Customer Reviews

Herbert L. Clarke: Original Recordings 1904-1922

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God bless Crystal Records for taking the time to re-issue these extremely rare and valuable recordings from an unfortunately neglected giant in American musical history. Most people today don't realise how famous and influential Mr. Clarke and his peers (Sousa, Pryor et. al.)were on the American musical scene at the beginning of the Twentieth century. It is very important that these recordings (and others from this period, the birth of sound recording) be preserved for future generations.

As for those who could not stand the "hiss" on these recordings, how spoiled can you be? You simply miss the point of all this. We all know that these records were made during the infancy of the recording industry, and that they didn't have the technology we now have. I find it thrilling to listen to them just as they are. Recorded sound is the closest we have to time travel, and I find it fascinating to listen to these recordings as though I was there when they were first made. And most of all, through the marvel of recorded sound (Mr. Sousa notwithstanding) I can listen today to the greatest cornetist who ever lived, even though he passed away over 50 years ago.

Hopefully Crystal Records will someday put out an anthology of original Sousa and Pryor Band recordings.

Hearing this CD -- despite the distracting surface noise from the primative acoustic recordings from which this CD was remastered -- I appreciate for the first time the greatness of Clarke as a cornet soloist. If he is not the greatest to date, he is surely one of the giants upon whose shoulders modern virtuosi of the trumpet (which has pretty much replaced the cornet) stand.

Clarke's sheer artistry in both composition and performance still dazzle and his interpretive ability brings to life some of the 'tear jerkers' of the golden age of popular brass music in a way no modern performance comes close to.

Although on first hearing one could be very much distracted by the primitive recordings, the brass player soon focuses on Clarke's playing so completely that the the surface noise disappears.

Every trumpet player and cornetist, more, every brass player and lover of band music, should own a copy.

These vintage recordings would have been otherwise lost to us--and a great loss at that. Clarke plays so beautifully, esp. those pieces that he wrote. It's notall oom-paa-paa, but music that is deeply affecting and stirring.This is the effect that Wynton Marsalis was going for in his "Carneval." While Marsalis's album is a wonderful tribute, this is the original. A must-have for any serious trumpet player.

Herbert Clarke is the finest cornetist the planet has ever seen. The technical brilliance on Carnival is just breathtaking. The sound quality of the recording is little hinderance on the true genius behind this man's playing. Don't let the hiss bother you!!!

Although the ancient recording devices of the day could not capture the true brilliance of the soloist, the superb technical flair is heard in excellent clarity. This recording is a must for all devoted fans of historic music.

This is an album that all brass players, especially trumpet players and cornet players should own. Clarke was a giant among brass players with incredible technique, tone, range, endurance, centered sound and fluidity. He was among a group of players like Del Staigers, Alessandro Liberati, Reginaldo Cafarelli, Kryl, Levy and others whose work paved the way for other great virtuosi like Mendez, Andre', Dockshitzer and Marsalis. Accept the recorded sound for what it is (and it is quite exceptional when one reads what went into making this CD and the choices to be made to preserve the original tone quality of Mr. Clarke's cornet) and enjoy the amazing artistry. It is no wonder that so many years after Herbert L. Clarke's death his name is still mentioned with reverence by the Brass community.

There is a lot of hiss on this CD, but I expected that considering the recordings were made close to 100 years ago - about 20 years after Edison invented the phonograph! Clarke's performance is easily heard on this CD. I did not have to strain to hear the nuance of his technique and interpretations. It's ironic that at a time when the recording business was in its infancy, the performer was ahead of his time, considering his range, flexability and sound.

Watch out if you want to buy this cd! It's a good cd with Herbert Clarke playing some of his own pieces the way they should be played...but the recording is TERRIBLE! Naturally, it's a 1904 recording! But the hiss for the first half of the cd is almost painful. It's NOT something you can just ignore, so don't be caught unawares.

Whereas Clarke is obviously master of the cornet, this CD is so full of hiss as to be unpleasant listening.