Product Description

JH109 Ships Within 24 Hours - Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Track Listing

1. Prelude, Fugue & Riffs
2. Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra (With Piano & Harp)
3. Ebony Concerto: I-Allegro Moderato
4. Ebony Concerto: II-Andante
5. Ebony Concerto: III-Moderato; con Moto
6. Derivations for Clarinet and Band: I-Warm Up
7. Derivations for Clarinet and Band: II-Contrapuntal Blues
8. Derications for Clarinet and Band: III-Rag
9. Derivations for Clarinet and Band: IV-Ride-Out
10. Contrasts Mono: I-Verbunkos (Recruiting Dance)
11. Contrasts Mono: II-Pihenö (Relaxation)
12. Contrasts Mono: III-Sebes (Fast Dance)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6353 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

My Cup of Tea
Goodman's performances of all the music on this disc are superb. He (along with violinist Joseph Szigeti) commissioned the Bartok score and, notwithstanding its age (mono/1940) there has never been a better recording than this one. The other performances are first-rate stereo recordings that appeared on a 1966 CBS/Columbia Lp titled "Meeting at the Summit." Morton Gould's music often sounds like watered-down Copland to my ears, but "Derivations" is a really strong piece and quite memorable. The Stravinsky is a true masterpiece that has never sounded better, and the same goes for Bernstein's powerfully imagined, joyous "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs." Having the composers conduct was an inspired idea (in the case of the Bartok, the composer accompanies at the piano); not at all gimmicky. It's amazing how well Goodman still played in the middle '60s. Although he gave solid performances well into the '70s, he was still at or near his peak when these recordings were made and the dead-on intonation and range of color in his playing is simply breathtaking. The other reviewer mostly likes the Copland score. It's nice, but the real show-stopper here is the Bernstein: 7 1/2 minutes of sheer big-band bravado. Not to be missed!

Get it for the Copland
Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto is one of the most magical pieces of music ever to come out of North America, and for me, this is *the* recording. Fifty years old, but as is so often the case, the original is the best - Mr Goodman's finest twenty minutes. Great value, too! The other pieces (by Bernstein, Stravinsky and Bartok) I can take or leave, but who knows, they might be your cup of tea.

The Real Stuff
This disk collects Benny Goodman performances with the composers conducting, so it is historic and probably authoritative as to performance, but great to have Copland, Stravinsky, etc. themselves and Goodman in your collection. Nice performances, although sound varies with these vintage sessions.