 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-10-16 03:25
Ron Reuben, the great Bass Clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years, was recently asked to write a bio for the Orchestra.
So, with Ron's permission, here it is:
Born and raised in Philadelphia in 1932 but was intelligently designed 6000 years earlier.
Attended Olney High School, Curtis Institute, Temple U. and Los Angeles City College.
Following Curtis, applied all my Curtis knowledge to the many weddings and bar-mitzvahs that followed until joining Stan Kenton as jazz tenor player in 1958. While remaining in L.A. also worked as stand-up comedian in various jazz clubs and radio. Also, appeared in the movie, "Tender is the Night" starring Jason Robards and myself, and for which I continue to receive royalty checks each year ranging from $2.63 to $4.89, depending upon DVD sales.
Following Stan's band, played lead alto with Si Zentner and Lou Bellison, Jazz tenor with Terry Gibbs, and then Dixieland clarinet with Jimmy McPartland (one week) and Clyde McCoy (one night).
Returned to Philadelphia in 1960 and resumed weddings and bar-mitzvahs but also chamber music, operas, Broadway shows and ballets.
Played with Thor Johnson's "Chicago Little Symphony" and Pennsylvania Ballet. (Solo clarinet in both, in case anyone cares).
Joined Anshel Brusilow's, "Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia", followed by joining The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1967.
Now that I am retired I plan to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a bounty hunter.
In case you know of or actually see any criminals please direct information directly to my website, "I can catch 'em; Philorch, ret. .com".
Small reward offered if successful.
Ron Reuben
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-10-16 06:27
What an amazing background for a guy with one of the very best bass clarinet sounds in the world!
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-16 13:45
Reuben's a trip - loves to have fun. How many teachers will teach you sitting in their underwear with just a bathrobe on? (at 2PM)
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Author: ken
Date: 2005-10-16 13:48
He forgot about that 1969 Tito Puente gig on finger cymbals. v/r Ken
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-10-16 14:38
Quote:
Reuben's a trip - loves to have fun. How many teachers will teach you sitting in their underwear with just a bathrobe on? (at 2PM) Hmmmmm . . . . did he at least ask permission to correct your posture before doing it though? ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-10-16 15:18
Now I see why he stopped being a comedian and joined the orchestra  Just kidding, that was very funny!! Does he have any CDs, I'd like to hear him play?
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-10-16 16:58
His biggest hero is..... Stan Getz
He told me so. (for real!!)
He has lots of CDs.....Coltrane, Zoot Sims, Oscar Peterson.
Additionally it should be noted that he taught Desi Arnaz how to do "Babbaloo"
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-10-16 18:06
David-
What were you doing sitting in Ron's underwear?
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-16 21:49
Well, you know how the saying goes "look, just imagine the person sitting in their underwear and they won't seem as intimidating"  .............
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Author: LalaChooch
Date: 2005-10-17 04:01
What? Nothing about how you were, for many years, paid not to play??? I believe you were the most outstanding non-player in Philadelphia. There are many other serious omissions in this bio, that are better not discussed here.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-10-17 12:51
LalaChooch:
Writes:
"What? Nothing about how you were, for many years, paid not to play??? I believe you were the most outstanding non-player in Philadelphia. There are many other serious omissions in this bio, that are better not discussed here."
Please explain what you mean?
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-17 13:04
Possibly referring to bass clarinetists getting full salary with barely part time playing.
The board has tried to change that for the non-full time players (aux instruments such as bass cl, harp, piano, etc).
It's a tough call. Getting paid the same as a section violinist with only 1/5 of the time put in - I don't know. The skill set is still the same.
Maybe they could have the aux players rip ticket stubs, and usher in their off time .........
Post Edited (2005-10-17 13:18)
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Author: LalaChooch
Date: 2005-10-17 13:41
For many years Ron was a "house musician" at a theater that almost never had musicals - just drama. He would report in before every performance and get paid, essentially for not playing. (Even more ludicrous, if he accepted other employment, he had to send a "sub" to not play.) Fortunately for Ron's career, he plays better than he not-plays. But, as already pointed out, there's a great deal of "not-playing" involved in a bass clarinet position.
