Two Recordings of Special Merit
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 6:37 pm
I like to chime in every so often to share recordings that I feel are representative of the works, and represent good fundamental tuba playing. Bear with me as I have two to discuss.
1. Bruckner Symphonie No. 8- NDR Sinfonieorchester/Gunter Wand. I have owned 14-15 seperate recordings of this work as I have loved it since first hearing in the Summer of 1976 via the 3rd installment by the BPO/Von Karajan. Since I have found this particular recording I have sold all of the others with the exception of the Furtwangler/VPO reading from 1944. Recorded in 1993, this reading does not make the grand gesture of soft string stuff followed by blaring brass that is prevelant in so many recordings. Wand lets the architecture of the piece unfold in such a way that one understands the flow of the music and it's inherent intent. It goes beyond the segmented recordings loved by brass players (people who wait around for the NEXT BIG BLOW) and treats it as a painting in music. Who knew that the clarinet had such beautiful lines, or that the string repetitions really do boost the harmonic flow? If you want to be enlightened instead of bludgeoned, this is the recording for you.
Not that it isn't without its monumental brass playing, in fact this is the BEST brass playing I have heard on this particular work. As it was recorded in 1993, this puts it right in the middle of Walter Hilgers' time with the NDR. His Contrabass playing is beautiful, forceful where need be, but wonderfully poignant in the softer sections. He provides a very firm foundation, playing the BBb tuba with authority, clarity, and sheer weight of sound (notice I didn't say volume) that makes this a primer on how to play over the entire range of dynamics. There are two notes in the last 3 minutes of the Finale that should be the benchmark for every tuba player. A simple G-C whole note pattern that is played with such beauty and resonance as to make me want to have chops again just to try to emulate it. His brass brethren are on the same wave length and give a performance that is not likely to be matched.
The recording is on the RCA Read Seal label, #09026 68047 2. I purchased it used on Amazon for $2.99. It was new, go figure.
Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 Victoria Mullova/RPO/Previn. Early in my career I had the good fortune to perform this work a number of times with Charles Rex as soloist. If you are unfamiliar with the work, get it. It is an emotional tour-de-force that takes you from stunning highs to gut wrenching lows in its 32 minute length. Previn is my choice for a conductor of the 20th Century Russian Literature. He gets a searing performance, wringing out every bit of angst and hilarity, making this a poster child for musical schizophrenia. Mullova is a willing partner. Her Cadenza between the 3rd and 4th Movements is not equalled on record. Sheer terror and ferocity are her milleiu.
This work is worthy of every tuba players attention. The brass contingent is simply 4 horns and tuba, with the tuba taking a solo role for 90% of the time it plays. The very first note you must play is a Pianissimo Pedal D in the Nocturne that is the start of an upward rising line with the violin. That should be enough to include it on EVERY audition. The 2nd movement goes by rather quickly which leads us to the Passacaglia. After a searing opening where the horns scream their discontent, the tuba takes over the Passagaglia theme in support of a lovely woodwind chorale. Cast right in the cash register it requires a presence of sound at an mf that is at once authoritarian and bleak. It is one of my favorite moments in tuba playing and the gentleman with the Royal Philharmonic handles the chore of playing this piece admirably. Big fat sound even in the pianos and downright scary in the fortes. EVERY tuba player should own this recording and try to emulate the way this guy plays in our most holy of registers.
This recording was made in 1988 and is on the Philips Label # 422 364-2.
Happy Listening.
Chuck
1. Bruckner Symphonie No. 8- NDR Sinfonieorchester/Gunter Wand. I have owned 14-15 seperate recordings of this work as I have loved it since first hearing in the Summer of 1976 via the 3rd installment by the BPO/Von Karajan. Since I have found this particular recording I have sold all of the others with the exception of the Furtwangler/VPO reading from 1944. Recorded in 1993, this reading does not make the grand gesture of soft string stuff followed by blaring brass that is prevelant in so many recordings. Wand lets the architecture of the piece unfold in such a way that one understands the flow of the music and it's inherent intent. It goes beyond the segmented recordings loved by brass players (people who wait around for the NEXT BIG BLOW) and treats it as a painting in music. Who knew that the clarinet had such beautiful lines, or that the string repetitions really do boost the harmonic flow? If you want to be enlightened instead of bludgeoned, this is the recording for you.
Not that it isn't without its monumental brass playing, in fact this is the BEST brass playing I have heard on this particular work. As it was recorded in 1993, this puts it right in the middle of Walter Hilgers' time with the NDR. His Contrabass playing is beautiful, forceful where need be, but wonderfully poignant in the softer sections. He provides a very firm foundation, playing the BBb tuba with authority, clarity, and sheer weight of sound (notice I didn't say volume) that makes this a primer on how to play over the entire range of dynamics. There are two notes in the last 3 minutes of the Finale that should be the benchmark for every tuba player. A simple G-C whole note pattern that is played with such beauty and resonance as to make me want to have chops again just to try to emulate it. His brass brethren are on the same wave length and give a performance that is not likely to be matched.
The recording is on the RCA Read Seal label, #09026 68047 2. I purchased it used on Amazon for $2.99. It was new, go figure.
Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 Victoria Mullova/RPO/Previn. Early in my career I had the good fortune to perform this work a number of times with Charles Rex as soloist. If you are unfamiliar with the work, get it. It is an emotional tour-de-force that takes you from stunning highs to gut wrenching lows in its 32 minute length. Previn is my choice for a conductor of the 20th Century Russian Literature. He gets a searing performance, wringing out every bit of angst and hilarity, making this a poster child for musical schizophrenia. Mullova is a willing partner. Her Cadenza between the 3rd and 4th Movements is not equalled on record. Sheer terror and ferocity are her milleiu.
This work is worthy of every tuba players attention. The brass contingent is simply 4 horns and tuba, with the tuba taking a solo role for 90% of the time it plays. The very first note you must play is a Pianissimo Pedal D in the Nocturne that is the start of an upward rising line with the violin. That should be enough to include it on EVERY audition. The 2nd movement goes by rather quickly which leads us to the Passacaglia. After a searing opening where the horns scream their discontent, the tuba takes over the Passagaglia theme in support of a lovely woodwind chorale. Cast right in the cash register it requires a presence of sound at an mf that is at once authoritarian and bleak. It is one of my favorite moments in tuba playing and the gentleman with the Royal Philharmonic handles the chore of playing this piece admirably. Big fat sound even in the pianos and downright scary in the fortes. EVERY tuba player should own this recording and try to emulate the way this guy plays in our most holy of registers.
This recording was made in 1988 and is on the Philips Label # 422 364-2.
Happy Listening.
Chuck