 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: DAVE
Date: 2012-09-22 04:41
So today I put up a few more recordings on my Soundcloud. I don't remember what I put up before, so if you already have it then great! If you do not, then get them while you can.
Here's what I put up:
Rachmaninov 2, slow movement Cleveland Orchestra
Pines, clarinet movement, Cleveland
Schubert 8 complete, Cleveland
Brahms Trio, Allesandro Carbonare (not downloadable, sorry)
Soldier's March, from L'histoire du Soldat, Boston Chamber Players, 1975
Rossini Aria (anyone know what it is?), Cleveland
Mozart Piano Concerto 24, second movement, Cleveland.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-09-22 09:07
Gotta love Szell. A real master.
I'm pretty sure H. Wright did the Soldier's March, from L'histoire du Soldat clarinet part.
Most likely Marcellus did most of the Cleveland parts.
Do you have the date of Rossini Aria, Cleveland?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2012-09-22 11:54
Thanks again, Dave.
Mozart P.C. 24 - R. Casadesus/George Szell - 10.23.69 - Severance
Rossini 2 Arias - B. Sills/Louis Lane - 12.28.66 - Severance
Rachmaninoff 2 - Aldo Ceccato - 10.7.71 - Severance
Respighi - Roberto Benzi - 7.8.72 - Blossom
Schubert 8 - Szell (too may live performances on tape to identify this one).
All R.M.
The Respighi is marked quarter = 50 as is the Rachmaninoff 2nd Symphony.
(Edited to add: The Pines taped recording is around 1/4 step sharp, moving the tempo up closer to 60 - if one slows it down to A=440, 50 to the quarter is closer to the actual performed tempo. One has to remember this when dealing with these older taped recordings - especially from cassette tape machines that were artificially sped up to compensate for their inherent deficiencies in technical specifications - especially in the area of wow and flutter. Cassettes are best played on machines that have a pitch control like the Nakamichi BX300.)
It's refreshing to hear the Respighi conducted/played at closer the printed tempo representative of a nightingale's natural, carefree singing. The original tempo of 50 throws into stark contrast the overly sentimentalized, slower tempos that over time, clarinettists have come accustomed and to expect to play or hear.
This is also the tempo Toscanini conducted in his famous live recording (which Benzi was no doubt aware) with August Duques clarinettist. The musical flow makes much more sense not only in that movement but in the context of the entire piece. Even though Toscanini was known for taking faster tempos, his interpretations were closely informed by his friend and colleague, Respighi. Many Respighi premieres were conducted by Toscanini.
Much the same for the Rachmaninoff which is usually overly romanticized and played too slowly and bulgy for the long musical line to hold the listeners' interest and attention (not to mention the composer's explicit attempt at discouraging that kind of thing - the music is "romantic" enough as written). It was a stroke of genius on Rachmaninoff's part to use the first few notes of the Mozart Concerto's opening statement to develop his rhapsodic "flight of fancy".
Notice the unparalleled legato (playing between the notes in the style of great vocalists) of R.M. in all 4 pieces but especially in the Respighi and Rachmaninoff.
These are live, one-off air checks - no studio recordings to go back and try to splice together.
The only other recording I know of The Pines that even comes close to the above in regard to tempo, legato, and phrasing is the Reiner/Chicago Symphony recording from 1960 played by clarinettist Clark Brody.
Gregory Smith
PS. BTW, the prior postings of the Debussy Rhapsodie included a run-out performance which was actually in Battle Creek, Michigan.
http://gregory-gregory-smith.com
Post Edited (2012-09-23 11:09)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DAVE
Date: 2012-09-22 14:58
The Rachmaninov is truly spectacular. It's the best I've ever heard. Tone is beautiful. Pacing is unhurried. It really captures a touching, sentimental mood.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Liquorice
Date: 2012-09-22 21:25
Thanks for putting those recording up Dave.
For those interested, the Rossini is the Recitative and Aria "Sombre foret" from Guillaume Tell.
Post Edited (2012-09-22 21:27)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2012-09-24 00:01
Thanks for that, Liquorice! I'm surprised that there are not more "plays" or "downloads" listed from the items Dave's provided. Essential listening IMO.
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2012-09-24 00:04)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: S.H.J.
Date: 2012-09-25 14:34
Thanks for the recordings! But I'm having trouble downloading the Rachmaninoff for some reason - it keeps stopping at the end. Anyone else having this problem?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
