 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2009-07-13 22:15
Too bad there's no sound clips....or mp3 download.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2009-07-14 11:14
Nice try, Blummy, but I still like Kell. Maybe it's because I can't hear above 12.
I did google on some of Kell that does have sound clips; some so old you can still hear the record scratches. Ah, his vibrato still brings tears of rapture to my eyes.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clancy
Date: 2009-07-14 12:23
Such an eloquent way of describing Mr Kells playing...
Ken i did recently buy the later Busch recording of Brahms with Kell, it is more free as you say, both are very nice though. My favourite recordings of Mr Kell are his light music records, "Reginald Kell and his quiet music", wonderful playing, such personality and flexiblity.
There are a few older recordings of Kell in orchestra with the London Philharmonic and Beecham, early 1930s, his sound is a bit stronger but still the same personality, definitely worth buying if you are a Kell follower.
R Wodkowski
www.ramonwodkowski.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2009-07-14 12:40
I prefer the 1937 studio recording. It's my favorite Brahms quintet recording (maybe my favorite clarinet recording as well). The Busch quartet are just as important in that recording as Kell, which is a problem in a lot of Brahms quintet recordings...seems like the quartet is often just along for the ride. The Busch play it like they mean it...and Kell fits in perfectly (to my ears...I realize the feelings Kell arouses, but he's my favorite...so much style and musicality..even if you disagree with some of his musical choices).
I also enjoy the later live recording, but it doesn't do what the studio recording does for me. Maybe Kell's sound had changed a little by 1948 and doesn't blend like he did in 1937...I'll have to go back and listen again. Anyway..both recordings are definitely treasures.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clancy
Date: 2009-07-14 12:51
The 1937 recording is truly wonderful, real chamber music. Kell plays out when he has the tune and disappears into the strings when he needs to support, every instrument seems to have an equal voice - very refreshing, and that was 1937!
Is there anyone on this board who heard Mr Kell live?
I spent an afternoon with Basil Tschaikov recently, he told about his many concerts sitting second clarinet to Mr Kell in London - pre 1947! He said Kell was his favourite player to sit second to, thought he was the best of them all.
R Wodkowski
www.ramonwodkowski.com
Post Edited (2009-07-14 12:55)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-07-14 14:12
Ramon -
I got the CD of "Reginald Kell's Quiet Music," which is lovely. It's easy to understand why he was exempted from the draft as being "essential to the war effort." I think I have all the recordings on which he's listed as a performer, including a couple of 7" 45 rpms and the Ravel Introduction and Allegro, which I don't think have been reissued.
Could you list some of the Beecham/LPO on which Kell plays? Particularly any that have been reissued on CD.
I heard him play live, sort of. When I was in high school around 1960, the orchestra went to a convention and I met Kell at the B&H booth, where he was hawking ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) a B&H student clarinet that carried his name and had some keys made to his design (a "straight-down" Eb/Bb side key and cross-hatched engraving on the left-hand F/C key). I did a bit of what my friends called "Shawing-off" with the Corelli Gigue that he played on his "Encores" LP, and he picked up the student clarinet and played it for me, very softly.
I often wondered why he seemed to disappear after that time. In the multi-part bio that ran in The Clarinet several years ago, I read that he suffered from severe Alzheimer's in his last years. What a pity.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-07-14 16:33
Ken, the clarinet you're referring to was sold in the North American market as the "Series 2-20" -- many of them are still out and about, I have a few myself, nice clarinets and the two keywork modifications are not a big deal but are good ideas.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2009-07-14 18:34
"Could you list some of the Beecham/LPO"
I cannot but this did jog my brain on maybe a relevant issue. In the move "The Red Shoes" is a very short clip of two clarinets playing a phrase at the beginning of
"Ring of Fire"(I believe). I've always found it to be a delightful phrase and Beecham may have been conducting(the actual orchestra?). Anyone have the clarinetists' identity?
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clancy
Date: 2009-07-15 10:02
Hi Ken
I will check with Tony Lamb who has a wonderful library of older recordings.
From memory there is a recording on CD, RPO/Beecham, Borodin Polovtsian Dances with Kell on a few tracks, Bernard Walton on the others.
I was told Boosey at one point was designing a pro clarinet in collaboration with Mr Kell, unfortunately very few were made, if any. The prototype instruments are now in the Hornimann archives which I have seen, very interesting. Anyone have any experience or info on these? Perhaps it never left the design room.
Ramon Wodkowski
www.ramonwodkowski.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2009-07-15 10:58
"Polovtsian"
Well, you see what I mean! I'll bet it's spelled "Polovetsian" (see "how do you spell" post.)
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clancy
Date: 2009-07-15 11:03
Both seem to be used, but I agree, Polovetsian is probably correct.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2009-07-16 13:33
My point is that it was pronounced and spelled "Polovetsian" since "day one" and then somehow it got truncated.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-07-17 16:02
Reggie Kell's playing also brings tears to my eyes, accompanied by moans and cries of "Why Reggie, why?" I do like a clarinet vibrato but elegant and musical. Emma Johnson and Gervase de Peyer sometimes come up with one that sends me to clarinet heaven.
I have all Kell's commerical recordings and return to them now and then hoping against hope they'll improve. I think Reggie went bonkers somehow and puts on a hideous vibrato at times just to annoy us.
Louis Cahuzac and H. Wriight are the standards I judge clarinetists by.
They were marvelous!
Clarinet Redux
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2009-07-20 14:35
I do like dePeyer and Kell for their imagination. The dePeyer Brahms Quintet with the Melos on EMI is as great performance as anyone. I love the contrast between movements that dePeyer brings to this music.
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2009-07-21 15:22
I thought we took a vow not to weary abut spilling on this bulliton bard?
Clarinet Redux
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
