Mitch Miller -- Horn Soloist on Swan Of Tuonela by Sibelius

[adam28xx]

There is now a better-sounding copy of this recording uploaded here, taken from a CD reissue, which should help to solve the question of the solo instrument!

[rvaughanwilliams1988]

this is definitely English Horn, it would be blasphemy to this on sax ... it just wouldn't be done

[u47tube]

I'm a (sentimental) fan of Sing Along...but THIS is beautiful! Thanks for showing YouTube the artist side of Mitch. This is THE diamond in the rough here on YouTube. I've posted a radio interview of Mitch that was done here in Rochester, New York in 1973. It's from the interviewer's private collection and has not been heard since that air date.

[jpsned]

Yeah, that is clearly an English horn. This is one of the most famous solos in the English horn literature. Mitch Miller played both oboe and EH, and would have never played it on alto sax.

[Metvla]

Sorry, krsmav, but it IS being played on an English Horn. Listen especially to the lower register. Anyway, it's clearly stated on the label who the soloist is and on what instrument.

[krsmav]

It's played on alto sax, not English Horn. Listen particularly at 2:54. I play both sax and oboe, and the sax tone and way of moving from one note to the next are unmistakable. I never heard that Mitch Miller played sax, though he may have.

[boxers7x5]

@krsmav

def English horn on this.

[phonebook9876]

July 4, 1911 - July 31, 2010

R.I.P.

[telephilia]

Mitch Miller is like 97 years old or thereabouts and still going strong! There's also a video somewhere of him accompanying crooner Tony Bennett on the oboe.