 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-05-18 22:50
I like Kjell-Inge Stevensson's version. It's out now on a 2-for-1 priced EMI set.
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Author: David Dow Symphony NB
Date: 2002-05-19 14:44
The Nielsen concderto is the finest of the modern pieces for the clarinet. In Denmark it is the staple of the professional clarinetist and this says alot about how good European players are. The recording of Stanly Drucker in New York is quite cleanly played, but at at times I feel that the music is smoothed out when the inherent violent nature needs sharpening. The same cricism has also been leveled at the Cahusac recording made in 54 or so. I am not denying the great artistry of Drucker but if you try Walter Boeykins on Harmoni Mundi you will hear how wildly and how much sense of fantasy is required..the upper register work of Boeykins is so good and the accents tend to come right off the page at you...also remember too that this piece needs a good recording so the balances must be right. I found the CBS sound a little dry and lacking due to the stlye of miking prevelant from the source, so this may have factored into Drucker being my least favorite. Another recording which I do like is the Kjell Inge Stevensen with Blomstedt and once again a volatile reading with a sense of urgency and violence. Also when the drama is brought out this way the suble long held sounds at the end seem so much more exciting.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-05-19 16:59
David Dow Symphony NB wrote:
>
> The Nielsen concderto is the finest of the modern pieces
> for the clarinet.
Gawd. Then I guess I don't like the finest in modern music.
There's a whole lot of modern music I'd much prefer to the Nielsen if I were to be marooned on a desert island with a solar powered CD player ...
But to each their own ...
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Author: David Dow Symphony NB
Date: 2002-05-19 19:05
You could end up with Seven Brightnesses of Peter Maxwell Davies or how about Hindemith Sonata...or a total barrage of multiphonics....or a composition like the Stockhausen etude for clarinet where there is no traditional tones at all or as friend of mine whose pieces are entirely written in quarter tones...eeek the world of Nielsen is really quite traditional and old fashioned compared to Jaques Hetu......what would you take?...please don't say Mozart cause I am so tired of the Clarinet Concerto( but I'm glad Mozart wrote it!) Where do you get solar powered CD players these days?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-05-19 20:13
Everything Messeian wrote would be a good start for my collection of modern pieces to take on that desert island, along with clarinet stuff by Corigliano, Joan Tower, Milton Babbit, Jane Brockman, Michael Lowenstern, Thea Musgrave, Judith Shatin, Bill Smith, Libby Larsen, Eric Mandat ...
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-05-19 20:16
Solar powered CD players are technically very easy to build. Replace the DC in with (a) solar cell(s), or better yet, use solar to charge batteries so you can listen to Brockman's "Tagore Songs" while lying back at night, looking at a field of stars ...
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Author: Katfish
Date: 2002-05-19 20:19
David; I will try to get the Stevensen recording. I'll admit to having heard only 2 recordings of the Neilsen. One by Drucker and one by Benny Goodman. I can tell that the Drucker recording is a bit restrained but it is clean and precise. I agree with Mark that the piece is not my favorite 20th century work. It is very challenging,but considering all the work necessary to prepare it I'm not sure it is worth the effort. I prefer Martinu Sonatine, 5 pieces by Smith, Hillandale Waltzes by Babin or even(heaven help me}Neew York Counterpoint by Reich, but my musical taste is very suspect.
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-05-19 21:21
I have played the Nielsen with orchestra as a solist and it is a blast to play. I realize others may not share my enthusiasm but it is a groovey piece...the Messiaen I have also played as well in recital but it isn't as challenging because there are movements where one just rests and listens...from a playing point of view I give my feelings. Harrison Birtwhistle wrote some neat clarinet stuff and I also like the music of the new british difficult school...Berio Sequenza is alot of fun to play as well as William O. Smith and how about Cage's pieces for clarinet...Stravinsky 3 Pieces are fun to play as well....lately I feel I'm a little tired of too much traditional stuff and contemporary music is great to hone technique..I like the Reger Quintet alot!!!
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-05-19 21:42
Solar powered batteries could be an environmental blessing...batteries are really quite hard on the environment...is this technology current feasible or are you joking?....Also how about solar panel on your ball hat which is hooked to your CD player, and of course a beer hat with a syphon on the side for those pauses that refresh?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-05-19 21:57
David,
A little work with solar cells and a current model battery charger would work just fine . NiMH such need some simple circuitry to ensure they're not overcharged. Heck, I have a solar powered calculator from the 70s that charges a NiCd battery inside - and it still works just fine.
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-05-19 22:12
I believe that Nielsen also makes a beer , so ,while listening I could be gulping down a Danish brew whilst thinking an interpretation through!!!! And saving money too....
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-05-19 23:01
Have you checked the extensive notes that Eric Nelson wrote for me in the Research section on this piece? He studied and compared the score and manuscripts extensively with Tage Scharff, Oxenvad's student.
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Author: Jamie Talbot
Date: 2002-05-20 23:26
John McCaws' recording of the Nielsen with the Philharmonia Orchestra is my favourite but I,m not sure that it,s still available.
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-05-21 11:08
This concerto was also written for a clarinet freind of Nielsen. He was Aage Oxenvad and was once offered to join the Concertgebouw by Mengelberg in the 20s. I have always admired the Horenstein version of Symphony 5 on Unicorn with McCaw as solist...its pretty wild and that is how I prefer it for the duet for the clarinet and drummer!!! His Concerto I bet would be interesting to hear...
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