Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2005-12-18 14:49
I guess you can say so...at least among the younger generation.....i think the prominent soloists and principals around the world are still retaining a very personal sound. But it is very true that it has sort of 'rounded' off. I think there is a tendency for the round and rather subtle sound, darker and warmer in some sense.
I just finished Alex Klein's Fantasies and Partitas, and having some experience with his recordings with the Chicago Symphony, i think he has a very definitive tone, as in unique yet 'American' enough to be identified by me. And going back to the old recordings of CSO when Reiner was still conducting, the style and sound of the oboe section continued on and the tradition is well passed on with little variation.
I myself think that it is quite sad and this should not be happening, but i can see a lot of educational work going on which promotes this sort of individualism. As Holliger once said, he can never be Telemann when he is playing, only Holliger, which encourages authenticity with a twist, i guess this is a good quote which as far as i know, has taught me to find an idividual sound.
For the 'international' orchestras of the major cities around the world i think this is happening really quick (same sound), but at least not in the Royal Concertgebouw, the Vienna Phil, the Berlin Phil, CSO, NYPO, Philharmonia London, etc...which serves to prove that as long as good players keep coming out there will always be new sounds and better 'improvements' in originality and tone color variety.
If i think Holliger is great, and so does my other 10 or so oboist friends, would all of us have his sound in the future? I doubt, although i would be certain that someone would want to copy his sound entirely, but who would be able to? I think this is also a fact that globalisation has take its toll, and ideas are being spread around and mixed up, but is that bad? I don't think so....
Well the 'standard', as far as i know, is according to how the music wants it to be....although one might sound similar in interpretation, tone will certainly be in variance. But generally, i think the American style is spreading widely to become the most ideal sound, followed by the 'Gordon Hunt' tone.
What do you guys and gals think?
Howard.
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