Klarinet Archive - Posting 000705.txt from 2000/08

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] High G in Beethoven 8th
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 14:20:54 -0400

I studdied this excerpt with Mitchell Lurie several years back and he is the
master of simplicity... Let me expand on this:

I brought it in and like most people, I butchered the last note of the solo.
After we discussed the french horn line and the cello/viola triplet pattern
(so I wouldn't change tempos) he got to the [dreaded] G. His comment to me
was: "It's just a G. You've been able to play that note for many, many
years... Don't wory about it." He then suggested 1 + 1&3 for a fingering
(stable pitch, pops out easily from the b, easy to set up
melodically/phrasing...).

Of course a story came out after that (the man has the greatest collection
of stories about personal experiences over his career--conductors,
composers, players, etc...). He played it in the Chicago Symphony early in
the season (his only season there) and Bruno Walter was on the podium. He
played the solo and after he was done the Maestro blew him a kiss
(figuratively). Mitchell didn't understand why he would be happy about his
performance of the solo until another player informed him that his
predesessor could never quite hit that final G. Apparantely he played a
german (Oeler?) clarinet and that note just didn't work so well...

Anyways, just don't wory about it. "It's just a G"

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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