Klarinet Archive - Posting 000159.txt from 2007/07

From: Oliver Seely <oseely@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] A final thought about ClarinetFest
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:30:03 -0400

My four "Notes from Vancouver" were lost in the ether (but remained
as "sent message" on our server). The fourth has a few things I'd
like to share with KLARINETers because of my feeling that the Fest is
such a worthwhile experience. -- Oliver

At ClarinetFest we were treated to the talent of over 120
professional clarinetists, accompanists, teachers and conductors
during the week. Pieces played by the various assembled groups
ranged from early music to that recently composed. The average
talent exhibited in the Festival Choir with which I played exceeded
anything to which I've become accustomed over the years playing with
one group or another. The vendors were ready, willing and able to
let visitors to their booths try out products to their hearts'
content. I was almost convinced to switch to a synthetic Legere
reed. Almost, but not quite. The pretty Gonzales reed girl handed
me a 2-1/4 and said, "Try this." I did and it was the first time in
years that I have been able to put on a new reed which right off
gives me a satisfying sound. Maybe I was lucky, but I have a half
dozen more freebies to find out.

Saturday night's concert in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
featured a commissioned concerto for clarinet, violin and orchestra
by Stephen Chatman and the concertos by Finzi, Copland and Van der
Roost, played by clarinetist Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr and violinist
Walter Verdehr, clarinetists Michael Rusinek, David Shifrin and
Robert Spring, respectively.

The next time I attend Clarinet Fest I'm going to be much more
cavalier about those parts of events which I decide to attend (mainly
because there are three or four events going on simultaneously). Do
I want to check out the technique of some celebrated clarinetist,
witness a world premier of a commissioned work or listen to a live
performance of a favorite piece? This gathering is certainly the
place to do that, but one has to be prepared to move quickly between
venues (sit at the back near the door and move with quiet, if
determined, discretion). When I paid $175 (after the early bird
($150) deadline) I wondered if it was going to be worth it. I need
not have been concerned.

For the young participant it can be more than a little intimidating
but it probably offers a healthy loss of innocence by the realization
that there are lots and lots of talented clarinetists out there --
and they are by no means all professionals. The woman who sat next
to me in the Festival Choir is a CPA from Florida. After three
rehearsals, she had her part down cold, made flawless entrances,
demonstrated superb tone and technique and knew exactly where the
conductor wanted us to start during rehearsal (while I more often
than not was struggling to keep up with his directives).

Anyway, kudos to all of the 2007 Clarinet Fest organizers. It was a
magical week for me and I recommend it to all budding performers out
there, young and old. On to Kansas City in 2008!

Oliver

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