Klarinet Archive - Posting 000615.txt from 1999/09

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] Low Eb Key - Leeson
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 04:47:56 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote:
>GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote
>> I remember reading, years ago, about a prominent Italian clarinetist who
>> player everything - A, Bb, and C parts - transposed on his A clarinet. I
>> probably read this in an old Woodwind magazine (remember that
>> publication???) from the 50's.
>>
>> Do you have an knowledge of who this was? Any commentary on this
>> practise?
>
>There were probably many who did this, but Herb Blayman, formerly
>1st with the Metropolitan Opera, told me that one of the second players
>used only an A for everything. He did not specify which one and I
>never asked (though I should have). Perhaps it was Benny Amato who
>was 2nd for many years.

Ben's answer (and comment on his health - Ben's been working on his
esophageal speech ):
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mark:
I do believe the story relates to me. However, I transposed all A clarinet
parts onto Bb clarinet whenever possible. After 35 years of playing Carmen,
one night I decided to use my A clarinet and made more mistakes because my
fingers and mind were at odds.

Summer went by really fast! I'm feeling fine and my esophageal speech is
improving.
Best regards,
Ben
---------------------------------------------------------
Mark Charette@-----.org
Webmaster, http://www.sneezy.org

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