Klarinet Archive - Posting 000574.txt from 1995/12

From: Cathleen Renee Orr <orrcathl@-----.EDU>
Subj: Mendelssohn Concerto
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 01:13:50 -0500

About four years ago, I played a Mendelssohn concerto as a duet for two
clars and piano. I believe it was origionally for clarinet and bassetthorn. If
I remember correctly, it was the second such concerto of his. Anybody know
where I can get a good recording?

-Cathleen
********************************WARNING!**********************************
The rest that follows is a HUMOROUS STORY, so any of you who don't want to be
bothered with anything but information alone may want to skip it.

As a high school sophomore, I wanted to do a duet for Solo and Ensemble with
a friend of mine who
was an excellent player. He selected the above mentioned concerto which really
was too hard for me, but I struggled valiantly, not wanted to look like an
idiot in front of my friend, the better player, and my band teacher, who I was
trying to show how dedicated and hard-working I was.
We dicided to ask my lesson teacher, an MSU student studying with Frank
Ell, for some advice and critique. When she saw the piece, she remarked,
on it for a couple months with my prthan Mr. Ell. The friend and I got into an
argument and weren't speaking, I still wanted to do the duet, but I think he
really didn't. I wasn't l's comments were nice and he said I must
front of my director.
The day of S&E was tense for both of us. The ex-friend had gotten a 2 on
his solo, and we were both still mad at each other. We went in a played and he,
get anything higher than a few throat tones, and all I did was squeak and squak
When it was over, Mr. Ells comments were quite nice, he remarked that I must
really upset. Then looking at the music, he saw my teacher's/his student's name
Miraculously, we got a 2. I never saw or heard from the friend again.
last few years of high school, I studied with Mr. Ell, and now I'm at MSU with
him as my professor. Every once in a while, when I need a piece, I ask him what
he'd think of the Mendelssohn. The expression on his face is just hilarious!