Klarinet Archive - Posting 000086.txt from 1996/06

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Gay/Lesbian
Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 21:08:09 -0400

George,

In addition to the composers cited by Dan Leeson and Bill Fogle,
I might add the following. Owing to the absence of heterosexual
relationships in his life, Maurice Ravel is now believed by
musicologists to have been gay, though never having exited the closet.

Add Samuel Barber and Benjamin Britten to the list. Louis Moreau
Gottschalk, the American civil-War-Era pianist-composer was a matinee
idol with the reputation of being a notorious womanizer. That reputation
led to his exile from the U.S., which was ironic because he was gay.

Like Dan, I'm not sure what, if anything, these composers wrote for
solo clarinet. Of course, Ravel's "Introduction for Harp, Flute, Clarinet,
and String Quartet" does come to mind. And Ravel and Barber wrote
stunning orchestral solos for the instrument.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California