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Reviews of Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind*

Mark Nelson - TUBA Journal, Winter, 1997

Printed in its entirety with permission of Mark Nelson.

Arnold Jacobs is one of the true legendary teachers and performers of all time. That he also plays the tuba makes that fact all more the sweet. Brian Frederiksen spent several years gathering material from Jacobs' masterclasses, previously published writings and contributions from his students and colleagues as well as interviewing Jacobs, himself, to write this definitive book on the master's career from the earliest days as a boy in the Los Angeles area through his appearance at the 1995 Tuba/Euphonium Conference at Northwestern University. John Taylor has done a masterful job putting the copious amount of material into readable form and Frederiksen also has generously devoted five entire pages to personnel who helped provide information and source material for this book.

In addition to a detailed and exhaustive biography, this book also contains a plethora of material not only exhaustively detailing virtually every aspect of Jacobs' teaching but also a seemingly inexhaustible supply of information associated with him. Information such as a list of every brass player who ever played in the Chicago Symphony and a listing of every recording Arnold Jacobs made either with a symphony or as a soloist or chamber musician help put his astonishing career into perspective. An entire chapter is devoted to York tubas, another to Jacobs' studio through the years, and another to biographies of all the conductors of the Chicago Symphony including major guest conductors. There is even a sub-chapter on every renovation Chicago's Orchestra Hall received during Jacobs' tenure. The lists and detailed information go on and on. Frederiksen has not only managed to capture the essence of one of the greatest musicians to influence generations of brass performers, but he also provided a truly meaningful historical perspective and backdrop to Jacobs' career.

Another facet of this book that is most gratifying to this reviewer is the careful research and documentation of the information Frederiksen was able to collect. The author providing over 20 pages of end notes, each referenced with the exact primary source consulted. The bibliography alone is eight pages long. A name and a subject index are included for easy reference to a particular person or topic in the book.

Other appealing aspects of this book include a very generous allocation of space for pictures of Jacobs, his wife, his colleagues and friends, tubas, teaching equipment, as well as many medical illustrations to help visualize his teaching. Graphs, charts, and diagrams are also used to illustrate points Jacobs makes about particular facets of his teaching.

What can this book do for the student and brass teacher? The chapters on Jacobs' teaching philosophy and the physical and mental elements of performance are a blend of the best available information on his teaching. Most of us who have ever taken a private lesson have been influenced to some degree by Arnold Jacobs. In this book, however, all the pieces are put into place in a fashion not available anywhere else. If there is perhaps one aspect of this book that is not stellar to this reader, it is that sometimes the information is so detailed, not only in the teaching chapters but throughout the book, that it is very easy to lose sight of the point of discussion. I found myself rereading chapters several times to gain new insight into the man and teacher. As a tribute to one of our most respected colleagues, it represents a synthesis of the best we all aspire to. I know I will be reading out of this book for the rest of my life for myself and for my students.

Douglas Hill

Excerpts from Journal of the International Horn Society, February 1997

This book is full of anecdotal praise for all of the accomplishments and the vast influences rendered by Mr. Jacobs, perhaps to an extreme. One does not need to overly justify the importance of such a book as this.

It is the extensive and useful materials within the chapters titled: Teacher, Physical Elements, Mental Elements, Performance, and part of the chapter on Instruments that I wish to recommend for all horn players and teachers. Through a thorough study of these nearly eighty pages of brilliant, insightful, helpful, and well-written lessons, we all can learn new ways to do what we need to do both physiologically and philosophically as performers, or at least new ways to say it as teachers. This book compiles the most important philosophical principles, basic tenets, and quotes of Arnold Jacobs. That fact alone should explain why these chapters should be required reading.

Ronald Holz

The Brass Band Bridge, December 1977

Arnold Jacobs was principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony for nearly half a century. This lovingly-told book chronicles his life - as a symphony player and as a teacher - and his interaction with so many remarkable musicians over one of the most impressive professional careers in American music. Frederiksen has provided a wealth of detail about every aspect of this man's career, the members of the sections in which he played, the recordings he made, profiles of the conductors and other superb brass players he worked with, and, above all, the man's approach to teaching brass performance in particular. The first 88 pages catalog his career. The next hundred pages or so, the heart of the book, deal with his studio teaching, his methods, his materials, his philosophy - all the stuff of a true legend - and not just for tuba players either! The remaining section of the book provides some fascinating, detailed lists of brass sections, recording projects, a Jacobs discography, and other related documentation. This is a handsome production, as well, fully worthy of the man who is justly honored within its pages.

Robert Henley Woody II

Excerpts from International Trumpet Guild Journal, May 1998

Complete review at http://www.trumpetguild.org/pdf/9805boor.pdf

Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind by Brian Frederiksen, is clearly a labor of love. In 1974, the author began studying with Arnold Jacobs, and the result was a lifetime of devotion to his mentor. The frailty of the octogenarian master led the student to take on the task of chronicling Jacobs' personal and professional evolution.

Overall, the substance of the book reflects a studious yet personalized analysis of an extensive compilation of information. Included are quotes from Jacobs, a discography, and a listing of brass personnel in various ensembles with which Jacobs was associated. Other researchers will benefit from the extensive references.

Structurally, the book proceeds in chronological fashion, describing Jacobs' early development, years at the Curtis Institute, performing stints with various ensembles, and retirement. Also included are brief essays on others, such as conductors. The latter half of the book delves into Jacobs' views on teaching, the physical and mental aspects of performance, instruments, and the favored York tuba. Descriptions of his studios and the various devices (e.g., breath builder, incentive spirometer, oscilloscope) that he used for teaching and developing performance ability add to the detail of the text.

One positive aspect of the book is that it is unquestionably authoritative. The author provides countless details that allow the reader to acquire considerable knowledge about Arnold Jacobs. The countless details may, however, also be seen as a negative. The minutiae about other people and situations sometimes have doubtful usefulness, even to historians. There is also some problem with transition and continuity, resulting in a somewhat choppy flow. The material is otherwise well edited.

Arnold Jacobs leaves a valuable musical legacy. Despite its shortcomings, Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind is an important source for all musicians, particularly those who play brass instruments.

*Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind. Copyright ©1996 by Brian Frederiksen. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from the author.