Klarinet Archive - Posting 000464.txt from 2005/06

From: "Margaret Thornhill" <clarinetstudio@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] metal clarinets
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:02:47 -0400

Bill H posted a report that no one could identify a metal clarinet in a
blind test.

This reminded me of the following story:

Rosario Mazzeo got his place in the Boston Symphony not long after the
mandatory retirement of his then-teacher,
Gaston Hamelin, one of the great virtuosi of the early part of the 20th
century. Mazzeo told the story this way:
One day in rehearsal Koussevitsy was full of compliments for his solo
clarinetist. Over and over again he praised the lovely tone, the beautiful
phrasing, the elegant technique, the flawless intonation, the beautiful
tone...
Unable to stand it any longer, Hamelin modestly stood up and protested
(showing his new instrument): Mais, Monsieur--c'est ne pas moi, c'est ma
clarinette en metail!
Whereupon, Koussevitsky threw a fit (Metal clarinet? Not in my orchestra!)
and fired M. Hamelin, refusing to see the illogic of this action.

Margaret Thornhill
Los Angeles

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