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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000033.txt from 2007/11
From: "HAROLD" <harold@-----.br>
Subj: [DR-L] Albert Goltzer
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:29:41 -0500
Dear Lists:
The news of Al Goltzer's passing is very ,very sad news for me particularly
because he was not only my principal teacher at Manhattan School of Music,
but my long-time musical guide,my friend in good and bad times and a person
I admired not only for his musical achievements but for his good humor and
....humility! Many years ago I interviewed him for the IDRS magazine ,in one
of his (unsolicitied) rare moments of self promotion.
I first heard him play with the NYPhil back in the days when Pierre
Monteux led the orchestra in a summer series under the stars of concerts at
Lewissohn Stadium. I still recall his fine playing of the Beethoven
7th,which inspired me to try the unpredictable path of an oboe player,which
has since taken me all over the world with numerous professional orchestras
and as a recitalist and composer.
During the highlight of his career,the NYPhil manager reportedly called
him,as associate first oboe ," a rock of stability and dependibility,ready
to step in for whatever musical emergency and occasion." And,from what
Goltzer told me (between puffs on the pipe he used to smoke),there were many
such moments.
He was a tough teacher who told a student not what we would like to
hear--but what should be told.Parallel to his own life style,Goltzer
emphasized musical excellence without too much "showing off."But at the end
of most lessons, there was usually time to speak shop talk about about
pressures and difficulties of playing so many years in one of the world's
greatest orchestras with among the finest conductors and soloists. And there
was also talk of his teacher,the unique and often eccentric Bruno Labate--an
oboist who in the American musical scene dominated by Tabateau--is often
neglected or forgotten.
Numerous times since--at his urging-- I left my hometown of New York
City for a "little out of town experience"-- I would visit him at what was
once his studio near Lincoln Center or at his home in Connecticut. Arriving
from South Africa,Israel,Germany or Brazil or from one of the many IDRS
conventions and entering his work studio with new music,CDs, a gouging
machine from Italy(--"you could have purchased a better one in
Brooklyn"),etc. I always thought I was coming to visit a type of musical
father with something "new."But most times though,Goltzer --from his long
experience of playing in the original "Porgy and Bess"on Broadway, or in the
St. Louis Symphony or in the tough professional world of the NYPhil--had
seen or heard it all!
After many telephone calls and visits, I finally got Goltzer and his
wife Doris,also a professional oboist and English horn player (NYCity
opera), to visit an IDRS convention in Greenville,North Carolina,where I
performed a recital(and proudly introduced "my teacher"). Like a young
musician just beginning his career on the oboe,Goltzer loved every moment of
a gathering,the persons,the recitals,and competitions for young persons.(And
to think he had once insisted a double reed convention "was not for him"--"I
prefer fishing").
I was just meaning this week to send him a recording of my performance
this year for the first time of Sibeliuses "Swan of Tuonela," which he
himself had recorded so long ago with the CBS symphony long beforev computer
and digital recording. The reason I wanted to send him my recording was
that ---as usual when I was in need--he attended my telephone call from
Brazil to the home for the aging (where he was being treated for illness) to
give me my what turned out to be my last lesson with him.
My only regret is that --for a lack of self promotion and knowhow in
this field of politicking for honors--Al Goltzer, my teacher,never was made
an honorary member of the IDRS.
His humility,professionalism and good humor are qualities I have always
admired and continue to pursue in my own professional and private life.
Harold Emert
Rio de Janeiro,Brazil
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