Portrait of an Artist: Arnold Jacobs

Bela Bartok (Composer), Hector Berlioz (Composer), Eugene Bozza (Composer), Anton Bruckner (Composer), Dietrich Buxtehude (Composer), Herbert L. Clarke (Composer), Giovanni Gabrieli (Composer), Gugel (Composer), Vittorio Monti (Composer), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Carl Nielsen (Composer), Richard Strauss (Composer), Igor Stravinsky (Composer), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Richard Wagner (Composer), Carlo Maria Giulini (Conductor), Daniel Barenboim (Conductor), Fritz Reiner (Conductor), James Levine (Conductor), Jean Martinon (Conductor)

Product Details

• Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini, Daniel Barenboim, Fritz Reiner, James Levine, Jean Martinon
• Composer: Bela Bartok, Hector Berlioz, Eugene Bozza, Anton Bruckner, Dietrich Buxtehude, et al.
• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Summit(Classical)
• ASIN: B00004UDEY
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #141,912 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring technician musician artist, September 1, 2000

By	scarecrow "scarecrow" (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Cannot agree more,this is a wonderful exposition of Jacobs the teacher,for he had developed working concepts any wind player could adopt.His studio in the Fine Arts Building in Chicago was like a mecca for all wind players coming to Jacobs to resolve some deep-rooted performing problem. As he says( my paraphrasing) " they get tied up in knots,worrying about all the motions of the lip. . .you can't think about all those motions for they are thousands of motions from the brain to engage in performing a brass instrument "

As a brass player myself,(trombone & tuba) I have always sensed we have little repertoire to play of any interest,but Jacobs in a lecture here reveals this problem and one way to solve it, is to consciously search for things to play,like an aria from Puccini,or a particular non-tuba passage,to duplicate it,a piano or violin solo. What this approach implies is then for the brass player to develop skills as a consummate musician/ virtuoso,for you are forever challenged then to expand your repertoire endlessly,as much as the instrument or your technique will allow. I now find myself playing Chopin Preludes(Eb-minor,B-minor melodies only) on the trombone,and contrabass orchestral excerpts or trumpet etudes on the tuba,and Jacobs encourages tuba players to learn to read treble clef to be able to read any melody.

There are wonderful examples here from all genres in music from solo etudes in his studio to Berlioz and Wagner excerpts, solo and within the context of the orchestra. It all reveals the seemless consistent sound Jacobs was able to summon from his York tuba. Every attach was uniform,every tone even and pure,at least that is what he heard in his ear. That's another Jacobs credo,you have to have the sound in your head,what do you want your listener to hear. You command that.

The Bozza Sonatine(brass quintet) is also a wonderful performance of great brass music,great use of colours and entrances,breaking down the quintet into smaller duets and trios.This all with Chicago Symphony players makes it all the more interesting,a vintage performance from 1966.I recall those days where solo brass was considered an oddity,and unaccompanied solos even more so.

Jacob's sound should remain in your mind's hearing to duplicate it. Eugene Pokorny (Jacob's Chicago Symphony successor) also provides insightful interesting notes here.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arnold Jacobs - Icon of education and performance, August 23, 2000

By	Robert Carpenter (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazing! For the students who studied directly with Arnold Jacobs, "Protrait of an Artist" will take you back to his studio, sitting right next to him. This excellent collection of lectures (lessons) and demonstrations are a fantastic embodiment of Arnold Jacobs' concepts and teachings. It is certainly a must for any music performer or educator. From the samples of CSO performances at the end of this CD to the practice tapes, the music on this CD is truely inspirational.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars arnold jacobs, May 16, 2001

By	arnon osherov (tel aviv-Israel) - See all my reviews

This cd tries to capture arnold jacobs: a prolific teacher, player and above all a great man. while listening, you'll discover the ideals, the methods and ideas that made arnold jacobs the best tuba player that there'll probably ever be. The more complex issues and artistry of brass playing are explained in simple words and sayings. a great deal of jacobs' lectures is also given, and you can also see the importance of understanding the functioning of other body units that help us trough our playing (the brain). a great disc, highly recommended, not only for tuba players, but for all brass players.