Klarinet Archive - Posting 000139.txt from 1994/06

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Jerry Pierce
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 1994 19:32:07 -0400

Although I never met Jerry Pierce, I did have a connection with the
man, and, because of that, I feel his loss and will miss him. The following
are some of my remembrances, which, though limited, are valuable to me.

In March of 1989, I received the first in a series of letters from
Jerry, which contained an unsolicited piece of music he thought I might
like. At the time I didn't know who he was, and so it was with considerable
curiosity as to why I had been contacted by a complete stranger that I
read his letter.

The letter had a twofold purpose. One was to compliment me on an
article I had written for the February/March 1989 edition of THE CLARINET
and offer me encouragement to write additional articles. Since that issue
had not yet been printed when I received his letter, I assume he
had reviewed the article for James Gillespie, the publisher, before the
article was accepted. His second reason for writing was to explore a
claim in my writer's bio to the effect that I often performed rare old
works for the clarinet and unpublished new works. He was wondering
about the possibility that I might have something not included
in his extensive and rather complete library. The music he had enclosed
was a very effective earnest toward a continuing correspondence -- as though
his letter itself wasn't enough.

We had several music exchanges, and the correspondence continued.
Since his knowledge about the literature was superior to mine, I relied
heavily on his recommendations. Initially he sent me a number of pieces
for two clarinets and piano, and I would assume from notations on one of
them that he and his wife, Linda, had performed all of them. I know that
one of the pieces, Ponchielli's Il Convegno, must have intrigued Jerry and
Linda (as it fascinated me), because there was occasional mention in
"Pierce's Potpourri," his column in each edition of THE CLARINET, of
reports of findings of different accompaniment versions (there was one
report of a string-quartet accompaniment). I think he would have been
pleased to know that, as a result of his having interested me in the
piece, there now exists a band accompaniment for two of the three
movements (the original accompaniment, which seems to have been lost,
was for band) and that a string-orchestra accompaniment is now in the works.

Jerry wrote about his exploratory surgery in his column in the
current (May/June) edition of THE CLARINET. I knew then that it was time to
write to him again, but now I see it's too late.

In writing this remembrance, I reread Jerry's letters and was
forcefully reminded of his insight, his helpfulness, and especially his
supportiveness. And what made this all the more remarkable in my case,
was that he did this for a perfect stranger. I can only imagine the
loss felt by his family and friends.

Conrad (Connie) Josias
josassoc@-----.com