Klarinet Archive - Posting 000327.txt from 2005/01
From: "Shaw, Kenneth R." <krshaw@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Ligatures--Important?
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:15:03 -0500
Ormondtoby Montoya says:
>>There's a story about a world class performer --- I presume it's
=66actual --- who sometimes, when he performed a certain clarinet concerto
(I forget the names), would walk out onto the stage without his reed and
ligature in place. When the orchestra began to play the opening
measures, he would casually reach into his pocket and retrieve his reed
and string. He would casually begin to wind the string and tie the
knot in such a way that, at the very last moment when it appeared that
he would miss his entrance, he would put his instrument to his lips and
play without missing a beat.<<
Ormontoby -
The story is about Simon Hermstedt, for whom Spohr wrote his concertos.
He also gave the premiere of Weber's Grand Duo, which, was, as I recall,
dedicated to him rather than Baermann. He was one of the great
technicians (even Baermann was in awe of him), who improved the
instrument. (It was said to be "covered with keys.") His tone and
musicality were said to be inferior to Baermann, though apparently this
improved as he got older.
I'm not sure where I read this -- on a record jacket cover, in Rendall
or Baines, or in the old series of The Clarinet. He would walk out on
stage without a clarinet, dressed in a long coat with many pockets. He
would nod to the conductor to start the concerto introduction, and, as
it went along, pull one part of the instrument from each pocket and put
them together. As his entrance approached, he would put the reed on the
mouthpiece, wrap the string around it in a blur and bring the mouthpiece
to his lips exactly on his entrance.
Ah, they were true showmen on those days.
Ken Shaw
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