Tale Ognenovski


Tale Ognenovski was a Macedonian multi-instrumentalist who played clarinet, recorder, tin whistle, bagpipe, zurna, and drums. He composed or arranged 300 instrumental compositions: Macedonian folk dances, jazz compositions, and classical concerts.
On January 27, 1956, he performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a clarinet and reed pipe soloist of the Macedonian State Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs.
For this Carnegie Hall concert The New York Times music critic John Martin, wrote two articles: "Ballet: Yugoslav Folk Art; 'Tanec' Dancers Appear at Carnegie Hall in Display of Tremendous Skill" ", published on January 28, 1956, and "The Dance: Folk Art; Group From Yugoslavia In Impressive Debut Learning vs. Magic No Macedonian Monopoly The Week's Events", published on February 5, 1956. Dance Observer commented, "The capacity audience at Carnegie Hall on January 27 for the single New York performance of Tanec, the Yugoslav National Folk Ballet, enjoyed a fascinating cross-section of over 2000 years of human history and culture. Tanec is a Macedonian group." Life commented, "This spring, the Yugoslav National Folk Ballet is making a first, and highly successful tour of the U.S...Together they make as vigorous a display of dancing as the U.S. has ever seen." Craig Harris at Allmusic noted for Macedonian National Ensemble for Folk Dances and Songs "Tanec" and clarinetist Tale Ognenovski, "The ensemble reached their peak during the late '50s, when influential clarinet and pipes player Tale Ognenovski was a member."
All About Jazz celebrated April 27, 2009, the birthday of Tale Ognenovski with All About Jazz recognition: Jazz Musician of the Day: Tale Ognenovski, with announcement published at his website. Tale Ognenovski won top honors on October 11, 2003 at Macedonian Parliament as the Winner of "11 October" Award, the highest and the most prestigious national award in Republic of Macedonia. Ognenovski was included in the book The Greatest Clarinet Players of All Time: Top 100 by Alex Trost and Vadim Kravetsky.
Tale Ognenovski and his son Stevan Ognenovski arranged for two clarinets Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and recorded the albums Mozart and Ognenovski Clarinet Concertos and Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski. Perhaps these two albums are unique recordings of this concert with two clarinets where first clarinet with first arrangement and second clarinet with second arrangement that's played simultaneously – by one performer. Top40-Charts News published an article entitled, "Mozart and Ognenovski Is the Best Clarinet Concertos in the World" on November 21, 2014.

Childhood and early years

Ognenovski was born in Brusnik, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia. Tale Ognenovski inherited his talent from his great-grandfather Ognen and grandfather Risto, both of whom were players on the reed pipe, and from his father Jovan who was a player on the bagpipe. When Tale was 7 he began to play on the reed pipe. In 1933, his father Jovan died. By the time Tale was 15, Tale's grandmother Mara and mother Fanija provided some money to buy Tale his first clarinet, and the priest Spase helped them to order it from Celje, Slovenia.
Tale began to play the clarinet at many celebrations and concerts in villages and the town of Bitola with many other musicians.

Career

Awards

He received the First Award at the first regional Bitola Festival of Folk Dances and Songs, held in 1947.
He received the First Award Clarinet as the best clarinetist at the first Macedonia Festival of Folk Dances and Songs, held in Skopje in 1948. He received the First Award at the Yugoslav Folk Music Festival in Opatija, Croatia, in 1951, together with another 11 members of the Folk Dance Ensemble from the Bitola village of Nizhopole, Republic of Macedonia.
The performance of Tale Ognenovski as clarinet player caught the attention of the editors of International Folk Music Journal, also noted that "Teshkoto from Nizopole means "heavy", and indicates the heavy rhythm which is typical of very ancient dances."

"11 October" Award

Tale Ognenovski received the "11 October" Award, the highest national award in Republic of Macedonia in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia in 2003 for his contributions to Macedonian culture.
In a 2003 interview, Tale Ognenovski commented: "On October, 2001, was released my CD Album entitled, "Jazz, Macedonian Folk Dances and Classical Music." …This album is confirmation that I am the greatest clarinetist of all time and one of the greatest composers in the world of music. My sincere gratitude for I won top honours as the winner of 11 Octobar award... This Award gave me inspiration for new composing...”.

