Another observation of the Jacobs CD


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Posted by Rick Denney on June 20, 2000 at 14:15:32:

I don't know how I missed it before, but I suppose I was too focused on Jacobs's sound.

After listening all the way through once more (and not skipping), I've changed my mind on the part that impresses me the most.

At the risk of being sacrilegious, it's not the tuba that I'm talking about.

For those of you who have it, listen to the second movement of the Bozza quintet, where Herseth plays an extended, slow melody. The shaping of that melody, the choices he made in breathing (without breaking the phrase), and, above all, the ability to carry microscopically subtle changes of dynamic across the intervals just about brought me to tears. I don't think I've ever heard anything so beautiful on a brass instrument. It has redefined legato for me.

Go, now, and listen.

Rick "Can't play legato any more" Denney


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