 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: AClarinet
Date: 2015-01-06 13:13
http://www.hibrow.tv/player/?em=FuNzljMzpx_PFHuy4prSUNA7ZGijxV4R
Take a look at this.
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2015-01-11 11:19
Do you people have any intellectual curiosity as to the original question?
Any interest at all? Or are you AFRAID to admit that the Finzi is a major work worthy of discussion, let alone individual performances of it?
Unbelievable.
Gregory Smith
http://www.gregory.smith.com
Post Edited (2015-01-11 11:20)
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2015-01-11 16:07
Gregory, I haven't commented because I haven't listened to the two recordings my Mike, I'll change that today and comment. Having performed this on several occasions it is a work worthy of discussion but unfortunately like much of the great British repertoire it is not well known outside of the UK because of general ignorance, with the exception of current company.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: antaresclar
Date: 2015-01-11 19:19
The Finzi Concerto is, I think, a very special piece. It requires more than just a beautiful sound and legato. It requires the ability to communicate deep musical ideas (especially in the slow movement) and the ability and courage to emotionally move an audience of strangers with one's clarinet playing (of course all music has this requirement in the end). To "speak" to the audience using Finzi's gorgeous melodies. Most clarinetists simply don't have this gift of communication in their playing (and this includes many of our "well-known" players). Is that why it is overlooked in favor of technically stunning works that require little in the way of emotional content? Who knows?
For me, Richard Stoltzman's recording of this is my favorite. Actually, I think his CD of the Finzi is the "best" recording he has ever released. The expressive nuance and stunningly beautiful and touching playing in the slow movement makes his performance very special. In many ways I think it is as if the piece was tailor-made to his way of playing. The Cd is out of print but can sometimes be found on the usual sites. I suggest adding it to your collection if you don't already have it.
-Garrick Zoeter
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2015-01-11 19:49
I have not heard the latest version of his recording but I would disagree that this is an unknown work beyond the UK.
It is getting performances around the globe and due to its beauty and accessibility and it is certainly a masterpiece in the same way as the Copland Concerto.
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Author: RLarm
Date: 2015-01-12 00:44
Greg, I do have both of Michael Collins recordings. I haven't listened to the first recording for many years so I need to figure out where I have it, then sit down with the part and make a comparison of the two. I first heard the work in Thea King's Hyperion recording. I immediately thought why haven't I heard this piece before? I loved it from the start and consider it one of the great concertos for clarinet. Whenever I hear the Finzi I picture an idyllic image of the UK having never been able to visit. Unlike the "clarinet curmudgeon" who writes for American Record Guide I like listening to Collins and King even though I don't want to play like they do. I've noticed that more and more players are sounding extremely similar irregardless of where they come from. When I was growing up one could often figure out immediately where the player lived. "That's an English clarinetist. That's French. That's German. Etc." Currently playing styles have become rather homogenized. Isn't variety the spice of life?
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2015-01-13 05:13
I'm a great admirer of the Finzi Concerto. For one who has had a lifelong devotion to the music of Vaughan Williams, it's a piece that in some ways fills the void of an RVW clarinet concerto--but it's so good that it's really an example, IMO, of the student becoming the master. In short, for me it's an even stronger concerto than the Vaughan Williams oboe, tuba, or violin concerti--and among RVW's works for solo instrument and orchestra, only The Lark Ascending strikes me as its superior.
The English lyrical, pastoral clarinet tradition deserved a work of this beauty and depth. Three wishes:
1. I wish Frederick Thurston had lived long enough to record it.
2. I wish Reginald Kell had recorded it.
3. I wish there was a extent recording of Artie Shaw performing it (there are all sorts of rumors out there that Shaw once performed Finzi in Rochester at one point).
I'm not familiar with Michael Collins's recent recording. Once, on the way home from a gig late at night, I heard his earlier recording on the radio and was impressed.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2015-01-17 09:21
Couldn't agree with you more, Eric - put quite eloquently.
I'm interested in what the two differing Collins interpretations give us in terms of the overall impact vis-à-vis the actual score. (He seems by far most authentic in his reading of it).
Of course there are several different interpretations. What I'm wondering about is the interpretation vis-à-vis the actual score - not "who's the best" kind of opinionated discussion.
My past personal discussions with Thea King are revelatory in light of Thurston's fidelity of interpretation.
I think it very important during discussion of "personal preferences" at least in terms of authentic interpretation of the work.
I asked her if there were an existing recording of the actual premiere to which she demurred. Maybe there is something out there.....
In the mean time, are there informed contributions as to the interpretations of the original score that may be of interest?
Gregory Smith
'http://www.gregory-smith.com
Post Edited (2015-01-17 09:38)
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2015-01-17 18:43
Good clarification, Greg--I see your goals with the thread now. If I get the chance I'll try to listen/look at the two Michael Collins recordings (unfortunately, this is not likely soon--too many obligations and gigs right now to delve into the Finzi score with recordings--but it would be an enjoyable exercise if I can get to it).
Beyond that, I was intrigued to hear of your discussions with Thea King re: Thurston's playing--if there's anything you can share about that, it would be very interesting (for folks like me) and valuable (for anyone performing Finzi in the future).
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Paula S
Date: 2015-01-17 23:58
I love the Finzi Concerto and Michael Collins artistry. I did have both recordings but the first one died, so I can't compare side by side :-(. However my favourite recording of this is the one by Robert Plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMukLZGaE0I
Post Edited (2015-01-18 00:00)
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2015-01-18 01:20
Eric, I suggest you first listen to Jack's recordings to get a sense for his freedom of playing. Thea was very much in the same mold ;-)
Peter Cigleris
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2015-01-18 04:49
Peter,
Yeah, I've been familiar with Thea's playing for a couple of decades now (I picked up her recording of the Finzi when I was a student in the '90s)...I'm pretty familiar with Jack's playing too (if you mean Jack Brymer). I was more specifically interested in Greg's discussion with her regarding Thurston's performance practice. Pure curiosity on my part, though it would probably be of more than curious interest for classical performers.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2015-01-18 17:07
Sorry Eric, Fredrick Thurston was commonly known as Jack Thurston. I wasn't referring to Jack Brymer.
Peter Cigleris
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