Police Wind Orchestra

From 1951 till 1954, Tale Ognenovski worked as a member of the "Police Wind Orchestra" and from 1954 till 1956, he worked with the "Public Town Skopje Orchestra". The repertoire for both of these Orchestras consisted classical works. These included Bizet's "Carmen", "The Troubadour", "Aida", "Rigoletto", Verdi's "Nabucco" and "La traviata", "Oberon" by Carl Maria von Weber, Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture", Puccini's "Tosca" and Rossini's "The Barber of Seville". In December 1952, Tale Ognenovski as clarinet soloist, together with the pianist Nino Cipushev as accompaniment, performed the classical concert "Concert Polka for Clarinet" by Miler Bela in the "Police House" in Skopje. On May 24, 1953, he played clarinet soloist in the same concert with accompanient of "Police Wind Orchestra". The concert was performed in the Radio Skopje building, and broadcast directly to the nation via Radio Skopje. In Vardar Film's 1955 production of "Ritam i zvuk", Tale Ognenovski as a clarinet soloist performed the Macedonian folk dances "Zhensko Chamche" and "Beranche" with Ensemble "Tanec". From 1956 till 1960 he worked with the Macedonian State Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs "Tanec".

Macedonian Radio-Television

From 1960 to 1967, Tale Ognenovski worked with "Radio Television Skopje". During 1967, he recorded as accompaniment on the clarinet many records on magnetic tapes with the "Tancov" Orchestra of Radio Television Skopje. In 1966, Tale Ognenovski became Head of the "Folk Music Orchestra" of "Radio Television Skopje". In 1967 Tale Ognenovski retired, but he continued to play on an honorary basis in the "Chalgii" Orchestra on "Radio Television Skopje" until 1979. He recorded as clarinet and reed pipe soloist many records on magnetic tapes with the "Folk Music Orchestra", the "Chalgii" Orchestra and the Authentic Folk Instruments Orchestra including 150 Macedonian folk dances all composed by him. During the 1960s Tale Ognenovski played as clarinet soloist in many Macedonian folk dances and songs in numerous theatrical performances at the Macedonian National Theatre.

Guest soloist at anniversaries

He performed at: the concert marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of "Radio Television Skopje", performed in the Universal Hall in Skopje on December 19, 1969, the concert marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Cultural Artistical Society "Ilinden" in Bitola, held in the "House of Culture", Bitola in December 1985 and at the concert marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of "Radio Television Belgrade" held in the "House of the Syndicate" in Belgrade, Serbia in 1989. Tale Ognenovski performed his own compositions of Macedonian folk dances on the television programme "Yugoslavia, Good Day" broadcast on "Radio Television Zagreb" in Croatia, February 27, 1975.

Orchestras and ensembles

He has played on the clarinet in many concerts performing with the following orchestras and ensembles: the cultural-educational societies in Bitola of "Svetlost", "Stiv Naumov", "Ilinden"; folk dance groups from the villages of Brusnik, Dihovo, Nizhopole, Rotino and Lavci; the Radio Bitola orchestras; cultural art societies: "Vlado Tasevski" and "Kocho Racin"; the academic culture and art society "Mirche Acev; other Ensembles of folk dances and songs including "Orce Nikolov", "Goce Delchev", "Dom na gradezhnici Skopje", "Hor na invalidi Skopje" and "Dom na borci i invalidi Skopje"; the Macedonia Radio and Television folk music orchestras: the Folk Music Orchestra, the "Chalgii" Orchestra and the Authentic Folk Instruments Orchestra; the Orchestra of Angel Nacevski, Stevo Teodosievski, Pece Atanasovski and the Ljupcho Pandilov Orchestra.

International Folklore Committee

At the International Folklore Conference organized by the International Folklore Committee in Istanbul, Turkey, 1977, on the subject of "Folklore on the Radio" representative from Yugoslavian Radio Television was Dushko Dimitrovski, Editor of the Folk Music Department for "Radio Television Skopje" from the Republic of Macedonia. He used records produced from magnetic tapes to present folklore material in his presentation entitled " Chalgija music in Macedonia". This folklore material was prepared in Skopje by ethnomusicologists Dushko Dimitrovski, Kiril Todevski and Metodija Simonovski. From the magnetic tape material were presented the recordings including the Macedonian folk dances: "Kasapsko oro", arranged by Tale Ognenovski, and "Kumovo oro chochek", composed by Tale Ognenovski and performed by him as clarinet soloist accompanied by the "Chalgii" orchestra of Radio Television Skopje. This created great interest not only amongst the delegates of the Conference but also around the world.

Tour of North America

Tale Ognenovski played as clarinet and reed pipe soloist for most parts of the programme, including the Macedonian folk dances "Bride's Dance", "Chupurlika", "Sopska Poskocica", "Kopachka", "Shepherd's Dance", "Soborski Igri", Macedonian songs, Serbian folk dances and songs and "Shote", an Albanian folk dance.
He toured North America from January to April 1956.

Arriving in New York City

The popularity of the Ensemble Tanec's music in Europe brought with it increasing press attention in North America before and during the tour of North America. The New York Times published a series of articles in which offered detailed analyses of the Ensemble "Tanec"'s music, lending it respectability.
The Ensemble arrived in New York City on January 20, 1956. The North America tour began on January 22, 1956, and finished on April 12, 1956. Ensemble "Tanec" performed 65 concerts in 50 cities.

