 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-01-22 02:43
The Klarinet List reports the passing of David Hite.
I always enjoyed...and learned from...his Hite Bytes.
His products were superb.
He was an educator and innovator.
Comments would be welcome....a schrifftfest as it were.
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2004-01-22 03:11
Mr Hite cheerfully answered my occasional emails and gave advice on various subjects. I will remain grateful. I have several of his mouthpieces for various size clarinets and love them. I will miss him.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-01-22 04:40
David Hite was a dear friend of mine, and he had been fighting the very rare disease, herpes simplex encephalitis, since Dec. 19. He died a few days ago near his home in FL, with his dear wife, Jean, and his two sons, Chris & Mark, at his side. The family wishes that their grief and great loss be kept private, and no funeral plans are being announced.
David was a great man in so many ways.
Perhaps we should all try to remember him in our own special way. I think he would like that.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2004-01-22 15:02
This is sad news.
I have been using his adaptation of Baerman and Rose for a few year s now and thought he brought new life to them. I have never met him in person, but his work has been part of my clarinet life for many many years.
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-01-22 16:07
David Hite was a true gentleman and his loss is something of a shock to the clarinet world...
his mouthpieces attest to excellence of craftsmanship and tone. His etudes and adapations of the clarinet study works are also the work of a careful thinker and expert mind. I use his study material with all my students. In conversation he was always helpful and insightful.
David Dow
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-01-22 20:21
just last night I took out and played some of his edition of Labianchi studies - long out of print until he edited it for recent publication.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-01-23 04:45
Friends of David Hite can contact Jean Hite at:
jean@jdhite.com
Obituary: David Hite
David Hite, age 80, a resident of Estero FL, died Sunday, January 18, 2004 at Hope Hospice, Ft. Myers FL. He had been taken ill suddenly four weeks earlier. Born Sept. 25, 1923 in New Straitsville OH, he devoted his life to the study and mastery of the clarinet. He studied with Fred Weaver of Columbus, Daniel Bonade of New York, and Anthony Gigliotti of Philadelphia. After moving with his family to Columbus in 1941, he enrolled in the Ohio State University School of Music where he subsequently earned Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in Music. During WWII he joined the US Army, serving in Guam and Okinawa as a band musician. Upon discharge, he returned to play in the Columbus Philharmonic Orchestra and in the Berkshire Music Festival Orchestra at Tanglewood MA. In 1954 he joined the music faculty of Capital University where he taught for over 20 years. After leaving Columbus in 1983, he moved to the New York City area, working with artist clarinet and saxophone players in custom servicing instruments and mouthpieces. In 1986 he settled in Florida where, with his wife Jean, he won international recognition for the design and production of J & D Hite clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces. He also worked to expand the clarinet music literature, publishing many new editions and arrangements with Southern Music Company. Survived by wife Jean Ann Knox Hite; son Christopher (Angela) Hite and grandson Benjamin Hite of Annandale VA; son Mark D. Hite of Columbus. Preceded in death by parents Harry and Dollie Hite, brother Lester, and sister Hazel. Arrangements in care of the National Cremation Society, 12820 Kenwood Lane, Ft Myers, FL 33907.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-01-25 04:37
A note from Jean Hite:
"I've been looking at the klarinet list postings. There have been many wonderful comments there which have been very comforting to read.
I did see that there was some confusion about the listing in the obituary of Anthony Gigliotti as Dave's teacher, some thinking that it must have been Tony's father.
Actually it was Anthony "Tony", not his father, who was referred to in the obituary as David's teacher. David worked quite a bit with Tony on mouthpieces, and they talked extensively about playing in general and especially breathing and tone production. David was grateful to Tony for the information he shared with him. It was in this sense that David referred to Tony as his "teacher". Hope this clear up the question."
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: madvax
Date: 2004-01-26 00:22
I remember the first time I tried a Hite Premier mouthpiece. I was simply amazed at the quality and how well it played. I liked it better than the pro model I was currently playing at the time.
After playing the Premier for a few weeks, I finally called David Hite's company to inquire about his professional mouthpieces. To my surprise, Mr. Hite answered the phone. He was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. In short, we had a very pleasant conversation, and my knowledge of mouthpieces grew considerably.
Although I never really knew Mr. Hite personally, I will always remember that conversion. I still play on the mouthpiece that Hite recommended and my daughter currently practices the excercises from some of his lesson books.
He will be missed.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-01-26 14:19
I didn't know Mr. Hite personally, but I did play clarinet for his son Chris in the New Carrolton (MD) community band years ago, and I've always had the greatest respect for Mr. Hite's mouthpieces. The clarinet community has lost a cherished member ---- my condolences to the Jean and family.
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