Klarinet Archive - Posting 000058.txt from 1996/03

From: Raphael Tennenbaum <rtenn@-----.COM>
Subj: Another newbie -- and questions
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 03:10:55 -0500

I have been on for a couple of weeks now, and have found this list fascinating.

I'm a freelance writer and casual amateur clarinetist -- I grew up on Long Islan
d, played in junior high school and high school, but was far from a star. To sa
y that I studied with Naomi Drucker seems to be a wild exaggeration -- probably
it would be more accurate to say that she did what she could with me. Anyway, I
mever really put the clarinet down -- I played a little chamber music in school
, and in the intervening years have managed to irritate my neighbors on a irregu
lar basis, destroying the Mozart concerto (playing it on my Bb no less, but I do
n't think any of them even have relative pitch so maybe I shouldn't worry) and t
he other usual suspects.

Recently a bunch of friends in a comedy-rock band finally heeded my entreaties a
nd let me play a few licks with them, and I somehow managed to get through a cou
ple of gigs without covering myself in shame.

Anyway, my first two questions -- and I'm bound to have a bunch of them, so be w
arned -- regard picking up the bass clarinet.

1) I would like to play one or two bass parts for a soundtrack that I'm working
on with some friends -- nothing long, perhaps complicated in small bits. I play
ed some tenor saxophone in high school, so the embouchure won't be a complete su
rprise, but any tips about making the transition would be greatly appreciated.

Which brings me to my next question: while I'd love nothing more than to go out
and buy one, unfortunately spending $2000 or more for a new bass clarinet is out
of the question. It's possible I could swing something under $500 but -- well,
maybe not very possible. It would seem that for the moment, the prudent thing
would be to rent one for a couple of weeks and see if I make out well enough to
put down a couple of tracks. (But gosh, I would love to own one -- for the purp
oses of this band, bass clarinet would be ideal.) So anyway, 2) if any list mem
bers in New York (City, that is) can recommend a reputable place where I could r
ent a bass short-term, I'd be very appreciative.

3) Finally, I noticed that the estimable Tom Labadorf mentioned he had studied w
ith Stanley Hasty, which prompted me to make an author's query: I am related to
William Steinberg, who as some of you will remember was conductor of the Pittsbu
rgh Symphony for quite some time. I have over the years been slowly collecting
stories about him -- and so if, for example, Mr. Hasty was willing, perhaps he
might endure a brief interview. Let me hasten to say that since I have known ma
ny, many instrumentalists over the years, I am quite aware that not all anecdote
s about conductors are favorable, shall we say, and since my aim would be (if I
ever get around to writing anything) an objective look at Steinberg, I am not so
liciting paens of praise. I will confess, however, that for whatever reason, I
am a fan of his conducting.

Anyway, sorry for the endless post. Should little come of it, in any event I lo
ok forward to getting more and more out of this list, it's been a great pleasure
so far.

Rafe T.
Readme @-----.com/~rtenn