 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2002-05-21 15:00
I took lessons in the 1970s from a clarinetist named Leonard Portnoy. Has anyone heard of him or know anything about him?
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-05-21 17:34
Bernard Portnoy is a ex-Philadelphia SO clarinetist and a mouthpiece manufacturer. But Leonard Portnoy will be a different Portnoy.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-05-21 22:36
RogerWM wrote:
>
> Are they related in any way?
If we knew who Leonard Portnoy was we might be able to figure that out ... which brings us around to the original question ...
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-05-23 22:43
Yes, he was on Star Trek.
............oh, that was Leonard Nimoy?.....never mind
;-)
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Author: james nyc
Date: 2008-10-12 13:51
Hi --
I realize that this is a rather old post, but I just came across it. I, too, took lessons from Leonard Portnoy in the 70's in the Bronx, NYC. I hope you see this post so we could see if we are talking about the same great teacher.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-10-12 15:27
Has anyone else tried a Google search for both names? I found quite a bit of info for both names, Bernard in ICA Journal etc and ?a? Hal Leonard Mike Portnoy, which I didn't have time to "sort out" . LUCK, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: james nyc
Date: 2008-10-12 19:07
Unfortunately, a Google search does not yield any additional information on Leonard Portnoy. Basically, he was a talented musician who, according to other musicians from the same circle in the 1970's, played with Toscanini and Goodman. Any information would be helpful.
Thanks,
James
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-10-12 19:15
According to a complete roster of all NBC symphony players, no clarinetist named Portnoy (either Leonard or Bernard) was ever a member. Of course he could have been a sub.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-10-12 20:34
in the 1970's, played with Toscanini, that would have been quite a feat since Toscanini died in 1957. Portnoy is a very common name, there was even a book written years back called Portnoy's complaint but I don't remember what he complained about, maybe his mouthpiece or bad reeds, I just can't remember. ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 Listen to a little Mozart
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2008-10-12 20:48
Ed wrote:
>> ...there was even a book written years back called Portnoy's complaint but I don't remember what he complained about... >>
It was a quite common complaint...most of us have it...perhaps even you, Ed;-)
Tony
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Author: james nyc
Date: 2008-10-12 20:53
Perhaps I was not clear. The people who I knew in the 1970's reported that Leonard Portnoy played with Toscanini and Goodman in the 1930's. I hope this clarifies my comment.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-10-13 03:09
Thanks a lot Tony, your right, I just remembered what the complaint was. ESP
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2008-10-14 03:20
I do recall a pointed ear clarinet player who played in the Vulcan Philharmonic and claimed to be a descendant of Bernard Portnoy.
He always was moaning about his bad reeds.....
which we all said was Portnoy's Complaint...
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Author: patrickryan04
Date: 2008-10-15 23:46
Speaking of Portnoy has anyone played one of Bernard Portnoy's, I'm playing his BPO facing.
1st Armored Division Band
Clarinetist
Dixie Band
Woodwind Quintet
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Author: allencole
Date: 2008-10-16 16:15
I use and love the BP02, really effortless throat register. But I thought I read on this BB that he died in the last year or so.
I hope he's still making mouthpieces, or that someone is taking up his design.
Allen Cole
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2008-10-16 21:01
I studied with Bernard Portnoy at Indiana University, and he did perform with Toscanini and the NBC Symphony, perhaps in the 1940's or 50's - I don't recall exactly. He told me a story once about when Benny Goodman came to play a concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra when he was principle clarinetist there. Goodman asked him to help him fix a reed. Portnoy spent his break time working on the reed to make it the best possible. When he gave it to Goodman, Goodman blew a few notes, said it was no good and was not very appreciative...
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2008-10-20 01:08
I also studied with Bernard Portnoy at Indiana. They are indeed still making his mouthpieces. Still very consistant. He was conversing with old students by email up until a few months before he passed. A really great teacher and great guy!!!!
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