Contrabass Digest

2001-12-23

From: LeliaLoban
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:06:55 EST
Subject: [CB] Another CD Review

David Richoux writes that Tower Records used to offer
> a rather full selection of classical (and otherwise)
>CDs from contrabass instruments - tubas and
>contrabassoons, especially. Now, either they
>have hidden them (unlikely) or they never bothered
>to replace sold CDs (more likely) or there is a vast
>marketing conspiracy at Tower to not sell interesting
>recordings (even more likely.)

I think the answer is (c), the vast conspiracy.  The large Tower in Tysons
Corners, Virginia used to devote an entire back room to classical music.
When the "New Age" invaded that room, the manager told me he'd made space by
sending an employee around to find and cull out any classical recordings "by
people whose names he couldn't pronounce."  Now Tower has gotten rid of most
of the more interesting jazz recordings, too, and stuffed what's left into
the same back room, by cutting what was left of the classical section in
half.

The department is not entirely devoid of interest even now, though.  Just
this weekend, I found Rodion Shchedrin's lively, jazz-influenced Concerto for
Orchestra No. 1, "Naughty Limericks."  (I'm not sure whether the availability
of this CD means that the vacant-eyed, mumbling employee *could* pronounce
Shchedrin or whether he concealed complete illiteracy by simply selecting
what to banish at random.)  The recording (Deutsche Grammophon 289 471
136-2) includes the better-known "Carmen" Suite and the Concerto for
Orchestra No. 2, "The Chimes."  Mikhail Pletnev conducts the Russian National
Orchestra.

In "Naughty Limericks" (1963), virtuosic bass windbreakers show off a ripe,
rich repertory of virtuoso farting noises.  Everybody who plays an instrument
capable of a really thunderous grunt must have discovered the possibilities,
in private and quite by accident, yes?  >;-)  I suspect that the guilty
parties in the "Limericks" include BBb tuba, contrabass clarinet and
contra-bassoon, at least, although they probably contrive to look innocent
whilst casting glances of inquiry and suspicion at the bass trombone.

Shchedrin, born in Moscow in 1932, composed the "Naughty Limericks" (a
late-night fraternity party by many other instruments besides the basses) in
1963.  The liner notes by Michael Stegemann describe Shchedrin as a member of
the Board of the Union of Soviet Composers at the time.  In the 1970s, he
succeeded Shostakovich as Chairman of the more liberal Composers Union of the
Russian Federation.  I wonder if Shchedrin ever played the "Limericks" for
Yuri Andropov...?

Lelia
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:44:03 -0800
From: David Richoux
Subject: Re: [CB] Another CD Review (and much more...!!!)

As a DJ at KFJC in Los Altos Hills (very near the Mountain View Tower store) I have
had to put up with a lot of minimal stockage from the jazz and classical music
sections (the pop is not much better..)

but anyway, in celebration of the New Year our music director has given us free
reign on what we can play on our programs this week, so I am planning to switch
format from Classic Jazz to "Bad Classics" with music from the Hoffnung Festivals,
PDQ Bach, Portsmouth Symphonia, and as much other odd basement leftovers as I can
find! Contrabassoon solos, Serpents, Double Tubas, Whatever - I don't know how crazy
it will get Thursday, December 27th 10 AM to (at least) 2PM on KFJC 89.7FM
www.kfjc.org for internet broadcast...

hope you all can check it out - it should be a lot of fun!

Dave Richoux
 

---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 22:38:16 -0800
From: "Chuck Guzis"
Subject: Re: [CB] Another CD Review (and much more...!!!)

On 12/22/2001,  David Richoux  wrote:
>but anyway, in celebration of the New Year our music director has given us free
>reign on what we can play on our programs this week, so I am planning to switch
>format from Classic Jazz to "Bad Classics" with music from the Hoffnung Festivals,
>PDQ Bach, Portsmouth Symphonia, and as much other odd basement leftovers as I can
>find!

Don't forget Florence Foster Jenkins!

Cheers,
Chuck
 

***End of Contrabass Digest***

 
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