TV debut on CBS

Tanec's North American tour began with their debut on the Ford Foundation TV Programme Omnibus on January 22, 1956. Producer Robert Saudek, directed by Elliot Silverstein with the Tanec dance troupe from Macedonia.Live performances of members of Ensemble "Tanec" on CBS were seen by millions viewers and created interest in all 66 concerts in many towns throughout the United States and in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A copy of this programme may be viewed free of charge on a videocassette at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. CBS Omnibus was educational TV series, broadcast live on Sunday afternoons from November 9, 1952 until 1961. The program includes featured performances by many artists, including Orson Welles and Leonard Bernstein.

Carnegie Hall concert

The ensemble "Tanec" performed at Carnegie Hall on January 27, 1956. Stjepan Pucak, former Tanjug correspondent and Croatian journalist note: "Until half-past eight, Carnegie Hall was full to capacity, without any of its near enough 3000 seats available...To choose which were the most successful of the program's seventeen folk dances, when all were greeted with stormy applause, is really very difficult and risky... 'Sopska Poskocica' was even repeated, and to repeat a performance on the American stage is a really rare and exclusive event." Naum Nachevski, former correspondent of Nova Makedonija from US and Macedonian journalist, noted: "On many occasions the audience interrupted some of the folk dance performances with applause; these dances in particular left great impressions of the folklore, the richness of folk costumes and the unusual rhythm of Macedonian folk music. ‘Tanec’ not only received a warm welcome from the New York public, but also from the New York press who the following day were full of the most beautiful compliments."

U.S. tour

The strong reception of Ensemble "Tanec" performance at Carnegie Hall by public and by music critic, generating intense interest for, the three months-long tour to each two-hour performance in cities from San Francisco to New York. A further sixty four successful concerts followed in other US cities and one concert in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Performances of Ensemble "Tanec" everywhere, on tour across the North America, were greeted with enthusiasm by spectators.
Makedonija reviewer Naum Nachevski comments: "All the concerts have had record audiences. In many towns, including Pittsburgh, they are sold out at least one week before...For America, this art form is quite new - totally original - never before viewed on the mainland... The American public has expressed this through their frenetic applause."
Three concerts in Chicago were performed in Civic Opera House on February 4 on February 5, 1956. Its opera house has 3,563-seats, making it the second-largest opera auditorium in North America after the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
The Chicago Daily Tribune reviewer, Claudia Cassidy, noted: "Called Tanec, which is the Macedonian word for dance, this group of 37 dancers, singers and musicians is a kaleidoscope of the Balkans...When five of them dance the "Sopska Poskocica", which apparently just means they are showing off to the girls. I would keep them any day as an unfair trade for the four little swans in Swan Lake.
"The arrival of Tanec in Chicago had been awaited by more than 10,000 people who had bought their tickets a few weeks earlier. …Several million people got to know about our folk dances from reports and photographs, from a very successful debut on American television and from reviews in the newspapers about the concert in New York...Chupurlika was greeted with stormy applause and received several encores." wrote Gjorgi Iliev from Chicago in an article entitled "Letter from America", appearing in the newspaper Nova Makedonij, Republic of Macedonia on February 19, 1956."
The concert in Philadelphia was performed in the 2,897-seats Academy of Music on February 7, 1956. Opened in 1857, the Academy of Music is the oldest grand opera house in the United States to still be used for its original purpose.
The Philadelphia Inquirer music critic Samuel Singer commented, "'Tanec' means 'dance', but 'dance' in a larger form than customary. Besides dance alone, it conveys drama, ritual, tradition, songs, even military maneuvers...there was a remarkable precision in both dancing and playing...Clarinet, bass fiddle, violin, drums, guitar and flute provided most of the accompaniments in various combinations..."
DAR Constitution Hall is a concert hall in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1929.
Paul Hume, the Washington Post and Times music critic observed, "A Sopska Poskocica is devised to show the girls how handsome and wonderful and brilliant and exciting and sensational their man friends are. The rate at which it is danced, and the tremendous energy and precision of six men who dance it, is unique and demanded a repetition...If you see "Tanec" which simply means 'Dance' advertised again, you won't want to miss it."
Massey Hall is a performing arts theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
John Kraglund, a music critic for The Globe and Mail wrote: "The first impression, however, must be one of rhythmic precision...Nor was the performance without spectacle...in the case of one dance, Sopska Poskocica, it was no more than a show-off dance. As such it was highly effective".
Ensemble Tanec played in larger auditoriums, including, Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri on February 26, 1956, and Denver Arena Auditorium, Colorado, on March 4, 1956. Kiel Auditorium with seating capacity of 9,300 played host to a variety of rock concerts including concerts by Elvis Presley on March 29, 1957 and September 10, 1970. From the 1950s until the 1970s, the Kiel Auditorium was behind only Madison Square Garden as North America's most famous wrestling arena.
Denver Arena Auditorium is a pure sporting venue with seating capacity of 6,841. On December 26, 1968, the rock group Led Zeppelin played their first concert in the United States.
"The concert created stormy applause from 2000 spectators..." wrote the Saint Louis Globe Democrat. "The Auditorium Arena concert of Ensemble "Tanec" is the most extraordinary event of the year...the most excellent are "Soborskite igri"" wrote the Denver Rocky Mountain News." The above all appeared in an article in the newspaper Nova Makedonija, published on April 24, 1956 and entitled "Success of Macedonian Folk Ensemble "Tanec.""
The War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California has 3,146 seats. It has been the home of the San Francisco Opera since opening night in 1932.
San Francisco Chronicle music critic R. H. Hagan says of the Macedonian Music, "The music itself – including several indigenous instruments – is worth the price of the show, and never more so than in a number titled simply "Macedonian Tune", which in its intricate rhythms and plaintive melody should at least make Dave Brubeck send out an emergency call for Darius Milhaud".
The three concerts in Los Angeles were performed in Philharmonic Auditorium on March 12, 13 and 14, 1956.
Los Angeles Times music critic Albert Goldberg commented: "For authentic folk dancing, wild and free and yet subject to its own intricate disciplines, this group would be hard to beat. It numbers over 30 dancers, singers and musicians and they do the dances of Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Herzegovina and Albania in native costumes with superb vitality and style...They are accompanied by a group of musicians consisting of a violinist, guitar and accordion players, a flutist, a clarinetist and double bass, though drums of different types are frequently involved, as well as a shepherd's reed pipe" After the concerts, the audience surrounded the members of Ensemble "Tanec" and asked for theirs autographs.
Members of Ensemble Tanec visited the Metro Goldwyn Mayer studio in Hollywood. In the main MGM studio, Tale Ognenovski and other members of the Ensemble were photographed together with June Allyson. MGM prepared a special banquet for the members the ensemble.
Dance Observer commented: "The capacity audience at Carnegie Hall on January 27 for the single New York performance of Tanec, the Yugoslav National Folk Ballet, enjoyed a fascinating cross-section of over 2000 years of human history and culture. Tanec is a Macedonian group"

