Herbert L. Clarke: Original Recordings 1907-21

These 26 selections, recorded from 1904 to 1922, document the work of an important American player and band composer. Despite the trivial nature of most of the music, one can't help listening to Herbert Clarke's playing with respect and growing affection. He was a most elegant player, with a beautiful tone that comes across even in the earliest of these recordings. The showiest pieces, which can be quite dazzling, are still performed with taste and musicianship. This disc is an important sound document, and the transfers from even the earliest of the recordings are surprisingly listenable. Highly recommended to all brass and nostalgia lovers. --Leslie Gerber Amazon.com

Brilliant playing transcending primitive recording technique

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. January 11, 2001

The Master of the Cornet

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. January 4, 2001

Clarke is the cornet master!

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!!! August 3, 2000

heartbreaking music from a bygone era

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. March 22, 2000

Be careful

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. September 14, 1999

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