Klarinet Archive - Posting 000600.txt from 2005/06

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: [kl] Oklahoma Symposium
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 13:53:45 -0400

I have been unable to send my email until today because I had to
clean out my email box, which was stuffed to capacity and preventing me
from sending and receiving mail.
This year was the best of all the Oklahoma Symposiums, for me. I
can't even begin to describe what a great experience I had. I did get to
meet and chat with Dan Leeson, and he won me over with his great wit and
charm. His wife is a knockout and also quite charming. I got the
impression on the Klarinet List that Dan was a bullheaded "akademic"
type, always arguing about "dark" and "bright" tones, but he is actually
a sweetheart and a joy to hang out with. I couldn't get him to go out
for pizza though, because he said that his standards for pizza are "very
high".
One of the greatest treasures of the Symposium was finding a
clarinet duet at Walter Grabner's booth, "Frailach" by Donald Draganski,
written in Tempo di Klezmer. Walter had also turned me on to another
piece by Draganski last year, "Trio from Rio", (Brazillian style) for
clarinet, flute & piano, and I liked the piece so well that I have
performed it several times last spring. Draganski's work is quite
melodious with a natural ethnic feel. As soon as I got home, I was so
anxious to start working on "Frailach" that I somehow lost it at a
students house, so I had to write Walter and order 3 more copies.
I didn't get to hear all of the clarinetists because my plane was
late due to rain, but I enjoyed every minute of what I did hear. I am
partial to Jon Manasse because I love his tone and musicality. His
dynamic range is incredible. I have never heard a "pianissanissamo"
played so softly.
The most touching moment for me is when they announced the winners
of the Young Artists competition. Alia Sabur, a young student of
Ricardo's from Philly, won first prize, and Mike Lomax from Lomax
Mouthpieces presented her with a beautiful old Buffet clarinet that had
belonged to Iggy Genusa, who has passed away. Mike Lomax had been
working on restoring the clarinet for over 2 years and Mike told the
whole story of the clarinet, Iggy and the restoration process. The
Lomax's have been very generous with heart felt gifts over the years. I
own 3 of their mouthpieces and the Lomax's are superb craftsmen.
I finally got to meet and hear Paula Beck Corley's presentation of
clarinet teaching for the pre-college student, and it was so simple and
to-the-point. Paula has a great way of simplifying the "presentation" of
embochure and tone in a manner that makes you think, "Hey, I can teach
my kids to do that!" She also has a great southern accent, being from
Mississippi and having taught in Texas for 20 years.
I did sort of cut loose and buy a bright blue barrel, and a bell
called "Rhapsody" from Morrie. Then I bought a bright blue plastic
mouthpiece to match, for $40, the A. G. (Anthony Gigliotti) "Glitz",
supposedly modelled after one of Gigliotti's favorite facings. However,
it turned out to be a bit tinny and I had to send it to Mike & Joel to
see if they could make it sound better. I play a lot of gypsy jazz
www.mangofandjango.com
and I just got carried away.
By that time I was really going nuts and tried out some "Xilema"
reeds made in Spain at the "Redwine" booth, and ended up buying 10
boxes. So far I love these reeds.
Every year I go to the Oklahoma Sympsoium because that has become
the meeting place of my extended clarinet family. I can't afford to go
to ClarinetFest every year, and I usually get lost and miss half of the
important events. My thanks to David Etheridge for providing us with
such a blessed event every year. Cheers to Audrey, Nancy, Francios,
Larry and all of my clarinet buddies. ANNIE

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