Klarinet Archive - Posting 000714.txt from 1995/05

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Rascher's book "Top Tones for Saxophone"
Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 10:41:14 -0400

Sigurd Rascher is a legend in the world of saxophone. He is still
alive and lives in Shushan, NY north of Albany. At the time he was
playing (and he has been out of the spotlight for years and years)
he was considered a first class artist. The majority of the
20th century literature for classical saxophone was written for
or dedicated to (or both) to him including the Ibert, Glazunoff,
etc. His specialty was high notes though he had it all. I played
with him at least 30 years ago and he was a fine artist even then,
though his instrument was only being minimally exploited by
the concert scene at that time.

I have heard of his book, but since I have not played saxophone
for more than 30 years I never studied from it or used it. I
cannot comment on it.

I saw Rascher at a party in Greenwich, NY (not Greenwich, CT) near
the Vermont border perhaps two summers ago and he was hale and
harty then. Any saxophonist over 40 will know who he was and comment
very postively on his playing and his musicianship.

He was particularly interested in meeting me because he incorrectly
assumed that I was related to the famous Cecil Leeson, a great
saxophonist and teacher who died in the late 40s or early 50s. I
am not at all related to the man and never even met him.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================