someday when I'm a professional!
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2003-01-20 03:33
Well, it was a great performance. Ms. Hartig was technically flawless, had a wonderful command of dynamics and a relaxed and professional stage presence. The concert was presented in a smallish 1920's theatre style auditorium that provided a nice relationship of the performer to the audience. I had never heard the Finzi piece. The conductor suggested it might be an acquired taste, but I took to it right off...somewhat dark and brooding to begin with, but ever so beautiful and lyrical overall, with the clarinet blending and playing off of the orchestra rather than standing apart from it. Thanks again for the background information.
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Author: abstruse_melisma
Date: 2009-10-10 05:11
In regard to an mp3 sample:
Try an Amazon search for Emma Johnson's recording. She also does a good rendition of the Five Bagatelles that I used a few years back.
Devin T.B. Langham
Clarinet Performance Major
Michigan State University
interlude
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-10-10 13:58
abstruse_melisma wrote:
> In regard to an mp3 sample:
>
> Try an Amazon search for Emma Johnson's recording. She also
> does a good rendition of the Five Bagatelles that I used a few
> years back.
>
The better versions by English clarinettists are Robert Plane, Andrew Marriner, Alan Hacker, Michael Collins and Janet Hilton.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-10-10 14:17
cigleris said:
"The better versions by English clarinettists are Robert Plane, Andrew Marriner, Alan Hacker, Michael Collins and Janet Hilton".
You could name almost any player.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-10-10 18:01
I highly recommend both the Robert Plane recording and the Alan Hacker recording. Both are available on iTunes. (Not that I would discourage anyone from listening to the others listed--I just haven't heard them.)
The two recordings are (not surprisingly) different. Alan Hacker has a gutsier sort of style and sound and is exciting to listen to. Robert Plane doesn't push the envelope as much as Hacker does, but he plays very musically. Hacker's recording seems to emphasize the more angular, modern features of the work, while I think you can say that Plane's places a greater emphasis on the pastoral quality of the work.
Post Edited (2009-10-10 18:14)
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Author: abstruse_melisma
Date: 2009-10-11 04:07
Whoa, wasn't aware there were so many recordings available. Maybe I'll explore in the morning.
Devin T.B. Langham
Clarinet Performance Major
Michigan State University
interlude
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Author: Kenneth
Date: 2009-10-11 21:11
I think my favourite recording is John Denman's, made in the mid-70's but re-released by Lyrita on CD a couple of years ago, although I also have Robert Plane's recording on Naxos which is very fine.
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