Klarinet Archive - Posting 000016.txt from 2012/02

From: "Daniel Leeson" <leesondaniel899@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Auf Wiederseh'n
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:25:34 -0500

I had a similar situation with the Strauss
"Invalid's Workshop." The C clarinet part was
played by the enormously talented George Silfies,
then (and maybe still) the principal chair with
the St. Louis Orchestra. I was playing the basset
horn part. (Silfies could play either part in
either piano or clarinet in either of the two
Brahms sonatas, and that's talent.)

At first Silvies played the C clarinet part on his
B-flat instrument and the work sounded dull and
flat. The piece calls for five clarinets, one in
C, two in A, basset horn in F, and bass clarinet
in A.

So I asked George if he might like to try my C
clarinet (which I brought along for exactly this
kind of a situation), and he seemed uninterested,
at first, saying, "I've never played on a good
one."

But finally through my urging and guilt-giving, he
gave in and began to use the C. It was quite a
change on character of sound of the entire band.

George would not give my instrument to me for a
week, so affectionately did he play the
instrument, and when the gig was over and I was to
drive home from Santa Barbara, he reluctantly gave
the instrument back to me.

I should have been summoned to Sweden for the
Nobel Prize for that event.

Dan Leeson
email: dnleeson@-----.net
alternate email: leesondaniel899@-----.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Bowen [mailto:keith.bowen@-----.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 11:11 AM
To: 'The Klarinet Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [kl] Auf Wiederseh'n

I have Dan's basset horn. Long may his influence
live through his
instruments!

Someone said recently, who needs two C clarinets?
I have two. One to play
myself when the work calls for a C, the other to
lend to my stand partner
(even if they are playing first and me second) to
oblige them to play a C as
well :-).

And when in one rehearsal of Beethoven 5 we came
in in the first entry for
the C clarinets, the conductor stopped the
orchestra and said: "Listen to
the new tone colour in the clarinets!".

But now, I am at last going to reveal Dan's
terrible secret. He doesn't eat
pizza!

Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: David B. Niethamer
[mailto:dniethamer@-----.net]
Sent: 01 February 2012 18:44
To: The Klarinet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [kl] Auf Wiederseh'n

On Feb 1, 2012, at 11:49 AM, Gary Van Cott wrote:

> I wonder how may of us have C clarinets, in part
because of Dan? I used
> mine on Monday at orchestra rehearsal.
>
Not only do I have a C clarinet because of Dan, I
have Dan's C clarinet from
when he sold his instruments some 12-13 years
back! With some minimally
invasive work (thanks Clark and Walter!), it is a
fine instrument, and it
dates back to 1899! Dan cared for it well, and I
endeavor to do the same.

Dan, thanks for all the food for thought
(non-pizza), and the leads to
important books and articles that have changed the
way I think about playing
music. Thanks too for the tour of San Francisco
all those many years ago and
a fine Japanese lunch!

In summation:

1.) don't let your clarinets blow out!
2.) keep striving for that nice dark
sound, and most of all,
3.) DON'T COUNTERFEIT ANY MORE MOZART!!
;-0

Best wishes!

David

David B. Niethamer
dniethamer@-----.net

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go
to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go
to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com