Klarinet Archive - Posting 000202.txt from 1995/12

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Dan Leeson, Mozart, Basset Horns
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 1995 01:30:57 -0500

Yes! All three go together. I had the great priviledge to play with Dan
Leeson on the 204th anniversary of Mozart's death. We performed with
the Midsummer Mozart Festival Orchestra under the direction of George
Cleve. The evenings basset horn selections were the "Requiem" and the
Masonic funeral music. I was not able to make the first rehearsal and
was very disappointed not to play in the Requiem, but I did play 2nd
basset horn in the funeral music. Dan played 3rd basset horn. He
prefers the low register parts and was in his element!

It was an evening of wonderful basset horn comraderie. We spoke of
Mozart, of wine, of beauty and the stock market. It was a meeting of
minds, we were surrounded by a halo of basset horns. And even though
Dan was playing on his old, probably BLOWN OUT small bore Selmer and I
was playing on a large bore Leblanc we managed intonation problems
quite well. Dan's tone was finely coiled, neither dark nor bright, but
hovering in that ephemeral nether world of basset horn delight. My tone
on the other hand was more like a fine Bordeaux - well structured,
balanced, long on the aural palate. (As long as I an mixing metaphors I
might as well mix up the sensory organs)

Speaking INTUITIVELY, I would say it was a night to remember.
Wouldn't you agree, Dan?

Clark W Fobes