 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2006-11-25 18:31
Today i've had the pleasure of attending a 'master class' given by Belgium's best known clarinet player.
It was a 'master class' (quotes) because it was specially organised for 'non - professional' players, mostly young people, but all amateurs that have (or are developping) a passion for clarinet. It all was part of a little 'clarinet festival' in one of our local music schools. It was totally free, 'just for fun', all about music
something like :
"x year old (14 to yep 53 year old) clarinet player meets best clarinet player ever" he listens very interested, comments where needed, and talks about clarinet, tells jokes, anekdotes and really is still fascinated by what is happening there.
I know Walter Boeykens since 'ever' as the absolute top in Belgium, in the mean time he's 67, had surgery for longue cancer, but is still active both at high level (educating profesional clarinetists) and 'low' level : showing 14-20 year olds, what fun music and clarinet is all about.
This afternoon he was just great, an artist of that level, a phenomenon on clarinet taking time (and really having fun and enjoying) the few minutes he could spent with those young musicians, definately leaving a great mark on them.
So, I was just wondering
1) does anyone on this board ever heared about Walter Boeykens ? (ok for the Belgian and the Dutch, but what in UK, US or down under ?)
2) do you know (they do exist, I'm sure) of any other great artist (clarinet or other) that though they are absolute best, have had a long and great career, still have the drive to do this kind of 'spreading the clarinet or music word' and helping young enthousiast kids to 'grow' ?
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2006-11-25 19:04
His recording of the Nielsen Concerto helped me when i was learning the work whilst a student. Great player. He is quite well known here in the UK i would say.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: thomas.b
Date: 2006-11-25 19:08
I heard about him.... heard some nice recordings of his clarinet choir... I heard as well that he was ill...
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2006-11-25 19:42
I have some nice recordings of him on the CD "The Magic of the Clarinet". I've always thought he was a fine player.
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Author: ChrisC
Date: 2006-11-25 23:05
When I was beginning to explore classical music on my own in the late '90's, there were a number of releases on the Harmonia Mundi label that sold for around ten dollars, which represented, to me, an ideal combination of quality and price. A number of them featured Boeykens in chamber settings, and I was particularly fond of his recordings of the Mozart Quintet and Trio, and also a disc of more obscure material by Zemlinsky and Bruch (the Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano.) I have never tended to follow or favor specific soloists, but everything that I heard by Walter Boeykens was of a consistently high quality. I told my clarinet teacher at the time that I particularly like Boeykens' playing, and she was pleasantly surprised that I knew who he was.
I'm glad to hear that he is still around and that he is justifiably celebrated in his home country.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-11-26 04:40
"does anyone on this board ever heared about Walter Boeykens ? (ok for the Belgian and the Dutch, but what in UK, US or down under ?)"
There are even other places......... like here. I have no idea if he is famous here, but I have one recording of him which have the Messian (spelling?) quartet, Bartok Contrasts, and another piece. He sounds very good.
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Author: DaveF
Date: 2006-11-26 05:52
I certainly know that when listening to a Boeykens recording I'm going to hear a wonderful clear and warm tone (ok, sorry about the descriptive, but imho it's true here), and impeccable musicianship. So sorry to hear of tongue cancer surgery.......is he still able to play?
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2006-11-26 08:28
I love his sound and playing style and he has a great personality.
But BelgianClarinet, what about Eddy Vanoosthuyse? I think you’ve more than one great clarinettist your country
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2006-11-26 10:39
Just correcting my english that seemed to have confused some people. Walter Boeykens has had surgery for "lung" cancer, but he seems pretty well recovered. Yesterday he played notes longer than most of us can ...
OpusII, I don't know Eddy Vanoosthuyse that good, but I should add Freddy Arteel, who is from the same generation as Walter Boeykens
Post Edited (2006-11-26 18:28)
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2006-11-26 16:10
I know of at least three clarinet players here in Iceland that have studied with Walter(which I think is one of the best clarinetist) they are:Einar Johannesson(1st clarinetist in the Icelandic symphony),Gudni Franzson(clarinet and bassclarinetist and also conductor and mainly plays new music) and my teacher Runar Oskarsson who attended chamber music class with his partner from Holland at that time pianist Sandra de Bruin (he now plays 3rd clarinet/bassclarinet in the Icelandic Symphony orchestra). PS we here in Iceland had in semptember 2004 a master class with Eddy Vanoosthuyse and he's very good. I have a disc with him called War concerto where he is playing concert for clarinet and band by the Icelandic composer Tryggvi Baldvinsson which he got Icelandic music price for. Tryggvi also composed bassclarinet concerto for bassclarinet and chamber orchestra which was performed autumn 2005 at the Bass clarinet festival in Holland by my teacher Runar and the Reykjavik chamber orchestra.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-11-26 16:54
"Tryggvi also composed bassclarinet concerto for bassclarinet and chamber orchestra which was performed autumn 2005 at the Bass clarinet festival in Holland by my teacher Runar and the Reykjavik chamber orchestra."
I was there but unfortnately missed that concert.
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