Posted by Richard on October 21, 1999 at 18:38:23:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Arnold Jacobs' York Tuba posted by Chuck Jackson on October 21, 1999 at 13:05:39:
They liked the instruments they played. Some of them just didn't know what to make of Jake and his big horn. Believe it or not, Jake was an acquired taste among tuba players, although other brass players came to appreciate him very quickly, and conductors were practically seduced.
They didn't regard their recording technology as primitive. To them at the time it was revolutionary. If being picked up was a problem, they had the bell fronts to fall back on.
Jake was fortunate in the engineering department. He could be heard clearly in perspective to ensemble in Pittsburgh and Chicago right up to the early 70s. The early Decca/London Mahler 5th and 6th were downright perverse in productioin concept, and no matter how cleaned up they get for CD, they bear no resemblence to an orchestra as heard in the wild. Solti's way of overdriving the brass was no help, but the engineers seemed determined to keep Jake off mike. Check that first big solo in the 1st mvt of the 5th, or the theme statement in the Finale of the 6th. As heard from the worst seat in the house.
More later. I need to practice. Jake would PREFER that I practice.
Richard