 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: gabriel'soboe
Date: 2005-12-06 18:48
Hi
Since Alex Klein is highly appreciated in America, can anyone tell me whether the following CD is worth buying:
http://www.musicabona.com/catalog/CDR90000079.html.en
I'm of course already familiar with Martinu's famous Concerto but I wonder about the style of the two other pieces by Sydor and Yano proposed on this double CD. I of course listened to the 30" samples but it's hard to make up one's opinion on the basis of such snippets.
A few days ago, I purchased another oboe concerto from the XXth Century, Elliot Carter's one, composer in 1986/87. Must be rather well-known from the American members of this board, I guess. Well, I'd say it is hard stuff ! The recording I'm referring at is performed by Heinz Holliger and the Ensemble InterContemporain conducted by Pierre Boulez (Apex label). Must be awfully difficult to play such music !
On another CD dedicated to Carter, I discovered two chamber music pieces of his : INNER SONG for Heinz Holliger in memory of Stefan Wolpe (92) for oboe, and IMMER NEU for Ursula and Heinz Holliger (92) for harp and oboe.
We are dealing with somewhat austere and reflective pieces to say the least ! I wouldnt necessarily describe this kind of music as appealing ! But their approach seems somewhat easier to me than the Oboe Concerto.
Thanks for your help
Laurent
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Author: GMac
Date: 2005-12-06 21:47
I just got that recording, the Martinu recording is the best one I have heard! It is worth it alone for that. Personally, I didn't really like the other two pieces. I appreciate a lot of 20th-century stuff, but I really found that they weren't all that well written! To each his own, that's how I felt. They are very interesting, but not great music. Lots of extended techniques and stuff if you're interested (multiphonics, one of the pieces ends on a high A, as in not the A above the staff, but the A above that!! which goes on forever, etc). Honestly though, it's worth it to get it just for the Martinu.
Graham
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Author: oboeblank
Date: 2005-12-07 22:16
You can never really go wrong with Alex Klein...
The performance of the Martinu is good, but it is not the greatest I have ever heard, and the other two works are austere to say the least. The Sydor work took at least five listenings-complete listenings for me to wrap my head around it and partially enjoy it. The Yano concerto was not my favorite and I can never sit through the piece. I think there are better performances of the Martinu out there, coupled with better works but again that is my opinion.
I also am finding that his tone is getting smaller and smaller as the recordings go on. The recording of the Cimarosa double and Moscheles concertino have such a small limpid tone that I was surprised. It is still wonderful playing but it seems to be thinning out as the years go on.
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Author: gabriel'soboe
Date: 2005-12-08 05:50
Thanks so much for your detailed replies Graham and Oboeblank. It's perhaps wise for me to wait a bit. Who knows, I may find a second-hand copy of that CD in the future.
Where music of the XXth century is concerned, I must say I'm hugely fond of film music (hence my pseudo). I would like to recommend a recent film score: John Williams' MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA. This subtle work enhances Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman as well as shakuhachi as main soloists but I noticed numerous oboe solos in the foreground too. The featured musician is alas not credited in the inlay of the CD. Could be John Ellis, the oboe player employed for instance on ANGELA'S ASHES, another Williams score with haunting oboe parts. I shall also mention STEPMOM and its beautiful guitar and oboe soli.
Anyone also interested in film music on this board ? Over the years, I've gathered thousands of tracks for oboe from this medium and believe me, there are a lot of gems among them.
Laurent
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2005-12-09 16:12
Gabriel's oboe, originally recorded by Gordon Hunt, is amazing......
anyways, Laurent, unfortunately i cannot send the file i promised because G-mail seems to not accept the attachment, maybe because the file is too large, any ways to shorten the length or minimise the size of the mp3? Thanks!
Howard
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Author: gabriel'soboe
Date: 2005-12-09 18:59
Hi Howard
I'm afraid I cannot tell you how to shorten the size of an mp3 file since my knowledge in that field is close to nihil. But on your side, did you manage to open the Dittersdorf sample I sent to you ?
As for Gabriel's oboe, I have a great many versions of that wonderful track written by my favourite composer. But I don't think I ever heard the one recorded by Gordon Hunt. On which CD is it available ?
Musicalement
Laurent
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Author: Jryanaus
Date: 2006-03-09 11:39
Indeed as someone has stated you cannot generally go wrong with Alex Klein.
I personally found this CD intriguing.
Whether the works aside from the Martinu are first class or not, the playing is exceptional as always.
Whilst the Martinu is beautiful it is worth having a recording that contains both cadenzas, the 2nd one is still well worth hearing.
The Sydor is extremely intense and programmatic with a vast array of extended techniques, which he handles with expected aplomb
The Yano is a unique work with an extroadinary history. Its composition and the work itself is i suppose is about the notion of struggle against adversity. Alex Klein explained to a class of us in Mexico 2003 that his friend in Sau Paulo, Brazil (Yano) was born a quadraplegic and tragically died from a brain tumor before he could finish this EPIC concerto. (Alex Klein had to complete some of the orchestration). It's some 38 or so minutes in length, which although there are a couple of 20th century works near that length is extremely long.
It is an all encompassing work , testing every aspect of technique , musicality and virtuosity of the oboist- one of the reasons that the work is so suited to Klein.
Whilst all movements are insanely difficult (he sustains a high eflat for 45 seconds at the conclusion of the 1st movement) the finale is whilst "cheesy" as some may express , is highly rhythmic and catchy. I can assure you that when Klein performed this work live in 2003 in Mexico he was virtually faultless (what you will find on this cd). His performance was utterly inspirational to all students, regardless of instrument at this summer school.
I would urge all to purchase this CD for the superb artistry of Klein which rivals his own solo Bach CD in terms of sheer raw brilliance!
If you can get your hands on it , it's a winner!
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