Klarinet Archive - Posting 000771.txt from 1997/04

From: HardReed@-----.com
Subj: Re: "Repieno" Clarinet
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 18:14:57 -0400

In a message dated 97-04-24 13:48:53 EDT, Jacqueline Eastwood wrote:

<< Sounds like a neat piece -- and I hadn't heard of this group (Detroit
Concert Band)before now. >>

The Detroit Concert Band was founded by in the late 40s/early 50s (I believe)
by Dr. Leonard B. Smith (who also happens to own all of the music!). Smith
played trumpet for practically every big name conductor prior to WWII, at
which time he was drafted into one of the Navy Bands (Philly, if my memory
serves me correctly). At that time, he was principal trumpet of the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra. After his term in the service was over, the DSO did not
give him his job back (after all these years, it's nice to know that arts
management remains not only consistent, but benevolent!)...Shortly after, he
formed the band, which was comprised of the elite of Detroit's musicians:
members of the DSO and the like (it was a summer job funded by the City of
Detroit Parks and Recreation Dept.)...Interestingly enough, he had nothing
but contempt for the DSO (which has continued to this very day), but
continued to engage his former colleagues until the DSO had a full 52 week
season in the early 60s.

After some health problems, Smith decided to take the whole "Band" (which is
he, in essence) to Arizona with him, a decision easy enough to make as he was
no longer receiving any money from the City or anyone else with which to
present concerts -- the Band was a band in name only.

Smith was, first and foremost, a band man: even though he played for and
with practically everyone who was anyone, the first thing he would mention
was his six years as solo cornetist with the Goldman Band!

And, in the last-but-not-least category, I played in that band for five years
(and on a few recordings they made in the years to follow) while I was in
college (early 70s). It really was a great way to become a proficient sight
reader!

Larry Liberson
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Hard Reed@-----.com