Klarinet Archive - Posting 000380.txt from 1998/01

From: "David S. Naden" <dnaden@-----.net>
Subj: Re: leister recording
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 02:09:27 -0500

Dr. Lacy--

You reply to GTGallant is extremely gracious considering that he has seldom
anything positive to say. Not only do I agree with you, but I add the
following:

Numerous clarinetists have been discussed on this list, most recently David
Shifrin. GT is entitled to his opinion about Karl Leister, but if he is
going to criticize the playing of the 30+ year former solo clarinetist of the
Berlin Philharmonic who now has a successful solo career, he should at least
provide a positive comparison with a clarinetist that he does like.

Leister's playing may not be to everyone's taste. Thea King is a superb
soloist, and not everything she does is to my taste. However, clarinetists
such as Leister, King, Drucker, Hilton, Johnson, Shifrin, Neidich, Stoltzman,
Klocker, Stadler, Boykens, et. al. have made it. They are today's soloists,
and we as musicians can all learn something from them.

GT: You are entitled to your opinion. but if your opinion is negative,
provide a positive comparison. There is a saying that if you bring a problem
to the table, then bring a solution. Your opinion is the problem. Now bring
something positive.

David S. Naden, Graduate Student
Cal State University Los Angeles

Edwin V. Lacy wrote:

> On Wed, 7 Jan 1998, GTGallant wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> In Rhetoric 101, I think this is called a "generalization."
>
> > Ask today's top artists privately what they really think of other "top"
> > players. With politics aside, SUCK will be the universal answer.
>
> In my experience, the "top artists" usually are much more considerate and
> congenial toward their colleagues than this message indicates. It is the
> ones who are unsure of their abilities who try to succeed by cutting down
> their imagined
> competitors.
>
> Ed Lacy
> el2@-----.edu