Klarinet Archive - Posting 000158.txt from 1997/12

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: De Peyer
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 12:40:12 -0500

> From: MX%"klarinet@-----.46
> Subj: De Peyer

> My first clarinet LP was De Peyer's recording of the Mozart Concerto,
> done in the early '50s on London (with the Basson Concerto flipside).
> After seeing the recent posting, I listened to this record. The tone,
> technique and musicality are first-rate, in the tradition of Reginald
> Kell (no flaming, guys, I like Kell!).

That parenthetical comment drives me mad! You appear to be a
responsible mature player who is fully capable of thinking for
himself, yet when you suggest that you like Kell, you feel the
necessity of putting on a bullet proof vest. You prepare yourself
for the possibility that someone will flame you for this terrible,
venal, unforgiveable sin; i.e., you like Kell. Quel catastrophe!!!
The man likes Kell! Kill him, at once.

What difference
should it make to you what the hell anyone else thinks about Kell.
You should be the sole governing body as to what you like and what
you don't like, and everyone else can go to hell in a handbasket
if they disagree. There are no facts involved here. Just taste.

Whatever Kell's glory or his faults, if you like him, there is
no necessity to apologize in advance for it. Nor do you require
any other player's permission to enjoy him.

What have we got here, an international who-one-may-like governing
body? Does Kell rank -92.3 which requires you to get permission
to enjoy his playing?

For what it is worth, you have my permission to enjoy him. But
you may not like Irving Schnultz who plays second clarinet with
the Ellis Island Opera Company because the international "which-
clarinetist-you-must-hate-because of vibrato/tone/style/nose size,
etc." has officially declared him to be the most detestible player of
the century. So not one nice comment from you about that s.o.b.
or you will be next.

Geez! When I read the notes on this board I sometimes think that
clarinet players are a bunch of sheep following a naked pied piper!

I figured that the next time I was in LA, I'd buy you a pizza because
your notes on the list are so intelligent. Now, I have decided that
the next time I'm in LA, I going to borrow money from you or sell you
insurance or something disgusting like that.

Geez!!!"(No flaming guys. I like Kell)" It is you who owe me
a pizza for that stumble.

Can we talk about a good insurance program?

Over the years I acquired many
> of De Peyer's recordings and found a general decline in his sound. His
> recent CDs of British and French recital music are well done, but lack
> the early beauty in his tone.
>
> By the way, I performed the Mozart Conceto with the Claremont Symphony
> in the early '70s, and Gervase was in the audience. He was doing a
> master class at Pomona College and came to my concert. We went out for
> drinks afterwards and I found him extremely cordial (no pun intended).
> I told him that I was very glad that I didn't know he was in the
> audience before I played! Actually I spied him about halfway through
> the 2nd movement (gulp!).
> --
>
> Jim Lytthans "Primo Arundo Donax!"
> Principal Clarinet
> La Mirada (CA) Symphony Orchestra
> Claremont Symphonic Winds
> (http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~dooley/csw.html)
> My home page:
> http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html
>
=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
Rosanne Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
=======================================