Klarinet Archive - Posting 000511.txt from 1995/06

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Saxophonne Players who Started on Clarinet
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 16:12:44 -0400

On Thu, 22 Jun 1995, Sal Lozano wrote:

> John....I'm sorry i didn't see that post on the sax board because i would
> have challenged it. Even though the 2 instruments are lumped together, thanks
> to the world of jazz and big band music, as well as live musical theatre, I
> find it difficult to agree with you.
> So many saxophone players are just that, sax players. That is how they
> started. Many quite successful. I can give a name of a sax player, who
> started on sax ( and not clarinet) for every clarinet player.
> To say that the BEST sax players are clarinet players or started on clarinet
> first is not accurate.
>
Sal, John, et al,

This has been an interesting string of messages. With my limited
statistical knowledge about saxophone players who started as
clarinetists, I respectfully decline (even with a ten-foot pole) to touch
this issue.

However, that shouldn't stop me from offering the following
second-hand anecdotal comment: While engaged in a very successful career
as a saxophonist, Artie Shaw was reported to have taught himself to play
clarinet primarily to meet a growing demand for doublers. The story is
interesting because it was about someone who did the reverse of what is
more conventionally the case.

Also, if the story is true (perhaps others can comment), it would put
Shaw in the unique and limited company of famous historical self-taught
clarinetists, another being the former violinist who had stimulated Brahms'
clarinet compositions, Richard Muhlfeld.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California

P.S. Sal,

I haven't forgotten about your recent mouthpiece inquiry, for which
I owe you a reply. I'm thinking about it.

Connie