 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-23 22:21
This afternoon I had the pleasure of hearing Stanley and Naomi Drucker give a recital to a full house at the Riverhead Library, Riverhead, NY. A number of clarinetists and bulletin board contributors were also in attendance, including Ken Shaw and wjk. Perhaps they will add their comments to this thread.
Stanley Drucker is not a stranger to the Eastern End of Long Island (NY) as he often keeps his boat out here and frequently visits, thus for him and Naomi it was like coming home.
The program consisted of Stanley playing the Poulenc Sonata and the Bernstein Sonata. He and Naomi teamed to play both Mendelssohn Concert Pieces, the Sonata for 2 Clarinets and Piano by Gary Shocker and concluded with Ponchielli's Il Convegno.
The library hall is very dry with a lack of resonance, yet Stanley's sound was round, full, with beautiful color. Very few clarinetists can equal Stanley's tonguing precision and clarity. His passion and enthusiasm in each and every note draws the audience in and keeps their attention. Clearly, the audience enjoyed each piece and the concluding standing ovation was well deserved.
Not to be overlooked was Naomi's playing. She and Stanley phrased perfectly together, breathing as one. Their intonation was impeccable.
I was able to spend about a half hour talking with Stanley before the concert. We discussed many different things, including (as I know many are curious) his equipment, reeds, playing with the NY Philharmonic, favorite clarinetists, and a host of other stories and topics. As many know, Stanley is a treasure trove of information and stories, and loves to share.
After the concert, at the artist's reception Ken Shaw and I again talked with Stanley as he related a number of amusing Philharmonic stories.
A few tidbits from Stanley (not quoted verbatim):
"Too many clarinetists are playing with reeds that are much too stiff. The reed has to be flexible to be able to sing"
"You cannot tongue clearly with a reed that will not vibrate freely"
"The problem with the newest generation of clarinetists is that they only have technique and no soul"
"Reed preparation? Basically very little. A bit of slow break-in and sometimes a bit of rush to thin the tip. Nothing else" (by the way - The reed he used for today's concert was a week old and had lots of vibrancy and color.
"The R-13 Bb clarinets he has used have worn out (he didn't use the term 'blow-out') thus he has replaced his a few times during his career. The A clarinets, which get used much less, hardly ever need replacing"
Stanley Drucker is still the real deal. His playing is both inspiring and mesmorizing. Many of us felt honored to watch a true living legend exemplify why he has earned the unanimous respect of musicians and conductors worldwide for over a half century. Here's hoping we can all retain our love for music at the age of 74...GBK
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-23 22:26
GBK - wow, but you forgot the most important think "we all" talk about to distraction: what clarinet did he play on??? (hoping it was a Buffet).
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-23 22:41
Stanley has gone through a number of R-13's during his playing career. He is currently playing a standard Buffet R-13 (silver plated with adjustable thumb rest) s/n 401xxx.
He also owns a pair of Prestige RC clarinets with the LH Eb key removed. These were selected for him in Paris by Guy Deplus.
His A clarinet (which he didn't bring) is also an R-13 s/n 188xxx originally set up by Hans Moennig...GBK
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-11-24 01:32
The concert was an absolute pleasure---and it was great to see GBK as well! Mr. Drucker was extremely gracious to me when I expressed how moving I continue to find his Brahms CD. He also offered some kind words of encouragement to my 12 year old daughter, who is an avid student of the clarinet.
Drucker's tone, phrasing, intonation and musicality were masterful. An absolutely spell-binding experience!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-24 23:35
Drucker equipment information:
Mouthpiece: Chedeville/Lelandais - originally faced by Matson. He told me that he has 4 back-up copies which were specially made for him in Paris by Vandoren. They are close to the original, but not quite the same. He said he has tried practically every type/brand of mouthpiece available, past and present, many he said are no better "than doorstops".
Reeds: Vandoren V12 #4. He used to play traditional blue box Vandorens, but with the decline in cane quality these are now too "mushy". He says that the thicker V12 gives him the feel of the older traditional blue box Vandorens.
Ligature: Standard metal 2 screw regular (not inverted). Placed very low on the mouthpiece.
Repair techs: Jimmy Yan, Marc Jacobi, Tomoji Hirakata ...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-11-25 18:22
Yeah I love the easy emission of sound Drucker has.
