Tuesday, December 20, 2011

René-Charles "Zino" Francescatti

Over the past few years I’ve been digging through thift store record bins and slowly cobbling together a library of classical music. It’s been a great, rewarding (not to mention cost-efficient!) journey. Taking a risk on some music I’ve never heard is a low-cost risk with this approach. I have to admit I’m really enjoying most of what I’m hearing – some records / pieces /  performances are better than others, but overall I’d say I’m addicted.

Most of the LPs I’ve come across are in good enough shape to be enjoyable – some more mint than others – not too many hopeless cases. I’m looking forward to sharing more impressions about record pressings, labels, recording techniques – anything that may be useful for anyone else messing around with this stuff. Here’s one example………….

My preferred turntable rig for classical LPs is a SONY Linear Tracking direct-drive model from the 1980s. For one thing – it can track even nearly-hopeless records (see the last entry on the New World Symphony….). More importantly I found last year that the cartridge /stylus I’d been using on this turntable makes old mono classical records sound real smooth – a P-mount Grado “Red” model. Here it is in action…………..
The platter slides out of a case that is designed so that you can stack other components on top – CD players, etc…..I’ve had my ups and downs with this turntable, but it’s been working great for the last few years. Mono classical records come to life with this rig. Stereo albums shine as well. Here’s an example……..

Some of the better vinyl pressings I keep an eye out for in my travels come from the Columbia ODYESSY reissue label. This was Columbia’s way of repackaging older classical recordings – re-mastered and reissued with new cover art (well, new for the 70s!). Most of the recordings hail from the late 50s / early 60s and sound really great! The other day I bumped into another of these featuring a violin player I didn’t have much exposure to ….. Zino Francescatti. Side one featured the Violin Concerto of English composer Sir William Walton. Side two – Symphonie Espagnole by Spanish composer Edouard Lalo. Hadn’t heard either piece nor much anything else by these composers. This is the winning combination I tend to look for – plus the record was stone mint! My only hesitation was, ironically enough for someone getting into classical music, THE VIOLIN.

To tell the truth – I’d been listening here and there to different violinists – even some of the “big names” of the 20th Century, but I’ve come to realize that I’m either   A)  not a real violin guy      or     B)   I’m really picky when it comes to what I like in violin music. On the whole, violin can be a little on the screechy side for my tastes. Now, cello – I’ll listen to cello all day long! But violin – I dunno. Maybe I ought to check out some modern players – most of what I’m hearing comes from the records of the 20th Century-era artists. But I have come across some players that I really do like. So far I’d have to say there has to be a real command of intonation and, for lack of a better term – TONE. Chops are nice, but plenty of players have chops – I listen for soul over chops.

Just when I was ready to write myself off the violin list – along comes Zino! Now, Zino’s been gone since the early 90s (lived to 89 years old!). The music lives on though and I have to give a shout-out for this guy. Anyone who can get me to listen to 4 LP sides of violin concerto music in one night has got something special going on. Right at this moment I’m listening to the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major from the mono Columbia LP pictured below and Zino’s just OWNING those high notes! Not shrill or screechy – when he goes for those high notes or difficult passages it sounds as natural as Hendrix with a Strat.

Not that this magnificent musician needs MY stamp of approval – heh! But I really get a kick out of making musical discoveries even if the whole rest of the world has known about it since before time immortal! Yet – that’s the whole reason for my outlet here: to celebrate sounds rarely heard anymore and find uplifting enjoyment from new sonic vistas (even if they’ve been around for awhile…). As the old year winds down and a new one is upon us – I look forward to more great discoveries down the road. For anyone who takes the time to read this stuff – thanks! And I hope your listening is as exciting as it’s been for me – KEEP SEEKING!!!  BRIGHT MOMENTS!!!!!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Dvořák - New World Symphony

Here's a 1953 recording of the New World Symphony conducted by Toscanini leading the inauspicious sounding NBC Symphony Orchestra. Of course, the record I bought at a Goodwill was the usual $1 - the record looks darn near mint, but I didn't notice at the store that it must have been subjected to some heat and less than ideal storage - there's a really bizarre warp on this thing. However, the trusty SONY linear-tracking PS - FL7 turntable is a champ at navigating the difficult terrain here - the stylus moves like a 4X4 through the Grand Canyon, but wow - to no major detriment to the music - go figure! Even with a little noise due to the compromised vinyl I have to say - GREAT PERFORMANCE! I love how a 1953 mono recording can deliver the goods - and Toscanini is pretty inspired here. This must have been considered the benchmark recording prior to the stereo era. As much as I like the classic Fritz Reiner / Chicago Symphony recording on RCA (in Living Stereo) - the Toscanini has an edge to it that's pretty remarkable.

My experience with Dvořák starts with Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The icon of multi-tasking saxophone playing did a cool thing on one of his albums where he played the melody to "Sentimental Journey" and the "Going Home" theme of Dvořák's New World Symphony at the same time! Classic Rahsaan right there. Anyway - on the record he gets into this rap about how black people say Dvořák was a black man, but the white people say he was a white man. Someone in the audience asks Rahsaan "What do YOU say?" His reply; "I don't GIVE a damn!" Heh heh.

I found that there has yet to be a Dvořák symphony I don't like. Rather than try to compete with the whole Beethoven / Wagner / Brahms / Bruckner / Mahler deal - Dvořák just lays down some beautiful themes and melodies in his symphonies and you can dig it. Now, being able to tell just which symphonies I mean is a little complicated since there was a general agreement to re-number his works somewhere along the line (who decides these things anyway?). So - the New World Symphony was once considered Symphony #5 - now it's like, #9 or something. Someday I'll have it straight.

I also have to give Dvořák a lot of credit for finally getting my ears to open up to some more string quartet music. I have a box set of his SQ's and darn if I don't like them all. I'm still working on getting up the courage to delve into those Bartok string quartets, but that's for another entry. My point is - if you're wondering if you could get into any kind of orchestral music, give Dvořák a try. I would have to say he must be one of the most accessible composers in the so-called "classical" realm. Personally, I just think he really understood the value that Charles Mingus later identified with music - if it stays with you long after the performance is over - mission accomplished (I am paraphrasing Mr. Mingus, of course but you get the drift).

Final assessment : Dvořák rocks. Dig it!