Klarinet Archive - Posting 000410.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: leister recording
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 18:26:00 -0500

On Thu, 8 Jan 1998, GTGallant wrote:

> First, let me start by saying
> I don't think I know it all. I'm only a student of the clarinet at this
> point.

You weren't taught the proper approach to getting along with others then.
Your manners are poor, your respect for people who are older, more
experienced, and considered fine musicians by many people is extremely
limited, and you have nothing to prove with your comments except to say
you have good ears.......while implying that those of us who disagree with
you do not have good ears.

I think some people are overweight, but I don't print it on a listserv. I
think some people are lazy....but I don't print it for all to see. This
is what you have done and continue to to do.

> I do have opinions, and sometimes make huge generalizations, but that
> is the way I write (with grandiose sarcasm).

Some day you may learn that sarcasm is a terrible way to communicate.
Hopefully, you will learn it sooner than later.

> Does one need to make recordings to know what sounds good or bad?

No, but in light of the lack of other experience, it gives you more
credibility when you blast someone publicly.

> I hae trouble
> believing one could protect professional level "music" that was obviously
> inferior (technique, tone, unexpressive) and pass it off as stylistic.

Either you are so much better than the rest of the clarinet world that
must not have any standards, or you are not capable of hearing the good in
another's playing. Let's hope you never teach clarinet students....or for
that matter, music.

> I had the displeasure of listening to Leister's Spohr recording last night,
> which I found at the local university library. Just as expected, boring!

I have found that many people go into a situation looking for ways to
support their argument. If your ears and mind were not open to begin
with, why would they be when you sit and listen to the recording?

>A little while ago, I was in a masterclass with the great player Jonathan
> Cohler. We did some orchestral exerpts and solo pieces. One of the exerpts
> was Beethoven 6, and Mr. Cohler happened to have a recording. The clarinet
> was totally off and not with the orchestra. Also, none of the marked dynamics
> were played.

Dynamically speaking, it is up to the conductor and clarinetist to agree
on what to do. When a conductor tells me to trill the trills from above
in Beethoven 6 (as our's did last season) and I completely disagree, I ask
him outside of rehearsal if I can play them from below. If he says
no....that's the way it is. I have several recordings of Beethoven 6 with
Liester playing.....and they are all quite good.

> After we listened, he made us try and guess who the clarinetist
> was, mentioning that the individual was very famous and considered great.
> Karl Leister!

And did Mr. Cohler put down the soloist? What was his point? He reads
this listserv, I would be curious to know if he was as condeming of the
playing as you are now.

> Just because someone plays in an orchestra and clarinet for 30
> or so years, does that make them great?

No, but it does not make them automatically bad either....as you stated in
the last major speech.

> I know plenty of people who have been
> playing clarinet for over 15 or more years and still don't get it.

And I know plenty of snobs who never get it either...I've sat next to them
on many occassions.....funny how they stop getting the jobs.

> I am a natual skeptic and challenge what others tell me is the truth or
> "the right way".

And damn proud of it to! Bet your a barrel of monkeys to teach!

> I search for answers on my own and let the ears do the deciding for me.

Forgive me if I don't jump for joy regarding your independent nature.
Your attitude is far too common......it doesn't make you special to be
resistant to information, instruction, and advice. It makes you
resistant....that's all. That you are proud of it is disconcerting.

> Do not get emotional, these are only my opinions and mean nothing.

I don't believe anyone is emotional, just disgusted.

> I was going to provide a list of players I admire along with reasons, but I
> feel it would be a waste of space.

Better to rip people up than to compliment hmmmm?

> Everybody has their own opinions of what is good, and that's ok. I hope
> people use their ears and open minds (like myself) to judge and not on
> what somebody else told them.

My experience with people who have to tell others how open minded they are
is that they are not open minded at all! Talk is cheap.......actions
speak. Your actions have spoken much louder than your last sentence.

Roger Garrett
IWU