 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom Saul
Date: 2006-12-06 00:47
I just found out that renowned clarinetist, mouthpiece artisan, and teacher, Bernard Portnoy, passed away a couple of days ago, suddenly, from complications arising from of fall and broken hip. Mr. Portnoy was 92 years old I believe. I had been calling Mr. Portnoy to ask him a few questions about his mouthpieces and was informed by his son that he had died just a couple of days prior.
Mr. Portnoy made a significant contribution to clarinetistry, and kept his hand in the game until the very end of his life. We could all be so lucky!
For those of you not familiar with Mr. Portnoy, others here who knew him can tell you about the man. I've only read of him, heard him on CD, and coveted one of his mouthpieces.
You may also want to read the article HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL OF CLARINET PLAYING:
http://paws.wcu.edu/thompson/stoki.pdf
Portnoy played under Stokowski from 1940-43.
Post Edited (2006-12-06 04:00)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2006-12-06 12:33
Hi Everyone,
This is very sad news. I have several friends that were students of BP and I always enjoy hearing their stories. Shannon Thompson's dissertataion has many excellent interview quotes from Portnoy. From all that I have heard, he was really a character in the most complimentary sense. A fine player and teacher as well.
I still play the original BP02 MP that I got when they first came out. It still plays as great as ever. I have a couple of the very rare Portnoy ligatures. BP said to me in an email once "the Bonade ligature is the same, use it" but the Portnoy is really much better.
Gone but not forgotten. RIP BP.
HRL
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-12-06 14:21
I studied with Bernard Portnoy at Interlochen in the summer of 1962. He was of course very knowledgeable, and a very good, no-nonsense teacher. Although he had retired from performing, he still played really well. He continued at Interlochen until a couple of years ago, when he was forced out along with many faculty members in a giant reorganization.
He had a remarkable ear. For example, he could turn his back and tell me which reed or mouthpiece I was using, or whether I was using a 66 mm. barrel or a 65 mm. one pulled out 1 mm.
Like Anthony Gigliotti, he had a strong, ringing tone that was ideal for orchestral playing but did not record particularly well.
He had a receding chin, and compensated by holding the clarinet almost vertical.
He played principal in Philadelphia for several years and then went into one of the military bands during WW II. There are many stories about why he was replaced. He had a big ego and I'm told he alienated some colleagues. Also, when a Ralph McLane comes along, I suppose anyone has to yield.
His death is a great loss to the clarinet community.
Ken Shaw
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2006-12-06 16:52
I am very sad to hear about Mr. Portnoy's death. I studied with Bernard Portnoy for four years while at Indiana University in the late 1970's early 1980's. He was always a gentleman and a wonderful teacher, coach and inspiration. I was lucky enough to hear him perform with a festival orchestra at IU where he played principle clarinet in the Berlioz Symphony Fantastique. He had an enormous sound which carried beautifully into the auditorium. I kept in touch with him for many years after college and he was always happy to take some time to chat and tell some great stories. He survived performing with Toscanini's orchestras, so he had to be a great player. In my mind, he was one of the great orchestral clarinetists who didn't seem to get the historical respect he deserved. I'll miss him.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-12-06 17:29
I studied briefly with Mr. Portnoy at Juilliard in the mid-1950's when Bonade was unavailable. He was a true gentleman -- no sign of the "big ego" alluded to earlier in this thread. He told an amusing story about playing for a banquet at his father's synagogue when he (BP) was in the Pittsburgh Symphony. He and "hot" violinist "Paul Nero", also at the time a member of the PSO, were introduced as "a couple of klezmirim from the Pittsburgh Symphony." He was amused, because at that time the term "klezmer" was a pejorative -- sort of like calling a lawyer a shyster! Thank goodness we've all come to give kezmirim the respect that they are due!
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-12-06 18:39
Perhaps GBK can confirm this, but I believe he was one of the "antic" musicians who were messing around (per the script) in Disney's Fantasia (original) and that his sound can be heard in the Broadway studio recording of My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews.
If the latter is true, his sound was recorded well, esp in the lilting interludes between Harrison's outbursts while sing-speaking "Never let a woman in your Life."
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-12-06 18:50
Re "My Fair Lady": quite true. He told a funny story about one performance where there was some sort of backstage commotion that distracted conductor Anton Coppola (yup, same family) who froze up. Rex Harrison ad-libbed "clarionet!" and Portnoy commenced his intro solo to "Never Let a Woman in Your Life" -- saved the show!
Oops -- my mistake; conductor was Franz Allers!
Post Edited (2006-12-06 19:24)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-12-06 19:06
Alseg -
I'm pretty sure the antic clarinetist was Robert McGinnis. It's been a long time since I've seen the clip, but I remember that the player was short, like McGinnis. Portnoy was quite tall.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2006-12-07 01:42
hi,
Here's a link to a thread earlier about BP and how the MP came about. A neat story.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=196761&t=196624
I remember meeting BP at the Midwest Band Clinic (he had a small booth) in about 72 or 73 and telling him how much I enjoyed the MP. He was interesting to chat with; at the time, I did not realize his stature in the clarinet world which was a pity.
BTW, Mazzeo was at the Selmer booth and gave me a quick lesson on his "new" fingering system.
HRL
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2006-12-08 14:26
It is a great loss to all of us who knew Bernie, as well as the entire music community.
I studied with Bernie Portnoy at Juilliard in the 1960s, and he was a master teacher. He had Frank Cohen, Merlin Petroff, Don Oehler, and many other well know Clarinetists in his classes at that time. Very few teachers turned out as many professional musicians as Bernie did at that time.
He invited me to play for Leopold Stokowski, who was just forming the American Symphony Orchestra in NYC. The Orchestra still exists, and continues to perform in NY and at Bard College in the summers.
Stokey liked my playing, and thought Bernie and I would make a good section for his new Orchestra, so I really got my orchestral chops together sitting next to Bernie, and learning the literature from Stokey.
He helped his students get jobs, work in the real world, and understand the music business. I don't know many teachers that do all that, and teach how to play the Clarinet these days.
Bernie was a tough guy, with a very big heart. I didn't speak to me for over a year when I switched my major teacher to Joe Allard, the famous "doubler's teacher" at Juilliard. We were able to patch things up when I started doing dates with Bernie in NYC. He was also kind enough to call me when I got the St. Louis Symphony job.
In all, a great player, teacher, mentor, helper, guide, work provider, listener, mouthpice-ligature-reed maker (he made us use all his stuff), and great human being. If I'm a decent player, it's thanks to Bernie for his patience and loving guidance.
He will be missed.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: weinerl
Date: 2006-12-10 19:36
I (Lowell Weiner) studied with BP while at Indiana from 1968-73. I was probably his first IU student. I had studied with Leon Russianoff in NYC prior to attending IU, and Leon suggested I study with Bernie Portnoy at IU. BP was a real gentleman who enjoyed the slower pace at IU. He was a fine teacher, chamber music coach, as well as a talented businessman. It was BP who gave me the advice to get married to the girl I was dating at college...and yes, we're still married.
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