Klarinet Archive - Posting 000369.txt from 1996/12

From: thehat@-----.org
Subj: Re: Goodman and classical
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 15:42:31 -0500

In a message dated 12-12-96 INTERNET: fgarcia@-----.U wrote to ** ALL **:
If> I have never heard of Gallodoro. Could you please supply more info on
If> this person? Thanks.

I am sure Dan Leeson could supply more perspective, as I belive he knew Mr.
Gallodoro and was in NYC during the time when Gallodoro was astounding folks
left and right.

Bill Blount turned me onto Gallodoro. I mentioned the name to him once and
said that I had heard something about a Brahms quintet recording that was
supposed to be pretty good. He told me I had better go hear it right away,
and that he thought it was the best recording the piece had ever had. I went
to Lincoln Center and listened, and was truly impressed.

Gallodoro was a virtuoso clarinet and saxophone player. He was double-
tonguing and playing sax altissimo at a time when few others could do these
things. He played in the Whiteman orchestra, and did a ton of Midnight
recordings at Carnegie Hall. His solo recordings include the Brahms, an
arrangement he did of Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu and something called
"Concerto for Doubles." The last was probably written for him, but the NYC
library doesn't have it so until I get to the Library of Congress. . .

The amazing thing about his playing, aside from the beautiful sound and the
eye-popping technique (this goes for both cl. and sax, by the way) is the
intonation. At a time when even the best players seemed to struggle with
intonation, Gallodoro had it well under control.

Al Gallodoro still lives upstate. I am told I should write to him and that
his daughters are collecting tapes and such for possible reissue. Who
wouldn't like a tape of "Hora Staccato" played by this master?

Oh yes, to make it worse, I am told he was a smash with the ladies as well. .
.

David Hattner
clarinetist-at-large, NYC
-> Alice4Mac 2.5d3 E QWK Eval:04Feb96
Origin: Hat's Nut House