Live performances (1956)

The North America tour began on January 22, 1956, and finished on April 12, 1956. Ensemble "Tanec" performed 65 concerts in 50 cities.

Tour of Germany

Tale Ognenovski as clarinet and reed pipe soloist with Ensemble 'Tanec', toured Germany from August 15 until October 27, 1956. The Ensemble performed 72 concerts in many towns, including Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Bonn, Göttingen, Munich and Wiesbaden, and every performance was a sell-out. As part of their tour of France in 1959, they performed two concerts in Dortmund, Germany on September 18 and 19, 1959, playing to an audience of 7000 on each occasion.
On October 1, 1956 Ensemble "Tanec" performed a successful concert in Bonn Town Theatre and every seat was full. "Present in the audience were the Mayor of Bonn, many prominent politicians, diplomats and domestic and foreign journalists. Bonn's newspapers are full of numerous compliments as to the artistic quality of the concert."During this tour the Ensemble has visited almost all the larger towns in West Germany and also many tourist towns. Ensemble Tanec has had the warmest welcome everywhere. Compliments, and also some photographs from the performances, have appeared in the newspapers of every town."
The Hildesheim Press published an article entitled "Tanec, the magic word from the Balkans". This contained amongst other comments, "This National Ballet, the top Ensemble in the country, have shown us only excellence, politeness and complete perfection. I'll never forget the difficult Macedonian dance from Macedonian shepherds... and the man with the reed pipe... Every dance and song has great impact and is rewarded with extraordinary amounts of applause. 'Tanec' in Yugoslavia means 'dance', and at the same time it is a magical word from Yugoslavia."

Tour of Switzerland

Tale Ognenovski performed as clarinet and reed pipe soloist with Ensemble "Tanec" during their tour of Switzerland during the period July 7–10, 1959. The concerts were performed in Bern on July 7 and 8, 1959. In the illuminated gardens of Port Gitana, in Geneva on July 9 and 10, 1959 at 8.00 pm,
Ensemble "Tanec" performed with success. Tale Ognenovski made his debut on a special programme broadcast on Swiss Television. Playing as clarinet soloist, he performed his personally composed Macedonian folk dances "Bitolsko Oro" and "Brusnichko Oro".

