Klarinet Archive - Posting 000074.txt from 1995/01

From: HardReed@-----.COM
Subj: Stolzman, Shifrin and...
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 1995 15:04:34 -0500

...the man in the moon!

It's sure been entertaining as heck to be exposed to so many of your opinions
of various players, uhh, playing. But, even though we're all each entitled
to those opinions, is it all that necessary?

Both Dick and Dave have found their own musical/clarinet-ical(?) voice, which
they are using, without apology to any of us. I think they are both smart
enough to realize that what they do in regards to sound and style is not
going to appeal to everybody (the "great masses"), but will find it's niche
among listeners. As long as they're happy with what and how they convey
things through their clarinets, that's fine with me!

I had the opportunity to hear both this past summer. Both gave highly
successful concerts. Did I care for both of them? No, I did not...Let's
face it, we all have our prejudices!

Dick Stolzman once said to me how much he admired orchestral clarinetists,
especially since he never could get anywhere in an orchestral audition (back
when he was doing those types of things). I wonder if he was telling me that
to make me feel good! His playing has changed quite a bit since those days,
but he seems content with what he is doing...and how he is doing it.
Regardless of our opinions, he is doing quite well, isn't he?

I heard Dave this summer at Interlochen, playing a rather light program of
chamber music (he says sarcastically), that being the Mozart Quintet and the
Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time. His playing has also changed (as has
his equipment) since the time he played in Cleveland. His musical voice has
also allowed him to do very well.

It's hard to appeal to everyone all the time--just ask Bill Clinton (of
course, he's a saxophone player!)

BTW, to all of you who have a built-in hatred of embouchure/air leakers:
sorry to say, but the majority of us play for the audience--not for the
person sitting next to us! I am privileged to play in one of the finest
halls in the US (if not the world), and I can honestly say that the "leakage
noise" seems to get left behind on the stage, while the clarinet sound
projects. Don't ask me why--I just benefit from good acoustics...I don't
pretend to understand them!

OK...that's enough drivel for one day!

Larry Liberson
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
<Hard Reed@-----.com>