He really is quite lucky with his Lelandais.
I have heard he has thought of retiring recently from a colleague in Boston. Of course he certainly can afford to, but it is great to hear him playing. A recent concert from New York on Radio which mentioned his contribution makes me realize that longevity is a key part in any success story!!!
As to his playing I love the connections and the vibrato he employs....Drucker is a real genius of the clarinet.
As to mouthpieces the old Lelandais for clarinet were really special. Drucker is an essential listening for any serious player of the clarinet. His sounnd is very clear and clean. I also love the way he articulates and phrases everything. Drucker also takes risks and it pays dividends in musicality!
David Dow
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-25 18:54
David...I actually asked Stanley about ever retiring from the New York Philharmonic. Amusingly, he quoted what Ringo Starr (!) once said when asked (in their prime) if the Beatles would ever stop playing. Ringo had said: "We're just a simple band that plays well together. What we do is not that hard. We could probably do it forever."
He said that he feels exactly the same.
Thus, we won't be seeing a principal opening in the New York Philharmonic anytime soon. ..GBK
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-25 20:26
GBK - I think Drucker's shoes will be extremely hard to fill, and ... when he does decide to retire I'm sure his involvement in the selection of his replacement will be almost mandatory. But it just goes to show that 19 year olds can get the top jobs if they've got exceptional talent, doesn't it?
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Author: deepriver27
Date: 2003-11-25 21:12
When I was in high school I played his recording of the Mozart Concerto until my family caused it to have an accident.
I was really disappointed when I couldn't make it to a recital of his this past summer in Red Hook NY (I think) - was only 5 miles from my house. After reading these posts I'm even more disappointed.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-11-25 22:21
Deepriver -
I don't think Drucker made a commercial recording of the Mozart Concerto. I'm sure he played it with the NY Phil., and there may be an aircheck. Any memory of what label it was on?
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: deepriver27
Date: 2003-11-26 21:03
Ken - I was thinking about that after I made that post - I think I taped it off an NPR broadcast but I still might be wrong. It was almost 30 years ago.
Bill
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-26 22:45
In 1973 Drucker recorded the 3rd movement of K.622 with piano for Music Minus One.
It is still available...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-11-27 13:33
I believe Mr. Drucker played this in 89 or 88 with Masur conducting. It was an afternoon concert. Not recorded however,
David Dow
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2003-11-27 18:25
Naomi's always in the shadow. Did anyone care to ask what her equipment was?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-27 20:07
Naomi plays on a standard Buffet R-13 with a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece and Rovner Dark ligature.
However there is an interesting story attached to the B45 mouthpiece:
When I specifically asked her about her choice of a B45 mouthpiece, and she told me that when she was selecting a mouthpiece many years ago at the Vandoren facility in Paris (I assume the same time that Stanley was getting his Chedeville/Lelandais copies made) she was interested in the relatively new (at that time) B45 but mentioned that she couldn't find a good one. She then said that Bernard (?) Vandoren took her to his office, opened his "special drawer" (her words) and said "pick one of these". The B45's in that drawer were from the first run (first batch) of B45's ever made and she said they were fabulous. She told me that the newer ones today are not the same (she didn't specify how). She still plays on that very same one.
She said that she has never found another one even close to the one given her in Paris...GBK
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-11-28 00:57
Stanley will be playing the Mozart Concerto with the Ridgefield (CT) Symphony in in January. http://www.ridgefieldsymphony.org/seasonschedule.asp#Marvelous
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Author: marzi
Date: 2003-11-28 01:13
which red hook ny?? the metro area or up here in dutchess county,??
hate to think i missed something like that so close!
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2003-11-28 04:11
Hi,
Maybe i just havn't exploored this board enough, but is there a place to post, when concerts such as this are happening? I live 15 minutes from Riverhead and had NO clue Stanley and Naomi was performing. I would have given anything to be at this concert!! Maybe in the future we can post info concerning these great listening opportunities ? I've been away at college and have no clue about the music scene on LI, and i'm shooting myself for not researching and finding out about this one!!
Laurie
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-11-28 04:33
Laurie wrote:
> Hi,
> Maybe i just havn't exploored this board enough, but is there
> a place to post, when concerts such as this are happening?
I place concert announcements in the "What's Happening" calendar if they're sent to me.
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