 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-04-01 02:11
They've FINALLY announced it -
From the NYP http://www.nyphil.org website:
Musical Director Lorin Maazel, in conjunction with the Audition Committee of the New York Philharmonic, having not been able to adequately reach a consensus on a single candidate for the current Principal Clarinet vacancy, and in order to have a successful 2009-2010 season, have mutually decided to offer the position of Acting Principal Clarinet to 10 (ten) prominent clarinetists, on a rotating basis, each playing with the New York Philharmonic for a one month period.
The 10 (ten) clarinetists chosen all currently hold principal positions in their respective orchestras and the New York Philharmonic will employ each for a one month period at the salary and benefit schedule currently in place for permanent members of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
After all contract details and respective appropriate leave of absences have been finalized, the formal announcement of the 10 (ten) clarinetists who have been selected will be forthcoming, not later than June 30, 2009, with employment for the first candidate to begin on September 1, 2009.
The management and Board of Directors of the New York Philharmonic feel that this decision will enable each clarinetist to bring their own exciting and unique approach to the repertoire of the 2009-10 season, and one that we know our concert audience will fully embrace.
...GBK
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-04-01 02:40
A Pillsbury Bake-Off?
Have orchestras done this sort of thing before, and with so many players?
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-04-01 02:51
Can you post the link to this announcement? I couldn't find it on the NYP website.
Thanks.
...SDH
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-04-01 02:58
Some comments.
#1: A committee has failed to make a decision. Working as I do in the corporate world, I ask, "Why should this be a surprise?"
#2: Selecting a Principal Clarinet has been unnecessary for 60 years. I suppose it is fair to cut the NY Phil some slack while they recreate the process, but they gotta get over it.
#3: Committee members are probably quaking in their boots, that major donors would withhold contributions, after discovering that their new principal clarinet is not perfect.
#4: How many people like Stanley Drucker exist in any generation? Not many, I daresay. But, there are other principal players in that orchestra, wonderful ones, who are not necessarily Stanley Druckers on their respective instruments, but who are still wonderful players and hugely respected. Principal players in major orchestras are going to be excellent. I find it hard to believe that none of these 10 people don't play clarinet at or above the level of many other NY Phil section leaders.
#5: This nutty plan is going to disrupt 11 orchestras this year. This is good?
This is one weekend warrior's opinions. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of anybody else.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-04-01 11:15
I've always thought that Stanley did the job of 10 mortal men.
Now we'll see for sure. ...GBK
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-04-01 12:44
I sure am glad I don't have to make a living at music performance. What a racket! That's no way to run a railroad...........
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Author: graham
Date: 2009-04-01 13:36
Since an audition can give little insight, but trialling tells you what you want to know, I think this is the way to do it.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-04-01 13:45
I read somewhere else that they're going to allow certain free-lancers as well as some 'second-tier' orchestra section players into the rotation -- is that true or just an urban legend?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-04-01 14:35
bcl1dso wrote:
> And the ten candidates are going to be?
I believe that the announcements will come only after all terms & conditions have been finalized with the respective orchestras. I can just imagine how complex & touchy those negotiations will be!
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Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2009-04-01 14:36
Equally divided by age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, type of clarinet, type of mouthpiece, type of reed, Conservatory graduated from...in order to avoid discrimination lawsuits.
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Author: clarinetwoman
Date: 2009-04-01 14:46
You think:
Greg Raden, Mark Nuccio, Scott Andrews, Steve Williamson, Richie Hawley, Burt Hara, Ricardo Morales, Anthony McGill, Alessandro Carbonare, and Todd Levy.........................
Thats my pick........................
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Author: larryb
Date: 2009-04-01 15:32
This is going to be a real headache for the second clarinet, who will undoubtedly need to equip himself with ten different set ups to match the first.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-04-01 15:35
larryb wrote:
> This is going to be a real headache for the second clarinet,
> who will undoubtedly need to equip himself with ten different
> set ups to match the first.
If you read the Buffet ads, they claim their clarinet matches everything.
...GBK
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Author: mikeW
Date: 2009-04-01 15:53
Just thinking of the difficulties and strain that it will put on the players they choose to participate in this rotation highlights the arrogance of the major orchestras towards the larger musical community.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-04-01 16:04
larryb wrote:
<<This is going to be a real headache for the second clarinet, who will undoubtedly need to equip himself with ten different set ups to match the first.>>
You're joking, right? I mean, you wouldn't normally switch out your equipment when they call in a sub, would you?
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-04-01 16:12
I have been told by a well informed source, that in anticipation of this monumental challenge, Nuccio and Forteza are in touch with all of the top instrument and mouthpiece makers to find suitable set ups to match all of the players.
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Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2009-04-01 16:50
Ok...to me this is absurd...but...if you were one of the ten being invited to take part in this little game...what month/position would you want to be in?
First/September? Last/June? