Klarinet Archive - Posting 000121.txt from 2004/05

From: "David Glenn" <maestrodavidglenn@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] de Peyer
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 17:14:58 -0400


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--------- Original Message ---------

DATE: Wed, 5 May 2004 08:57:18
From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
To: klarinet@-----.org
Cc:

>
>David Glenn wrote,
>>As a young student in London, I remember being
>>disappointed several times in hearing DePeyer in
>>concerts because his sound didn't meet my expectations.
>
>What were your expectations, and in what way did DePeyer not meet them?

As a teenager from California, I was planning on going back there to study after my year in London. My favorite clarinet player back then was Mitchell Lurie. I wanted to go back to him (USC) after that year. I was shocked to hear De Peyer at the time. That was 1972/73. I think I just hated the sound because it was so different. Puts me to shame, doesn't it? The sound seemed flat, lacking in overtones and the flexibility and vibrato made me uncomfortable. It seemed to me that he was sacrificing tone for ... I don't know what.

>
>>I also heard him play the Copland concerto in a way
>>which I as a teenager thought was pretty bad.
>
>What way did he play, what specifically did he do, and what did you think
>was bad about it?

It's so long ago. As I remember, it seemed to my then very inexperienced ear that he kept stopping to find his way. The phrases didn't seem to go anywhere. The technique seemed to be a burden to him.

>
>>But then I discovered his recording of the Spohr 1st
>>concerto. It was so amazing, he instantly became my hero.
>
>In what specific way was the recording amazing?

The Spohr recording had the opposite effect. The music spoke to me. It sang and the technical passages dazzled me.

>
>>Back to DePeyer: I don't know any other clarinettist who
>>has such complete opposite effects on me at different times
>>than DePeyer does.
>
>That's the beginning of an interesting comment, but where's the rest of it?
>I understand you to say that you like DePeyer's playing now more than you
>liked it when you were a teenager, but beyond that, more details would help
>me to figure out what you mean. What was the nature of these opposite
>effects, and what do you think caused them?

I think DePeyer did not always play equally well. Maybe Copland wasn't his thing? I can still remember the uncomfortable effect he often had on me in the mid 1970's. Never heard him play well live though I'm sure he must have done that very often or he wouldn't be in the position he was in. But I also never heard any recording (or live performances) I liked better than his Spohr 1. I can still see the room I sat in and cherish the moment.

Did that answer your question, Lelia?

David

>
>Lelia Loban
>E-mail: lelialoban@-----.net
>Web site (original music scores as audio or print-out):
>http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/LeliaLoban
>
>

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