Posted by Richard on November 20, 2000 at 20:54:43:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: The voice of god posted by Joey on November 19, 2000 at 02:09:11:
Mr. Jacobs had more than one "voice" in his career. He was offered a vocal scholarship as well as an instrumental one at Curtis, and it was probably assumed by some people there that he would drop the tuba for a certain career as a great basso. This would not be the case, but he maintained his singing as an adjunct to playing for many years. Those of us who first knew him in the 50s (and earlier) knew him to have a deep and effortlessly powerful speaking voice. A simple "hello" when picking up the telephone was enough to set the china rattling. The closest thing I could compare it to would be the speaking voice of Orson Welles. Not exactly, but kind of.
In later years, two things happened. He lost some of the depth in the voice, and tended to deemphasize the very precise singer/actor's elocution for a somewhat earthier, more colloquial and midwest regional style of address. This is what we're hearing in most of the spoken portions of Portrait of an Artist, although his announcements on the practice tape portions exemplify the earlier style.
However his voice and speaking style may have changed over the years, he had an utterly unique way of expressing himself - one which would drive grammarians crazy, but would bring immeasurable revelation to musicians.