Doublereed Archive - Posting 000004.txt from 2006/02

From: barbara trautwein <mzeztee@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] RE: Ray Still/Heinz Holliger
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 09:46:06 -0500

I remember the snide remarks made by professional orchestral clarinet
players when Richard Stoltzman made a fine career out of solo playing.
There was a whole GENERATION of players who never thought to try to
launch a solo career. It just wasn't done. "there was no market". If
you look back to the 1950's one is hard pressed to find a wind player
with a real solo career. Yeah, Reginald Kell maybe. But until Rampal
and Galway hit the stages as solo flute players, the idea had not caught
on. Mozart's 200th birthday brought to the edge of the stage a few
orchestral winds (clarinets and bassoons) to play his concertos and the
Philadelphia Orchestra issued a "first chair" lp with its principal
winds playing solo pieces but if a young player wanted to earn a living
playing music at the highest level in those days, the goal had to be to
get an orchestral job. Ray Still certainly falls into that generation.

B

Geoff Pearce wrote:

> I think it is undeniable also that Holliger is an artist, and in many
> people's eyes (outside the US obviously) Holliger is probably recognised as
> the greatest oboist of the 20th Century. It is not a matter of selling out,
> I am sure Holliger's students ( or Goossens, Stotijn, Pierlot, Hantak ,
> Steins, Koch or any other great player) feel as much in awe of his artistry
> and playing as many of you would hold say Tabuteau or Still or any of the
> other folk you hold so dear. One has to be careful what one says, and
> also open one's ears and minds to other ideas and sounds to what you hold
> familiar. It may never be fully appreciated, but not a good idea to
> denigrate.
>
> All the best
> Geoff Pearce
>
> -------Original Message-------
>
> From: herb fawcett
> Date: 02/01/06 17:59:45
> To: doublereed@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [DR-L] RE: Ray Still/Heinz Holliger
>
> What I heard of Mr. Still's remark was not purely a trivialization of Mr.
> Holliger's work. It is undeniable that he is a virtuoso and possibly an
> Artist as well. What it sounded like was " I am unwilling to sell out that
> Easily". I know for a fact that I would prefer to hear Mr. Still play
> Anything, but then we each have our preferences. I don't really like the
> Sound of the Peking opera much either.
> Herb
>
>
> On 1/31/06 11:00 PM, "Isaac Bull" <contrareed@-----.ca> wrote:
>
>
>>Hi there...
>>
>>Do agree with your point - it is about priorities and where each
>
> respective
>
>>artist makes them...
>>
>>However re Mr. Still's comment, if he did make it as alleged, it is
>>unfortunate that he chose to criticize someone who, although with
>
> different
>
>>priorities than himself, nonetheless achieved a high level of artistry and
>
>
>>international acclaim.
>>
>>Just because one has a different style / different priorities does not
>
> make
>
>>them less of an artist, if they truly make music from their heart and soul
>
>
>
>>That is what makes forums like this one so valuable because various
>
> elements
>
>>of double reed playing can be discussed while tolerating players of so
>
> many
>
>>different levels, styles and backgrounds.
>>
>>Best wishes to all,
>>
>>Isaac
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Rhondda May" <rmay@-----.com>
>>To: <doublereed@-----.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 4:46 PM
>>Subject: Re: [DR-L] RE: Ray Still/Heinz Holliger
>>
>>
>>
>>>No, it's also a matter of where a musician wants to put his time and
>>>effort. For Mr. Still, the ability to wiggle one's fingers fast was not
>>>what playing the oboe was about. The same goes for Mr. Bloom and many,
>>>many other great oboists, American, English, European, whatever.
>>>
>>>It's really about the different personalities involved. It's one person
>>>comparing another's priorities to his own and saying, "I don't understand
>
>
>>>why that is his priority."
>>>
>>>You should not say such things about people who were giants in their time
>
>
>
>>>It's rude and very disrespectful. Yes, this is a flippant comment that
>>>does not reflect well on the person who *allegedly* made it. But that
>
> does
>
>>>not give you or anyone else on this list the right to insult Mr. Still.
>>>
>>>Your comments to not add anything to rational discourse.
>>>Rhondda May
>>>Hong Kong
>>>
>>>On 1 Feb 06, at 6:29 AM, Wai Kit Leung wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Of course I know very well factors other than reeds affect the tone one
>>>>produces on the oboe (or on the bassoon for that matter). Does that make
>
>
>>>>Mr. Still any more capable of approaching Mr. Holliger's virtuosity on
>>>>the oboe? Brighter tone --> faster technique? I don't think so.
>>>>
>>>>A bit of sour grape from a less capable (but by no means not good)
>
> oboist
>
>>>>I suppose.
>>>>
>>>>Wai Kit Leung
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:25:40 -0800
>>>>>To: <doublereed@-----.org>
>>>>>From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
>>>>>Subject: Re: [DR-L] Re: Tinny-Ness of gramophones
>>>>>Message-ID: <C004C174.10655%herbgosia@-----.net>
>>>>>
>>>>>Wai Kit,
>>>>>You know there is more to it than just the reed. Concept of sound, lip
>>>>>pressure, tongue placement, breath control, etc. It all makes a
>>>>>difference.
>>>>>Herb
>>>>>
>>>>>On 1/31/06 5:52 AM, "Wai Kit Leung" <wkleung11@-----.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I would be thrilled to send Mr. Still some light French reeds and
>>>>>
>>>>>see if he
>>>>>
>>>>>>could indeed play like Mr. Holliger (at least speed-wise).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wai Kit Leung
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:04:37 -0800
>>>>>>>To: <doublereed@-----.org>
>>>>>>>From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
>>>>>>>Subject: Re: [DR-L] Tinny-Ness of gramophones
>>>>>>>Message-ID: <C003CD75.10590%herbgosia@-----.net>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I heard Ray Still comment on that fellow's playing once. He said,
>>>>>
>>>>>"if I
>>>>>
>>>>>>>was
>>>>>>>willing to sound like that, I could also play all that stuff that
>>>>>
>>>>>fast". If
>>>>>
>>>>>>>not verbatim, it was very close to that.
>>>>>>>Herb
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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