Tour of France

Tale Ognenovski was clarinet and reed pipe soloist with Ensemble "Tanec" during their tour of France from September 20 until November 25, 1959. They performed 83 concerts in 58 towns and cities in France. The Ensemble twice had performances broadcast on television, on September 21 and 22, 1959. 20 million people would have seen them on the most popular programme on Television in France. Radio Paris recorded a 45-minute programme of Macedonian folk dances and songs.The first concert in France was performed on the stage of the Grand Palais in Bourges on September 23, 1959."
On every concert including at 'Hall of the sports' in Shamoni audience consisted mostly of young people greeted the performers warmly. Every evening after the concerts, hundreds of boys and girls came under the stage to get autographs from the members of Ensemble "Tanec". At every concert audiences asked for encores of some of the acts. The Manager of Ensemble 'Tanec's tour of France was Raymond Guillier, also Director of his own company "Les grands spectacles internationaux Les productions Raymond Guillier", Paris. He specialized in managing international shows in Paris.
Other tours included Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia.

Compositions and recordings

Macedonian folk dances

Tale Ognenovski has composed or arranged 300 instrumental compositions: Macedonian folk dances, jazz compositions, classical concerts... which were performed and recorded by Tale Ognenovski on various record labels. Some of his compositions have been recorded on 11 LPs, 11 cassettes and 10 gramophone records. Labels: PGP RTB, Serbia; Jugoton, Zagreb, Croatia; Macedonian Radio-Television Republic of Macedonia and Independent Records, US.
He made his recording debut as a composer with the Galevski-Nanchevski Orchestra in 1963, with the first record EP 14700 produced by PGP RTB - "Radio Televizija Beograd". In 1965, Tale Ognenovski established his own "Tale Ognenovski Orchestra", and PGP RTB produces the record EP 14711, He made his recording debut for Jugoton Zagreb, Croatia with the record EPY-3851.

Debut for Jugoton and PGP-RTB

In 1975, Ognenovski made his debut LP recording "Tale Ognenovski Klarinet Svira Ora" for Jugoton in Zagreb, Croatia. The sessions yielded twelve folk dances, including "Resensko Oro" and "Mominsko Oro".
In 1979 PGP-RTB in Belgrade, Serbia released Ognenovski's LP album "Makedonski Igraorni Ora Sviri Tale Ognenovski. All 12 tracks were Macedonian folk dances including "Talevo Svadbarsko Oro" and "Caparsko Oro".
On the back cover of this LP record Gjoko Georgiev, editor of music for Macedonian Radio-Television Skopje, wrote: "This record allows you to hear the unique, famous, music personality, the solo clarinetist Tale Ognenovski. When hearing the music, you will feel exhilarating folklore all around you, of the sunny, sad and bright legend of the south being transferred into music… During the last couple of decades he has continuously demonstrated his skill at original and superb interpretation, displaying the passion of one that is in love, and the style of a virtuoso."
The magazine "Ilustrovana politika" observes,"Radio Television Belgrade released a LP of Macedonian folk music, on which is performances by the extraordinary clarinetist Tale Ognenovski. His music repertoire is folk dances, jazz, concerts from Carl Maria von Weber Mozart and Ernesto Cavallini...This is Tale Ognenovski who began to play the clarinet in the village of Brusnik near Bitola, who with this wooden instrument toured the world and received well-deserved applause wherever he performed." Macedonian Radio-Television produced the cassette MP 2137.

''Jazz, Macedonian Folk Dances and Classical Music''

In 2001 Tale Ognenovski formed Quartet with his son, Stevan on drum and reed pipe and grandsons Nikola on reed pipe and Kliment on reed pipe. Tale Ognenovski is soloist on clarinet, reed pipe, tin whistle, small bagpipe and zourla. In September, 2001 was released CD album: Jazz, Macedonian Folk Dances and Classical Music. Ten tracks were recorded for this album: 3 Jazz compositions, 6 Macedonian Folk dances and Tale Ognenovski Concert for Clarinet No. 1, all composed by Tale Ognenovski. Dimitar Dimovski, recorded, mixed and mastered four CD Albums of Tale Ognenovski at “Promuzika TRA-LA-LA Studio”, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Reviewer Neil Horner of the MusicWeb International comments, "He is undoubtedly an exceptional artist and the predominant image created in my mind is of Benny Goodman playing the superb Contrasts he commissioned Bartók to write for him, but with a folk rather than a classical emphasis… Also, despite the CD promising jazz, folk and classical, it really all comes under the umbrella of his conception of how the elements interlink, with some but not major differences of emphasis…This disc is likely to appeal to world music aficionados who enjoy the Balkan/Levantine soundworld and perhaps also those who care to hear the source musics of their classical favourites, the aforementioned Bartók but also, here, perhaps people like Skalkottas."

