Klarinet Archive - Posting 000372.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: leister recording
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 00:44:18 -0500

On Wed, 7 Jan 1998, GTGallant wrote:

> I find it hard to believe other Leister recordings would be any different.

Hmmmmm......it would appear that you are biased then - and do not have
objective capability. You mention that Leister's recording was made
before knowlege of the correct edition (putting it fairly early in
Leister's career orchestrally), yet you pooh pooh the idea that, 25 years
later, he could grow. You must be a very fine, important performer in
order to believe such!

> I will listen, though, and they better be good! Some clarinetists have
> strange (to me) ideas about what good clarinet playing is.

As though what you have said so far, and the way you have said it,
convinces us to listen to what your ideas might be.

> Big deal, so you can
> control the instrument and play legato! Is that all there is?

How do you know if you haven't heard his other recordings?

> Most players can only aspire to play like robots because they lack
> talent, the ability to think on their own, and a HEART for music.

So, if I hear you right, you put Leister in this category? He plays like
a robot, lacks talent and ability to think on his own?? Are you serious?

> I believe orchestra players hate their jobs and equate it to working in
> a sewer.

I suppose you are planning to provide the list with some proof, or at
least some published article that says that all orchestra players hate
their jobs? Perhaps you can quote players like Cohen, Combs, Yeh,
Drucker, Gigliotti, Morales, and other instrumentalists like Jacobs,
Herseth, etc. etc. who have all played for decades - apparently hating
their jobs, the money, the repertoire, the opportunity to play great
literature, etc. etc. etc.

> Fred Jacobowitz said it best - "orchestra drones". I heard Mr.
> Jacobowitz play Schumann a couple years back at Apple Hill in NH and it
> was great.

He also appears to have a bit more discretion than you.

> Ask today's top artists (Charles Neidich,
> Jonathan Cohler, Ricardo Morales, Stolzman) privately what they really think
> of other "top" players.

Right....they would sure tell us.....but, I suppose they told you?

> With politics aside, SUCK will be the universal answer. Again, just my
> humble opinion.

You need to read the dictionary regarding the word humble....or, was that
tongue in cheek??

> P.S. if I left out anbody good, sorry!

Just yourself....but I expect to see that in the next posting.

Roger Garrett
IWU