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Author: Bellflare
Date: 2005-10-17 14:59
Ah, but didnt he also do some sax?
Blummy, I wonder who else would NOT be intimidating in there underwear.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-10-17 15:56
Hello,
Charles Bay told me that he got a phone call from Ron Reuben several months ago. Evidently, after Artie Shaw died, Ron was allowed to travel to California and play Artie's clarinets. Anyhow, as he's playing, he calls Charles Bay and says "The most incredible thing is happening right now--I'm playing Stardust on Artie Shaw's clarinets and I still sound like Woody Herman!" Now that's funny.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-10-17 18:16
Hello David,
Was that question for me? I'm not sure I understand it.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2005-10-17 22:00
LaLa Chooch's post hints at something more sinister, perhaps, than the fact that bass clarinet is not used in a large part of the orchestral repertoire.
However, David Blumberg's assertion that the bass clarinetist in a major symphony is not a "full time player" is just plain wrong as it applies to most major US orchestras.
Most ICSOM contracts mandate player rotation in the wind sections "so as to equalize, to the extent possible, the work load of all the players in a section." In the case of the National Symphony the contract mandates that assistant principals get to play in the solo chair at least 30% of the time. In addition "auxilliaries" (not a term that I would use) regulary rotate into playing (in the clarinets) second clarinet, or assistant first or second where the conductor specifies that he/she wants the winds doubled. I, the bass clarinetist, even got to play first clarinet on a few rare "split orchestra" occasions, as has Ed Cabarga, my successor.
The Philadelphia Orchestra is somewhat unique in as much as, if I'm not mistaken, the piccolo, English horn, bass clar. and contrabassoon players are paid a doubling fee when they are required to play flute, oboe etc. That might have limited Ron's use in rotation as it becomes an expense item for the organization.
Ron's (auto)bio is a delicious taste of his wicked sense of humor! I welcome him into the ranks of the over-the-hill gang; I hope he enjoys his life after the orchestra as much as I have!
Larry Bocaner
National Symphony Orchestra (retired)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-17 22:35
Ron almost never played Bb in the Orchestra. There wasn't rotation except that Montanaro would play Eb and principal.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2005-10-17 23:57
There are an awful lot of extremely fine Bass clarinet solos in standard repetiore...
Sibelius Swan of Tuonela
Mahler 9 is fillled with a bunch
Mahler 6 has alot of super parts
not to mention Tchaikovsky
as well as the whole bunch of music for it in Shostakovich...
as well as my dear freind Richard Strauss who wrote piles
of stuff for the Bass Clarinet
David Dow
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-10-18 00:48
But there are ten times more orchestral pieces that don't have any bass clarinet parts, than those that do (maybe more than ten times --- Larry, what would you say the percentages are?)
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2005-10-18 04:15
David, It depends on what the particular orchestra's repertoire is: an orchestra (or music director) that specializes heavily in classics (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven etc) would have very little opportunity for the bass clarinetist to shine. Conversely in an orchestra where contemporary works are a large part of the repertoire, it is possible that the b.cl. player stays very busy indeed.
In my case, because the NSO always made a point of featuring works by American composers, I kept pretty darned busy on the b.cl. (Seems like we played "An American in Paris" on every tour!). By the same token the Chicago orchestra's heavy emphasis on Mahler, Strauss etc. makes for a very busy bass clarinet chair -- I remember a concert they played on tour with only two works: Ein Heldenleben and Sacre de Printemps! Ed Cabarga says that when he came to the NSO from the Utah Symphony his bass clarinet workload exploded exponentially! And of course he is asked to play a whole lot of clarinet, too!
So statistically, Dave, I really can't give you a straight answer; I'd guess that the figure is about 20-25% overall, but highly variable. Of course I always welcomed the rest that a Bach/Handel festival gave me!
Larry Bocaner
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