 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Johnny Galaga
Date: 2013-05-23 23:26
Go onto a certain video website of choice and search for just about any standard band repertoire song. The odds are, you'll find a high quality recording by, of all places, the University Of North Texas. Their recordings usually sound darn near perfect, but they don't show the band or the conductor.
Usually, the video just has like a blue screen with some words and that's all you get to see. But the recordings are very high-quality, both in audio and musicianship. So what is it with this "University Of North Texas"?
Is this considered some high-tier music school like the Indianas, Juliards, etc.? How do they seem to get nothing but perfect sounding players? And how come we don't seem to get as many great recordings online from other top music schools? I never even knew there was a "University Of North Texas".
The clarity and crispness of their recordings makes me wonder how they do it? How do they get such a clear sound with every part getting through so nicely? Who knows what kind of recording equipment they must have.
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Author: William
Date: 2013-05-24 14:21
"The clarity and crispness of their recordings makes me wonder how they do it?"
Short answer, retakes. I know for a fact that their perfection is a result of lots of do-overs and editing of "problem" passages until everything is just right.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-05-24 21:40
There is no "editing" on UNT Wind Symphony recordings. There are 4 microphones at the front of the stage and no "mixing".
Everything you hear is something that came from the group. Like any recording, there is splicing of sections together.
The recordings I have done with the UNT Wind Symphony in the last few years have been difficult, but overall very satisfying. The recording process does take a while, a lot is attributed to the staff making sure there is a great recording of each section, since there is NO EDITING later to make it right.
For the most part, it's just running sections a few times, making sure one of them is excellent, then moving on. Occasionally there are sections that require some fixing or adjusting for balance with the way the mics are set up, but for the most part it's music that the ensemble knows well and we just play it.
I know for a fact that the concerts are fantastic, and the recordings do not sound like any other group but the group that played the concert. The recordings have fewer mistakes and some "I wish I could go back and do that again" moments.
Every note comes from talented musicians, hard work, patience, and an extremely high standard. This is why UNT is the "Go To" recording wind symphony for a substantial amount of repertoire.
"Is this considered some high-tier music school like the Indianas, Juliards, etc.? How do they seem to get nothing but perfect sounding players?"
We have four studios, or six factoring in the TF studios. We have 65 (ish) clarinet majors, about 25 or so of those are graduate students. Most of the 12 people in wind symphony are graduate students (two undergraduates). They are all top notch players studying with top notch teachers. I know and have heard many players from Indiana and various north east schools, and the students at UNT hold their own just fine.
We have many students in all instrumental studios that have come from Indiana etc. and many people who go from UNT to those schools. UNT is one of the largest and one of the best music schools in the country. As David said, "the Juliard of the south". Simply not being in the north or northeast doesn't make any difference in quality of a school.
So, the point is, there's no magic of repetition that creates excellent recordings. There's no editing that makes us sound better than we are. The combination of fine musicians working hard and Eugene Corporon keeping the highest standards creates the excellent recordings that typically fall under the "reference recordings" for a substantial amount of repertoire.
After all, musicians come and go through college groups- the only constant is the applied faculty and Eugene Corporon.
Just a month ago, the UNT Wind Symphony recorded Black Dog by Scott Mcallister and the Artie Shaw Concerto with Mark Nuccio as soloist. I'm not sure when that recording will be released, but something to be on the lookout for next year.
Trust me- if ever there is a time not to squeak...
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-05-25 00:57
Where are UNT alumni currently performing? Do any hold major symphony chairs or teaching positions at major universities?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: clarinetfixer
Date: 2013-05-25 01:33
As a North Texas alum...let's see:
There are 11 of us in the Air Force Band and around a total of 120 in the DC premiere military bands.
I can think of a few symphony principals off the top of my head. We had a trombonist in the Vienna Phil a few years ago. Many alums in the Dallas Symphony and Fort Worth Symphony.
UNT is always at the top of the list for the largest College of Music. Around 1700+ music majors. The best jazz school...bar none.
As for the recording sessions, it was the fondest of my memories. Mr. Corporon, Stamp and Fisher were excellent during sessions. Bruce Leek did the recording. We'd do a bed take and then make sure we had each section at least twice nailed on the tape. The editing process may involve some nibbling of entrances, or ringoff that the producers missed. But, the ability to get something perfect every time knowing that 10+ sets of ears are listening...was priceless.
Hope this helps,
Blake
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Author: clarinetfixer
Date: 2013-05-25 01:58
Another thought for ya...listen to the recording of Dance Movements. The entire coda in the last movement was one take. That was an awesome one!!!!
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-05-25 03:18
UNT alumni hold playing and teaching positions at many ensembles\universities.
Other than those mentioned, one of the teachers at UNT is a UNT graduate. Kimberly Cole graduated from UNT for undergrad and took over Jim Gillespie's studio two years ago. She taught at Eastern Michigan before that for 15 years.
Eric Mandat, who is teaching at Southeastern Illinois graduated from UNT. He's both an incredible player and composer, constantly expanding the possibilities of the instrument.
