Klarinet Archive - Posting 000987.txt from 2000/06

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Sad message
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 14:22:17 -0400

I regret to announce that Alan Hovaness died. It was reported in the NY
Times yesterday (west coast edition) with an enormous obituary.

I don't know if Hovaness ever wrote any solo music for the clarinet, but
I do remember playing with him on several occasions, and even making a
record of his music. Frank Cohen and Joe Rabai were among the
clarinetists. I played bass.

Although I was never a fan of his music, he generally wrote very
idiomatic parts for bass clarinet and one of his symphonies (I think he
wrote more than 100) had a giant duet for contrabassoon and bass
clarinet that went on forever.

I last worked with him in a show in San Jose in which the orchestra was
moved toward the back of the stage and 8 or 9 naked ladies (with very
small g-strings) did modern dance things on the front of the stage. At
the end of the performance, they all went forward and bowed to the
audience. From my perspective behind them, I felt that I had a far
better view than anyone in the audience. I think I lost my place about
14 times. It was the Eric Hawkins dance group and I thought it very
interesting.

Hovaness used to conduct by raising both arms like a prophet and then
shaking his hands rapidly. I'm not sure what it meant but it was always
loud when he did it.

I chatted with him, reminding him of the recording I was on called "The
Wind Music of Alan Hovaness" and he was so grateful that I told him that
he reached inside his pocket and, with a flourish, gave me his business
card. I was not sure what to do with it, but I took it and thanked him.

Strange man but very prolific.
--
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** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
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