Klarinet Archive - Posting 001299.txt from 1997/09

From: Gary Young <gyoung@-----.com>
Subj: RE: left-handed clarinet
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 01:31:51 -0400

The great Rudolf Kolisch was left-handed. (He didn't play in an
orchestra.) On the cover picture of the Kolisch Quartet recording of the
four Schoenberg quartets (nos. 1-3 played from memory, but the fourth was
too new for them to have memorized it!), he is sitting, bow in left hand,
across from where the first violin would normally sit, i.e. where the
cello, or perhaps viola, would usually sit. For bowing space reasons?
Does anyone know if he actually sat there when the quartet (or the Pro
Arte in Madison, with whom he later played) performed?

Gary Young
Madison, Wisconsin

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From: Ginstling/Ransom[SMTP:ginsuransom@-----.net]
Subject: left-handed clarinet

Doug Sears asked:
> But did you ever see a l.h. violinist in a symphony orchestra?

The leader (and, I believe, founder) of Musica Antiqua Koln, whose name
escapes me at the moment, plays on a left-handed violin. He is an
absolutely fantastic violinist and musician, as is the group.

Gary Ginstling
Los Angeles, CA