The most recent accomplishment of a UNT graduate is Rachel Yoder, being selected to be the assistant editor of the ICA Clarinet journal. She also was professor of clarinet at southeastern Oklahoma before becoming the PR staff member for the UNT College of Music. She also is in a Clarinet and Electronics ensemble with her husband called "Odd Partials". Great name!
There are so many accomplishments from graduates of UNT that it's impossible for anyone to name them all. Of course, many of the graduates have gone on to teach high school, middle school, and K-5 levels. Those are too many to name. Others have studios in the DFW area and other areas of the country, producing many fine students that have accomplished much and gone on to fine institutions around the country.
It is worth noting that the multiple woodwinds program at UNT is very strong. One of my colleagues plays in the 2 o'clock lab band on bari, plays bassoon in the concert orchestra, and is a fine clarinet player. Another plays clarinet in the Wind Symphony, flute in the concert orchestra, and has performed very well on clarinet. Another plays so well on Clarinet, Sax, Bassoon, Clarinet, and Flute that people can never tell what his "primary" is. Long story short, UNT students tend to be very diversified in their abilities.
As I mentioned already, undergraduates from UNT have gone on to just about any major university\conservatory you can name. One of our best Oboe players this year is going to Eastman next year on a full ride.
Having four major studios, there are very diverse styles and approaches to the instrument, which gives everyone a well rounded conception of the instrument and its possibilities.
An interesting note: Has anyone ever wondered why Indiana is also a large college of music with several studios with top notch people? The dean of the college of music at Indiana was dean of the college of music at UNT prior to going to Indiana. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-05-25 04:41
Those were good lists. Thanks. I can remember back years ago, long before the name change from North Texas State to UNT, that the lab band was one of the premier big bands in the country (and not just in comparison to other universities).
"The dean of the college of music at Indiana was dean of the college of music at UNT prior to going to Indiana."
Are you talking about Gwyn Richards? (Effectively dean at IU since 1999, including his interim term.) His bio on the IU website lists McGill, Rice and USC but doesn't say anything about UNT.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2013-05-25 04:55)
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Author: DougR
Date: 2013-05-25 14:29
Herb Ellis, Jimmy Giuffre, Gene Roland, Claude Lakey, Gary Grant, Billy Harper, Bones Malone, Lou Marini, Marvin Stamm, Bob Belden, Lyle Mays, Conrad Herwig, Dan Higgins, Dave Riekenberg, Tim Ries, Dave Pietro, Jim Snidero, Scott Whitfield
...and that's who on the list I've heard of (thanks, Wikipedia). Ever since I started following jazz (which is decades, folks) the NTState Lab Band has had a monster reputation, with good reason.
Which reminds me, I have a couple of old LPs from Berklee College of Music around here somewhere--student arrangers and players, overseen by John LaPorta. I suppose that kind of thing shows up on the old auction site ever now and then; nobody bust-out famous on the records I have, but some names you'd recognize (if I could only remember them!!...)
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-05-25 15:43
I believe it was prior to the dean effective 1999. I can't remember the gentlemen's name, but long enough ago to have been the one to put IU on the map as far as size and significance. I'll have to ask my teacher, but I'm pretty sure it was closer to mid-twentieth century.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2013-05-25 16:44
Wilfred Bain is the gentleman's name.
(edited for typo)
Post Edited (2013-05-25 20:23)
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Author: William
Date: 2013-05-26 16:13
I've known Gene Corporo since his first days as a rookie wind ensemble conductor here at our University of Wisconsin and I know how meticulous (and good) he is in going over a problematic passage repeatedly until it is "right". So I stand by my "editing" comments regarding the fine recordings issued by UNT. As written above--"there is splicing of sections together"--that proves that some editing of the final recordings is done and that they are not all a result of "one take". And there is nothing wrong with that, is there? Gene is a master conductor always knowing exactly what he wants and is patient enough to achieve his musical visions through rigorus rehearsal and editing. Simple as that.
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Author: williamalex54
Date: 2013-05-27 01:57
They VIDEO stream LIVE many of their concerts!
http://recording.music.unt.edu/index.php/live
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2013-05-28 13:55
Hi,
One of my favorite recordings is "Bird Songs" on the Klavier label (KDC 11071) which features the NT Chamber Players. James Gillespie and Robert Scott were the clarinetists (plus several other faculty brass and woodwinds as well). Both of these fine teacher/performers have had much to do with the excellence of UNT clarinet majors for many decades.
Recently, Kim Cole-Luevano of EMU, joined the faculty. She is a wonderful teacher and a very fine musician as well.
There are some very fine clarinet "chops" on campus in Denton, TX.
HRL
Post Edited (2013-05-28 18:31)
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Author: clarinetfixer
Date: 2013-05-29 12:43
Actually, it was Dr. John Scott, my teacher on clarinet with Jim Gillespie on Bird Songs.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2013-05-29 21:20
Fixer,
Actually, you are very correct. It was John Scott. Robert Scott was a guy who I knew in HS. Do you like the recording as much as I do?
HRL
Post Edited (2013-05-29 21:22)
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