On January 2, I breathe a sigh of relief, as things are poised to settle down. Glancing over my shoulder at the past two or three weeks, I really don’t know how I made it through the holidays. I’m aware that there’s real suffering in the world, and by comparison I am very lucky, and I should just suck it up, but for me sustained frenzy is not the true meaning of Christmas! I need some quiet. So I’ll keep the tree up a while longer and build in some time for reflection and maybe listen to some of the music I never got around to enjoying during the month of December.
Sadly, two prominent musicians will not have that luxury, as neither made it through the holidays for real.
I suppose, like many, I first encountered Ron Nelson’s music in Howard Hanson’s classic Mercury recording of his “Savannah River Holiday.”
His sarabande “For Katherine in April” is also quite lovely.
Those who played in wind bands may have broader familiarity with his work, because of pieces like “Rocky Point Holiday.”
Leonard Slatkin once described him as “the quintessential American composer,” noting his “ability to move between conservative and newer styles with ease. The fact that he’s a little hard to categorize is what makes him so interesting.”
I was just thinking about Nelson the other day, believe it or not, probably because of his birthday (which fell on December 14). I can’t imagine I was thinking of him on Christmas Eve, the day of his passing.
Nelson was 94 years-old.
We also lost legendary hornist Hermann Baumann. I know it’s terrible to say, but I confess I assumed Baumann died long ago. I remember an on-air announcement on Philadelphia’s WFLN that he had suffered a paralyzing stroke – and WFLN has been off the air since 1997!
But apparently he recovered sufficiently to resume performing and teaching. Good for him. I have no idea whether or not he was able to attain his former excellence. An often disorienting effect of recordings is that we are exposed to the same performances again and again, as if the artists are preserved in amber. So it’s especially shocking when the illusion is shattered and suddenly we realize how much they have aged or even passed away. For those of us still spinning records from decades ago, these artists exist forever in their prime.
Baumann’s recordings have given me much pleasure over the years. I find it interesting that he began his career as a singer and a jazz drummer, before switching to the French horn at the age of 17. He certainly made up for lost time, as he landed principal positions with several German orchestras over a period of about 12 years.
He began his solo career in 1964 – a bold move, as how many horn concertos are there, next to those written for the piano and the violin? But Baumann was also a prolific chamber music artist. In addition, he was a pioneer in performance of music from the Baroque and Classical eras on the natural horn, a valveless instrument.
Baumann died on December 29. He was 89 years-old.
The holidays are a time we should be counting our blessings. R.I.P., gentlemen, and thanks for all the music.
Baumann, seemingly of able body, talking about singing and the French horn
Playing Bach on the natural horn
A selection from Beethoven’s Sextet for 2 Horns and String Quartet
A selection from Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1
Ron Nelson interview with Bruce Duffie
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