Klarinet Archive - Posting 000219.txt from 2001/04

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Eastern European Clarinet Needs
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 13:44:11 -0400

We're certainly doing the right thing in checking the legitimacy of
instrument needs by these kids. But we should remember that there are
indeed kids who need instruments and accessories, not only in Eastern
Europe but also closer to home (wherever that home happens to be).

I have extremely fond memories of helping out a clarinet student. My
high school band took a trip to a youth music festival in Denmark in the
summer of 1976. It was a grand trip. We spent a week home-staying in
Odense and another camped out on a gymnasium floor in Copenhagen,
playing concerts once or twice a day. As far as we could tell, there
was no minimum drinking age in Denmark, and Carlsberg is mighty tasty --
as a freshly minted 16-year-old, it was paradise.

When we got to Copenhagen, we hung out a bit with an orchestra from
Krakow, where I met the acquaintance of another newly-minted 16-year old
clarinet player. Doing what kids do, we tried each other's instrument.
Her clarinet (a brand I never heard of and don't remember) was at least
as good as my Vito. My mouthpiece -- a B45 -- was far superior to hers.
I desperately wanted to give it to her as a gift, but of course I needed
it. Consequently, we shared it for the week. (Now this might seem . .
. unsanitary. Since we were also otherwise sharing saliva at the time,
though, it didn't seem like such a big deal . . .)

She left the festival with my mouthpiece, my Luyben ligature, my swab
and all of my reeds. I came home with her copy of the Penderecki Three
miniatures -- and a smile.

kjf

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