Klarinet Archive - Posting 000322.txt from 2001/11

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Another American sound.
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 08:49:10 -0500

In a message dated 11/8/01 4:13:04 AM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
writes:

<< There is another great precurser so far not mentioned, and he would be
Simeon Bellison (spelling may not be correct). His school of sound has
fallen out of favor (and I believe deservedly so), but he is one of the
influencers of the so called "New York" sound that pervades the playing of
Leon Russionoff, David Glazer, Frank Cohen, Charlie Neidich and thier
students. It's not a sound concept I'm crazy about, coming myself from
Stanley Hasty, who is a big influencer, but not an actual student of
Bonade, though sounding like many of his students. (how's that for a run-on
sentance, no time to edit tonight). While the sound is currently not in
fashion, it did have many adherants, and was quite influential. I would
look into it. Anyone else have more to offer about this wing of American
clarinet sound? Any corrections to my thoughts? (I probably got something
wrong......) >>

I was talking to a colleague recently about a Bellison recording I heard. He
was an amazing musician. The recording I heard was a radio broadcast from the
1940s (when Bellison was already past 60) of a Vanhal sonata. The work is not
the most nible to play on the German system clarinet, but Bellison sounds
awfully smooth. His articulation was superb.

Marcellus used to play for us recordings of Bellison in the Mendelssohn
Scherzo (toscannini) and the Zampa overture (Barbarolli). These too are very
instructive. Also interesting is a recording by Bruno Walter of the Barber
1st symphony, which has a tremendously difficult clarinet part.

Bellison did indeed have a unique sound on the clarinet. However, he never
played in his lessons, suggesting that he wanted his students to develop
their own concept of sound. He also wanted them to play French instruments,
recognizing that they would take over in America.

His students included Kalman Bloch, among others already mentioned.

-David Hattner
www.northbranchrecords.com

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