Classical music

Ognenovski's first classical recording dates from 1970, when he recorded Ernesto Cavallini: Fiori rossiniani with pianist Professor Ladislav Palfi for Macedonian Radio-Television. In 1987 he recorded Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A Major K.622 and Wagner's "Adagio for Clarinet" with pianist Tanja Shopova. Macedonian national television "Macedonian Radio-Television" produced two television programmes: "One clarinet - one life" was shown on May 19, 1970 and "One clarinet - one life - Tale Ognenovski", broadcast on July 18, 1987. Both programmes include his biography and performances of classical music and Macedonian folk dances.
In 2005 with accompaniment of his son Stevan Ognenovski on drum Tale Ognenovski recorded Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 This album Mozart and Ognenovski Clarinet Concertos released in January 2006 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart includes "Tale Ognenovski Concert for Clarinet No. 1" already released on Jazz, Macedonian Folk Dances and Classical Music.
He incorporated clarinet as second classical instrument into his arrangements, notably on the Mozart Clarinet Concerto Composed by Mozart. Tale Ognenovski arranged parts of the Mozart's clarinet concerto for two clarinets. In this recording the clarinet is accompanied by drum performed by his son Stevan Ognenovski or by drum and second clarinet.
Tale Ognenovski performed the Concerto on a standard-range A clarinet according to Breitkopf & Hartel edition. Perhaps this is unique recording where every notes of measure numbers III/311-313 from the Third movement: Rondo: Allegro are played by Tale Ognenovski exactly as they are written in Breitkopf & Härtel edition. NME.com feature on Breitkopf & Hartel including YouTube music video: "Tale Ognenovski Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A K.622 III. Rondo Allegro as selection from Breitkopf & Härtel, the world's oldest music publishing company. NME.COM is Web site of music magazine NME.
Julia M. Heinen, Professor of Clarinet, California State University, Northridge, United States": ""Based on the recommendation of the wonderful clarinetist, Michele Z. I have to tell you that this is now my most favorite recording of the Mozart Concerto. I can only hope all clarinetists near and far will learn from this unique interpretation. Bravo Mr.Ognenovski, you've set a new standard."; David Gilman, orchestral & solo clarinetist, Lake Forest, California: "I must concur with my colleague, Michele Z., for her astute observations regarding Mr. Ognenovski's artistry. His subtle phrasing and amazing tone leave one breathless. Words cannot adequately describe the impression his recordings make. One must experience them to believe it. I can still hardly believe it myself."
Erika Borsos: "This reviewer is familiar with the three B's of classical music: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms and can distinguish their styles, one can *now* add a fourth "B" which stands for "Balkan" as played by Tale Ognenovski. Mr. Ognenovski plays Mozart with his own inimitable personal style making the classical music take on mysterious and exotic characteristics and overtones… Ognenovski explodes with passion as he performs his own "Tale Ognenovski Concerto for Clarinet No. 1"... The labyrinthine musical pathways he creates are enormously pleasing to the listener. The pentatonic scale and odd metered rhythms of Macedonia awaken the listener to new vistas of musical excitement and enjoyment. Anyone who loves jazz improvisation and the sounds of the clarinet will immediately recognize the superior creativity, breath control and complete mastery of this instrument as played by Mr. Ognenovski…"
Top40-Charts News published an article entitled, "Tale Ognenovski, Internationally Renowned Jazz And Classical Clarinetist Released CD Album Entitled: Mozart And Ognenovski Clarinet Concertos To Celebrate The 250th Anniversary Of Mozart's Birthday"" on November 13, 2006.
Digital album "Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski" was released On April 27, 2016 at Amazon.com Mi2n Music Industry News Network published an article entitled, "New Digital Album Of Clarinetist And Composer Tale Ognenovski: "Mozart Clarinet Concerto In A, K. 622 Arranged For Two Clarinets By Tale Ognenovski""on April 27, 2017, the 95th birth anniversary of Tale Ognenovski
Stevan Ognenovski, the only son of clarinetist and composer Tale Ognenovski and Nevena Ognenovska, on the base of recording of "Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622" from 2005, arranged in 2015 nine new tracks with two clarinets, first clarinet and second clarinet performed by Tale Ognenovski. In this recording Tale Ognenovski performed with first, second and two clarinets. Tale Ognenovski performed on a standard-range A clarinet, Buffet Crampon, System Boehm, Model No. 1.
Perhaps this is unique recording when clarinetist used two clarinets simultaneously with two different arrangements. In other words: used two clarinets by a single performer - Playing the first clarinet with first arrangement and second clarinet with second arrangement that's played simultaneously – by one performer. In reality these three tracks: "Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Allegro Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski"; "Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Adagio Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski" and "Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Rondo Allegro Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski" were made by mixing one audio recording with clarinet performance according to the arrangement for first clarinet and separate audio recording with clarinet performance according to the arrangement for second clarinet. It was possible to make a mix of two audio recording with arrangements for the first and second clarinet thanks to the excellent synchronization of performance of the arrangement for the second clarinet by clarinetist Tale Ognenovski while he simultaneously listening to the tape of his performance on the clarinet with the arrangement for the first clarinet. Top40-Charts News published an article entitled, "Mozart and Ognenovski Is the Best Clarinet Concertos in the World" on November 21, 2014.

