Klarinet Archive - Posting 000112.txt from 1997/04

From: "Daniel G. Smith" <DANIEL.G.SMITH1@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Vernacular "Horn"
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 01:06:36 -0500

Does this really matter? GOLLY lighten up already! Would you prefer it
if I called my clarinet my axe? OH God forbid that might make me a jazz
player - ooooooo!

I only wince when the clarinet is played poorly and out of tune! Not when
it's called a horn -really.

Just had to rant! *grin*

Have a good day!

Your friend always,

Daniel G. Smith

On Fri, 4 Apr 1997, Cadenza wrote:

> I wince as well when a clarinet is referred to as a "horn". There is an
> interesting history to this.
>
> It dates back to when I was and undergrad at UCLA and was planning on driving
> from LA to SF. I was even more brash in my youth than I am now and decided
> that I should get to know the great Reginald Kell who was living in Carmel,
> CA. Kind of on the way. I found his address and wrote him telling him all
> the things I was doing (Gad I cannot believe the ego I had, as if he could
> give two hairy's) and said that I would be driving up and would have my horn
> in the back seat of my car. Maybe we could play some duets.
>
> Well believe it or not he was enough of a gentleman to actually write a
> response. But it was curt and appropriately cutting to me. In his last
> sentence he said, "I'm sorry but I cannot make my self available to someone
> who carries a horn in his car."
>
> I realize especially with Kell that he always was uncomfortable and very
> critical with the loud, insensitive type of playing he heard from US wind
> players, especially living in NYC in the 50's and early 60's. I think it was
> very fitting that the word horn repulsed him. My misfortune, I never met him.
>
> Best,
>
> John Gates
> Cadenza@-----.com
>