Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 2006/07

From: "R. John Miller" <rjmiller@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A little note about Mr. Leeson
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 13:01:44 -0400

Mazel Tov! and Happy Birthday to Dan Leeson! Best wishes and many more!

Raffi

----- Original Message -----
From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 12:16 PM
Subject: RE: [kl] A little note about Mr. Leeson

> I am most pleased and proud that Clark has given me such a nice
> sendoff for my years of playing. Today is my 74th birthday, and
> since I began playing at the age of 10, that makes 64 years of
> clarinet playing.
>
> As I have indicated on a number of occasions, I will put my
> basset horn on ebay before the year is out. Probably in late
> September after I play the Mozart Requiem with Sue Macy in San
> Jose. It was I who convinced her to buy a basset horn a number
> of years ago and she plays it beautifully.
>
> Any serious clarinetist who does not own a basset horn should
> consider selling their children to get enough money to buy mine.
> You'll need the money. I can't make statements about it being the
> best basset horn ever made, because that is a subjective opinion.
> But I think it to be marvellous. And when I play it with all
> that gold on the keys, the reflection from the ceiling lights
> makes me look holy!
>
> I'm not going away and I hope for many more years of life and
> health. But my playing is fundamentally done.
>
> Clark played second clarinet for the performance with Mark
> Brandenburg on first and Janet Averett of San Jose state on first
> basset horn. It was the first time she had ever played the part
> and she did exceptionally well. I even talked her into
> improvising a little. She thought at first that she committing
> some kind of a mortal sin by departing from the written text. I
> was particularly impressed with Clarke's management of the
> blazingly difficult Variation III in the sixth movement. Even the
> conductor expressed his satisfaction at the rehearsal, and then,
> to aggrevate, took it even faster at the performance. Yuck!!
>
> I still have many things to do including my writing and my next
> book, called "The Hagenauer Cache" will be available in 2009. It
> is not fiction.
>
> I also hope that my novel, "The Mozart Forgeries," will continue
> to be read and enjoyed for some time. And if you had not read it,
> I fix a curse on you and your family for 7 generations.
>
> Finally this, I am giving a series of lectures on a recent
> discovery of some Mozart memorabilia, and anyone out there in a
> University position who does not make an effort to have his/her
> students receive the benefit of all this glorious wisdom (given
> with great personal modesty) may find their instruments all blown
> out. I can do it remotely, you know.
>
> How's that for a farewell?
>
> Dan Leeson
> DNLeeson@-----.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clark W Fobes [mailto:claroneman@-----.net]
> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 8:22 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] A little note about Mr. Leeson
>
>
> Yesterday, July 12 I had the pleasure and honor to participate in
> Dan
> Lesson's final performance of Mozart's "Gran Partita". It was
> presented by
> the Mostly Mozart orchestra with George Cleve conducting.
>
> Many of you probably know that Dan is responsible for the
> Barenreiter
> Edition of the piece and the editor of most of the wind works for
> the "Neue
> Mozart Ausgabe". George Cleve (who is a very well known and
> gifted
> interpreter of Mozart) said some very nice things about Dan after
> the
> concert, but this was my favorite quote:
>
> "As a musician I have learned an immense amount from Dan
> Leeson.
> However, I am merely a Mozart enthusiast - he is a true Mozart
> scholar."
>
> Dan performed the second basset horn part as usual ( he loves
> the low
> register of the instrument) playing his elegant cocobolo and gold
> keyed
> basset made by Steve Fox. Dan played magnificently as always,
> even
> improvising ornaments.
>
> I believe Dan has one more performance of the Mozart Requiem
> in
> September and then he is officially retiring as a player and will
> put his
> famous basset horn on E-bay. If you EVER have an opportunity to
> hear Dan
> lecture on Mozart don't miss it. He is one of the most engaging
> speakers I
> have ever heard and often brings a great deal of levity (dare I
> say
> hilarity?) into his thoughtful and thought provoking
> presentations.
>
> Thanks Dan for being so persistent in your pursuit of truth
> in Mozart
> and for encouraging the rest of us to do the same!
>
> Clark W Fobes
>
>
>
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