''Macedonian Jazz''

In September 2008, Tale Ognenovski Quartet released his second CD album: Macedonian Clarinet Jazz Composed by Tale Ognenovski with twelve tracks: Tale Ognenovski Jazz Composition No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, all composed by Tale Ognenovski.
All About Jazz published article entitled: "New CD 'Macedonian Clarinet Jazz Composed By Tale Ognenovski' of Internationally Renowned Jazz, Folk Dance And Classical Clarinetist" on September 27, 2008 at his website.

Influence

Contributions to the music world

Contributions of Tale Ognenovski to the music world were explained in the book entitled “Rough Guide to World Music Volume One: Africa, Europe & The Middle East” written by Simon Broughton and Mark Ellingham. In this book on page 203 was written: “"One of the few clarinettists to have performed successfully both with a calgia and in the more modern style is Tale Ognenovski, born in 1922 and one of the most influential musicians of the post-war era. He was a member of the Tanec group during the 1950s and lead clarinet of the Radio Skopje calgia. The composer of many tunes that have become standards, he is today the leader of his own group, and a master of the more Westernised style that become prominent in the 1940s and 50s. This is the style that still holds sway, and which is the basis for Macedonia's own new composed folk music."”
Music composed by Tale Ognenovski is performing by instrumentalists and bands, including: Vlatko Stefanovski, Damir Imeri, Ensemble "Tanec" ; Ljubisa Pavkovic ; Aritmija ; AKUD "Sonja Marinković" ; Dragianni, Damjan Pejcinoski, Muris Varajic ; Muris Varajic & Dragianni and Andrej Zupan.
Ognenovski is an influence on musicians including Zoran Madzirov, Pachora, and New York bands interpreting Balkan music. "Though Douglas' primary interest is exploring a wide range of musics with his friends...Most importantly, he has developed several parallel strands in his work through several ongoing ensembles, ranging from Tiny Bell Trio, the vanguard unit of the recent Balkan music boomlet… As a result, Douglas has the best of parallel worlds… Recalling the spree sparked a lively discussion about clarinetist Tale Ognenovski, which segued to the proliferation of New York bands interpreting Balkan music." wrote JazzTimes music critic Bill Shoemaker in an article entitled "Dave Douglas: Parallel Worlds", appearing in the website of JazzTimes on January 3, 1998.
Jazzclub Unterfahrt from Munich, Bavaria, Germany commented: "Playing the music of clarinetist Tale Ognenovski is different from imitating Michael Breckers style.”
"Pelistersko oro" and "Piperkovo oro" composed and arranged by Tale Ognenovski and "Nevestinsko oro" arranged by Tale Ognenovski were included in the music project entitled "MAKEDONISSIMO" arranged by composer Pande Shahov in collaboration with Simon Trpčeski.
Virtuoso pianist Simon Trpčeski performed this music project "MAKEDONISSIMO”"- Transcriptions of Macedonian traditional music at Ludwigsburg Schossfestspiele, Germany on May 18, 2017.
Online Merker – Die international Kulturplatform für Musiktheater, Konzert, Schauspiiel, Literatur, Medien, Ausstellungen in österreich und aller Welt music critic Alexander Walther commented, “Although it is a small country, Macedonia has produced a great wealth of songs and dances. On Thursday evening at the "Makedonia" concert with Simon Trpceski & Band, you could see for yourself … And the last pigtail in the thirteen-eighth episode was the title of "Pelistersko" by Tale Ognenovski, referring to Pelister, the highest peak of the Baba Mountains.”

Jazz Musician of the Day

All About Jazz celebrated April 27, 2009, the birthday of Tale Ognenovski with All About Jazz recognition: Jazz Musician of the Day: Tale Ognenovski.

