Klarinet Archive - Posting 000114.txt from 1995/09

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Wow!! So much mail.
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 14:16:21 -0400

Re the basset horn pair:

My goodness, I got a lot of letters, many of them about the basset
horns and I think I have to make a statement about them. They go
together!

I know it sounds crazy, but I won't part with these instruments except
as a pair. They are like my children. I am like a father who looks for
a home for his children realizing that he can no longer take care of
them. (I'm neither dying nor unable to care for my instruments so
don't take the artistic parallel too far.) As such, (1) I won't separate
them, and (2) whoever buys them has to pass moral scrutiny. If you
are not a kind and loving person (and if you don't like Mozart), there
is no price at which you could have these instruments. You probably
would beat your children!!

These instruments have been played together at more than 150 Gran
Partittas, and at almost 200 Requiems. They have also done Elektra
together, Magic Flute, the Masonic Funeral Music, etc., etc.

In fact, there is a financial advantage to having two basset horns that
one does not give a player. Whenever you are called, the first question
out of the mouth of the party inviting you to play is "Do you know
where we might get another instrument?" It is at that point that you
make a generous offer to rent the other one provided you know the
player, that he or she is a decent and kind human being, etc., etc.
Effectively, it doubles you basset horn income. I invariably charge a
standard rental fee plus the costs of my services and it adds up and
it is a couple of hundred bucks extra every time.

I should say, incidentally, that the Mazzeo system b.h. was Mazzeo's
own instrument and on which he performed in the B.S.O. If anyone
knows Rosario, one should realize that this is one hell of an
instrument. It has more keys on it than I know what to do with!! But
it also has the clutch that turns the Mazzeo system OFF. Except for
Rosario, the instrument has never been played as a Mazzeo system.
I can't play Mazzeo system. It works fine for Boehm players.

The other basset horn is a very good instrument though not in the
class of the Mazzeo horn. It dates from 1963 and it is the one I
generally rent, though I use it myself whenever I played Frau Ohne
Schatten. There are simply too many keys on the Mazzeo system horn
for me to figure them out in an emergency. Rosario had at least 4
touchpieces added to enable greater facility in pinky work, and I can
use them all, but when things are going full blast I sometimes lose my
sense of direction.

On the other hand, I may come to point where I simply cannot part
with these instruments. I have mixed emotion about it even now. I
sat up half the night thinking about the concerts we have played
together and the pleasure they have given me. How can I sell them?

But I probably will (oh you mercenary bastard!). By the way, does
anyone want to buy my real children?
====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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