Klarinet Archive - Posting 000584.txt from 1996/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Simeon Bellison
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 12:56:14 -0500

As many of you probably know, I have been slowly donating the entire
contents of my clarinet library to the Univ. of Maryland's clarinet
collection. In order to do that, I have had to deal with each work
in terms of describing it, estimating its cost, etc. Thus, I have
to go through every work with some care.

Today, while prepare a shipment, I was pleased to see a work that I
had completely forgotten I owned.It is a clarinet quartet of Mozart
arranged by Simeon Bellison for 2 B-flats, basset horn, and bass
clarinet. I think the arrangement dates from much earlier than the
publication date of 1954 by G. Ricordi and sons, but this is speculation
on my part. I don't remember what the quartet cost when I bought it,
but the cover price determined at the time of publication ws $2.50.

Makes one grit their teeth, eh?

Anyway, in the back of the edition, and written by Bellison himself,
there was a very fine and authentic biographyof the great man, one
who I had the pleasure of hearing when I was a kid. He used to
give one recital a year in New York and I always went.

I know that many biographies of the man exist but this one was done
by himself and has an interesting insight that the other might have
missed. For example, I did not know that Bellison had a fiction novel
published!

Here is the biography. The reference to the music arranged by Bellison
for his Clarinet Ensemble is particularly interesting because it is
all in Israel where it was donated by his wife and his death.

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Simeon Bellison, clarinet virtuoso, was born in Moscow on Sept. 4,
1881. He showed musical talent at an early age and began studying
the clarinet at nine with his father. A year later, he played in the
Voluntary Fireman's Band, which his father conducted, and in several
military bands. At eleven, he was heard by the late Wassily Safonoff,
former conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, who was
then director of the Imperial Conservatory in Moscow. Safonoff
placed the young musician in the clarinet class of Prof. Joseph
Friedrich. Seven years later, Mr. Bellison was graduate with honors
and a degree of Bachelor of Music which is the highest degree
obtainable for music in his native country. He began teaching the
clarinet in some of the leading schools in Moscow and became first
clarinetist of the opera and symphony orchestras there. For the
thirteen years of this period he took part in the presentation of many
operas, operettas and ballets.

In 1908 Mr. Bellison toured northern Europe with a chamber music
organization. In 1915, he won the coveted post of first clarinetist in
the orchestra of the St. Petersburg Imperial Opera, which was the goal
of every orchestra musician in Russia.

In 1902 Mr. Bellison organized the Moscow Quintet and gave a series
of concerts throughout Russia, Poland and Latvia. In 1918 when
musical activities were at a standstill in Russia, he organized a second
ensemble in St. Petersburg. He named the group "Zimro," and under
the flag of the Russian Zionist Organization, started a pilgrimage
throughout the world. During its three years of activity, the ensemble
played in the Urals, Altay, all the large Siberian cities, China, Japan,
India, Canada, and the United States.

In 1920 Mr. Bellison was engaged as first clarinetist of the New York
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, which position he held until 1948.
During that time, he also was affiliated with almost every chamber
music organization in the United States and Canada and played under
all of the greatest conductors of this period here and in many capitols
of Europe. He is perhaps the only clarinetist who has appeared as
soloist on the legitimate stages of Europe, Asia, and America.

When he made his home in New York in 1920, he opened his clarinet
studio, which is attended by students from every part of the United
States and Europe. In 1927, with the patronage of the New York
Philharmonic Society, he organized the Clarinet Ensemble of seventy-
five players. He arranged, personally, a large library for this unique
group.

Mr. Bellison has arranged and has had published more than 100
pieces for clarinet and piano and for various chamber music
combinations. He also wrote a novel, "Jivoglot," (Eat 'em Alive),
portraying the life of the poor and obscure musicians in Old Russia.

In 1948 he retired from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to give
all his time to teaching, arranging music and playing chamber music
concerts. His 57 years as a clarinetist include 28 years as first
clarinetist with the New York Philharmonic.
====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================

   
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