Klarinet Archive - Posting 001076.txt from 1998/04

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Phyllis Tate
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 12:16:40 -0400

John,
Sadly, Phyllis Tate is no longer among us. I wrote to her about 10
years ago and got a very polite letter form her husband that she had
passed on.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Mon, 20 Apr 1998, John Gates wrote:

> Not a whole lot but I am familiar with the Sonata for Cello and Clarinet as
> well as "Scenes from Tyneside". I believe Phyllis Tate was married to
> clarinetist Alan Frank whom I met when he was general director of Oxford
> Musical Press! Alan Frank was the 2nd clarinetist in several London
> orchestras in the 30's and 40's and played a good deal with famous English
> clarinetist Frederick Thurston. I think he (Frank) also wrote some sort of
> a clarinet method book or at least co-authored a book with Thurston.
>
> The Sonata was written for Thurston and is a relatively long classically
> structured work. I remember the Scherzo and Sarabande with great fondness.
> It was recorded in the mid sixties with the cellist William Pleeth (a
> fantastic musician) and Gervase de Peyer (I think the label was Argo). A
> very good recording if you haven't heard it.
>
> "Scenes from Tyneside" was written much later, I believe in the 70's. Its a
> work for soprano, clarinet, piano. A very well crafted work and quite
> difficult, especially for the singer. I gave the US premiere of this work
> in the early 80's.
>
> Now would you tell me what you know about Tate. Is she still alive? what
> about Alan Frank? Sorry I don't know much about her lighter music or music
> for children. Something tells me that she had something to do about the
> BBC. Maybe for a period she was a staff composer or something........
>
> Best, John Gates (cadenza@-----.com)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C. Bellomy <cbellomy@-----.edu>
> To: klarinet@-----.us>
> Cc: C. Bellomy <cbellomy@-----.edu>
> Date: Monday, April 20, 1998 7:17 AM
> Subject: Re: Phyllis Tate
>
>
> >
> >I am looking for information about Phyllis Tate. I have the basic
> >dictionary/encyclopedia biographies and miscellaneous articles whose main
> >purpose is to mention her death. Does anyone have any information about
> >her educational children's music or her commercial light music?
> >
> >I am also looking for information and opinions about Tate's compositions
> >that involve clarinet. These include:
> > 1. Sonata for clarinet and 'cello
> > 2. 3 Pieces for clarinet alone
> > 3. Prelude, Aria, Interlude and Finale (clar and pno)
> > 4. Air and Variations (clar, vln, pno)
> > 5. Songs of Sundry Natures for baritone voice, fl, cl, bsn, horn
> >and harp
> > 6. Nocturne for 4 Voice and 7 Instruments (mezzo-soprano, tenor,
> >baritone, bass, bass clarinet, celesta, string quartet, double bass)
> > 7. Scenes from Tyneside (clar, soprano, pno)
> >
> > If anyone has information about Phyllis Tate they would care to
> >share with me, please respond to
> >
> > cbellomy@-----.edu
> >
> > Thanks in advance!
> >
>
>
>
>