Personal life

Tale and Nevena married in 1947. They had two children, the son Stevan and the daughter Mica. Nevena was the main source of his strength and motivation and she supported his music career. Now his son Stevan Ognenovski and his daughter in law Margarita Ognenovska support all of his musical activity.
Rumena Ravanovska-Tulbevska, editor of magazine Tea Modena noted that "Tale Ognenovski is always environed with love of his son Stevan Ognenovski and daughter in law Margarita Ognenovska."
Tale Ognenovski died in Skopje on June 19, 2012.
Tale Ognenovski's biographer is his son Stevan Ognenovski, who wrote the book Tale Ognenovski Virtuoso of the Clarinetand Composer / Тале Огненовски виртуоз на кларинет и композитор. The book is published in both Macedonian and English. The content of the book are: the biography of Tale Ognenovski and music notation of compositions of 67 Macedonian Folk Dances, "Tale Ognenovski Clarinet Concerto No.1" and "Tale Ognenovski Jazz composition No. 1".
Dushko Dimitrovski, ethnomusicologist and reviewer of the book, writes: "This book can be distinguished from others by the way research has been extraordinarily complete and scrupulously conducted. An enormous number of richly illustrated moments in his life and the creative style of Tale Ognenovski make it possible for everyone to see the extraordinary values and dimensions of this artistic person as one of the most important instrumental maestros in the world and a uniquely creative musician." Kiril Todevski, ethnomusicologist and reviewer of the book, writes: "In the first chapter the author, using selected materials, has included biographical data and individual articles about Tale Ognenovski's performances, as well as significant statements about his contribution towards the common proclamation of our cultural values with Ensemble "Tanec" on their mammoth tours in the United States of America, Canada and Germany in 1956, followed by the tours in France and Switzerland in 1959. Perhaps the most significant of his performances with Ensemble "Tanec" was the one in the famous Carnegie Hall in America.".
Promotion of the book was at the National Institution Centre for Culture "Gligor Prlichev" – Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia on July 9, 2001. Boris Trajkovski wrote: "Dear Mr. Ognenovski, Extraordinary feelings, undoubtedly evokes monographic work of your great musical opus, rarely inventive and gifted instrumentalist and composer. Numerous tours and awards in our country and in the world talking about your virtuosity in unsurpassed merger of oriental and western music. Priceless is your merit for promotion of Macedonian traditional and folk music around the world... Your music and solo performances, left a mark of unsurpassed clarinetist who his perpetual inspiration finds in the most valuable that has this country – Macedonian folklore. "In the letter Ljubčo Georgievski, wrote: "Dear Tale Ognenovski and Stevan Ognenovski, Invitation to attend at the promotion of the book, causes me great honour and pleasure. I am glad that the promotion of the book is at the same time of maintaining the Balkan Folklore Festival and will enriches the content of this event. Of course it is important that you have managed to book issued in Macedonian and English. Congratulating you on the success and wishing you further success, expressing my regret that due to commitments I am not able to attend the promotion of your book".
The promotion of the book was recorded on video including live performance of Tale Ognenovski on clarinet with accompaniment of his son Stevan Ognenovski and this video from the promotion of the book was part of the biography YouTube video of Tale Ognenovski entitled: "Tale Ognenovski, The Greatest Clarinetist of All Time, Musical Genius, Composer." Perhaps this music YouTube video is the most documented biography for any music artist in the world with chronological presentation of Tale Ognenovski's work as clarinetist, composer and recording artist.

Other awards and honours

"Tale Ognenovski uses the most intricate Western playing techniques and combines them with exotic Balkan stylizations creating a pure and genuine new dimensional sound."
In his book, For Our Music Dushko Dimitrovski writes: "The impossible becomes possible: two usually non-complimentary parallel-existing worlds of sounds, Europe and The Orient, are in Tale Ognenovski's music naturally brought closer together, understand each other and merge."
Craig Harris at Allmusic noted, "The only professional folklore ensemble in Macedonia, the Tanec Ensemble are dedicated to the preservation of traditional Macedonian music, dance, and costuming. Founded by the government of the People's Republic of Macedonia in 1949, the group has shared their musical heritage with audiences around the world for more than half a century, performing an estimated 3,500 concerts in 31 countries...The ensemble reached their peak during the late '50s, when influential clarinet and pipes player Tale Ognenovski was a member."
After the end of the tour the Life commented: "A hundred years ago on the rugged roads of Macedonia, bands of brigands used to plunder the caravans of rich merchants and, like Robin Hood, pass on some of their spoils to the poor...this spring, the Yugoslav National Folk Ballet is making a first, and highly successful tour of the U.S...Together they make as vigorous a display of dancing as the U.S. has ever seen."
"Tanec means dance – including drama, song, and music – and that's what the company of some 40 members " Margaret Lloyd, dance critic of The Christian Science Monitor
Tale Ognenovski was included in the book entitled: "The Greatest Clarinet Players of All Time: Top 100"
written by Alex Trost and Vadim Kravetsky. Top40-Charts News published an article entitled, "Mozart And Ognenovski Is The Best Clarinet Concertos In The World" on November 21, 2014. Mi2n Music Industry News Network published an article entitled, "Clarinetist Tale Ognenovski Is Included In The Book Entitled "The Greatest Clarinet Players Of All Time: Top 100"" By Alex Trost And Vadim Kravetsky, Publisher: CreateSpace" on November 21, 2014.

Discography

Books about Tale Ognenovski: