Historic CSO videos


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Posted by Richard on November 13, 1999 at 16:32:45:

Correspondents to this BBS have asked about the availability of Arnold Jacobs on video. The obvious emphasis being on the numerous wind and brass workshops and clinics over the years. We live in hope. But in the meantime, the next best thing has happened thanks to an agreement reached between an independent record and video company know as VAI, the Chicago Symphony, and WGN Television. A series of videotapes has been launched covering the historic period 1953-63 during which the CSO would do a TV hour on a near weekly basis. At first, these were done as run-outs to studio or banquet hall locations, but toward the end they were taped at Orchestra Hall.

The most current releases would be the most interesting to this group of readers, programs conducted by Paul Hindemith and Charles Munch. Hindemith leads off with his own Concertmusic for Strings and Brass, followed by the 1st mvt. of Bruckner's 7th and concludes with Brahms' Academic Festival Overture. The Munch program features Berlioz Royal Hunt and Storm, and segue performances of Ravel's Valse Nobles et Sentimentales and La Valse. Both programs were taped in 1963 at Orchestra Hall, for great looks, and full resonant albeit mono sound. This is a period in which Jake was in his undisputed prime, not to mention the rest of the CSO brass. This was when they were making their legendary reputation. The programs are well videographed, so there's plenty to see as well as hear.

Of the earlier releases, you'd want to check out the Stokowski program, which features his arrangement of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Even in distant shots, we can see Jake taking massive breaths, and blowing huge quantities of "song and wind" into his York tuba. The programs by Monteux and Szell would have to appeal to anyone with an interest or curiosity about the great conductors of the past. Reiner's program has no low brass whatever, but you're not likely to see or hear a better Beethoven 7th, and you get to see Jake's first conductor, even though Jake has the day off.

This series of videos is carried by Tower Records, stores, or online. You can get more information from VAI's website, including personnel for each of the videos in release.



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