Klarinet Archive - Posting 000479.txt from 1999/03

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] HENRY LAZARUS
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 10:31:49 -0500

This was taken from the Clarinet by Rendall

Henry Lazarus
For 50 years he was the doyen of English clarinetists, excelling in
tone and phrasing.
His fine phrasing was extolled by George Bernard Shaw who began his
career as a music critic in the 1880s under the pen-name of Corno di
Bassetto.
Here is a snippet about his Beethoven's Septet playing:
"Listening to the Septet it was impossible to avoid indulging in the
some stray speculation as to the age of Mr.Lazarus.
Fifty or sixty years when the great clarinetist was beginning to rank as
a veteran the subject might have been a delicate one
Today it is difficult to know how to treat him critically; for it would
be absurd to encourage him as if he were a promising young player; and
yet there is no use in declaring that he played with his usual ability
because his ability is still, fortunately, for us, as far as ever from
being usual.
The usual clarinet player is stolid, mechanical, undistinguished ,
correct at best, vulgar at worst.
A phrase played by Mr.Lazarus always came even from the unnoticed ranks
of the woodwind at the opera, with a distinction and fine artistic
feeling that aroused a longing for an orchestra of such players.
And his phrases come just that way still.
When in the slow movement the Septet Mr.Lazarus would not have it as
fast as the violin wanted, the question arose whether the difference was
one taste or age.
But in the final Presto, when the violin lead off at full speed without
sparing a flash of her Hungarian fire, Mr.Lazarus answered the question
by following her spirited challenge without slackening one
demisemiquaver."

TONE TECHNIQUE AND STACCATO
THE UPBEAT BAERMANN MELODIC SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS
http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html

This was taken from the Clarinet by Rendall

Henry Lazarus
For 50 years he was the doyen of English clarinetists, excelling in
tone and phrasing. His fine phrasing was extolled by George Bernard Shaw
who began his career as a music critic in the 1880s under the pen-name
of Corno di Bassetto.
Here is a snippet about his Beethoven's Septet playing:
"Listening to the Septet it was impossible to avoid indulging in the
some stray speculation as to the age of Mr.Lazarus.
Fifty or sixty years when the great clarinetist was beginning to rank as
a veteran the subject might have been a delicate one
Today it is difficult to know how to treat him critically; for it would
be absurd to encourage him as if he were a promising young player; and
yet there is no use in declaring that he played with his usual ability
because his ability is still, fortunately, for us, as far as ever from
being usual.
The usual clarinet player is stolid, mechanical, undistinguished ,
correct at best, vulgar at worst.
A phrase played by Mr.Lazarus always came even from the unnoticed ranks
of the woodwind at the opera, with a distinction and fine artistic
feeling that aroused a longing for an orchestra of such players.
And his phrases come just that way still.
When in the slow movement the Septet Mr.Lazarus would not have it as
fast as the violinist Madame Neruda wanted, the question arose whether
the difference was
one taste or age.
But in the final Presto, when the violin lead off at full speed without
sparing a flash of her Hungarian fire, Mr.Lazarus answered the question
by following her spirited challenge without slackening one
demisemiquaver." (dictionary:thirty-seconds notes)

Avrahm Galper
TONE TECHNIQUE AND STACCATO
THE UPBEAT BAERMANN MELODIC SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS
http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html

--
Avrahm Galper
TONE TECHNIQUE AND STACCATO
THE UPBEAT BAERMANN MELODIC SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS
http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org