Klarinet Archive - Posting 000452.txt from 1998/10

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] WW Playing
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 22:41:48 -0400

>>As I remember that era, none of those players were German or Austrian,
but David is correct about which kinds of instruments they used. So
that brings up the logical question about to what extent the clarinet
type (French or German) influences both the character of sound and
the style of playing?<<

>>And that brings me back to the clarinet players of the 1940s who
played on German systems. None of them were German. So what did
they sound like? Did Bellison sound Russian (which is where he
was from and where all of his study was and his formative years, etc.)?<<

Actually, one of the clarinetists, Robert Lindemann of the Chicago Symphony
was German. Victor Polatschek (Boston) was Austrian (or he was trained there
and lived there anyway. . .he taught Rudolf Jettel) and Mr. Bellison (NYPO),
as you pointed out, was trained in Imperial Russia. They were as different
from each other as any 3 players could be, but it is quite evident listening
to any of them that they are playing German clarinets. Incidentally only
Bellison had any influence on the future generations of American clarinet
players, for whatever reasons, including teaching Kalman Bloch, father of
Michelle Zukovsky. Polatschek sounded quite similar to the way Viennese
clarinetists sound today, and he had amazing technique too. His recording of
L'Historie was just reissued on cd (Bernstein conducting on RCA), very
interesting and immaculately played.

>>Would Sabina Meyer sound significantly different if she played on
a French system? And before one answers that question too rapidly,
does the current principal clarinet in Los Angeles sound significantly
different today on her German system than she did years ago when she
played French system.<<

Interesting point, as I just the other day heard a recording of Michelle
Zukovsky playing the Martinu Sonatine. I like the performance very much, but
it could never be confused by a knowledgeable listener with a French-System
clarinet. In fact, she sounds a LOT like Karl Leister does today. I am fairly
certain I could play it in a 'blind' listening test for my clarinetist friends
(which I do all the time so they cannot have prejudices against any performers
while listening) and none would guess it was an American playing, unless they
guessed Zukovsky. I never heard her on a French clarinet, so I can't comment
on her sound on that setup. She sounds totally different from Lorin Levee, who
of course plays Yamaha French-System clarinets. You can almost always tell
when you hear a LAPO recording which of them is playing principal.

As for Sabine Meyer, I would have to hear her on a French clarinet to know for
sure, but she would sound different to some degree, certainly.

-David Hattner, NYC

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