Klarinet Archive - Posting 000866.txt from 1997/09

From: "David C. Blumberg" <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: Tabuteau can't rebut himself, he's dead
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 1997 20:44:02 -0400

I second Ed's posting. Tabuteau was always a very respected, beloved teacher.
Where's that persian whitehair .......;-) (kidding)

I'll tell you a more beloved story of the man. I studied chamber music with
the Principal Winds (all 5 of the quintet) of Phila, so I heard a lot of
stories also.
Tabuteau in a Quintet coaching at Curtis when hearing the loud ,accented,
chainsaw A that the oboist gave as his tuning note for the Quintet said:

You know Florida (said with a REALLY thick French accent)?? what? said the
student.
Have you been to Florida?? no.
In Florida they have many Alligaaaaaors. The Alligator waits for his prey,
silent, silent, not moving, still, then SNAP!!!!!!!!! THAT was your A.

Here's my take on the precious reed:

If your only as good as your reed, how many bad performances WILL you have
before you learn.....

David Blumberg

Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 23:27:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Edward Yadzinsky <museyadz@-----.edu>
Subject: Marcel Tabuteau

Let's stop the nonsense. Marcel Tabuteau was perhaps the world's first
truly great oboist - he was Prinicpal in Philadelphia until 1954 or so.
Taught for years at Curtis. His students ADORED him.

I know several of his pupils personally - even studied chamber music with
Laila Storch - they all tell many stories - but NEVER of destroying a
student's reed - we may be certain it NEVER happened.
^^^^^
But he was known to "borrow" his student's reeds from time to time...for
rehearsals and concerts.

There is an excellent monograph on him on the www - use LYCOS search for
TABUTEAU -- Laila's long essay & quotes etc. are all there.

Cheers

Yadz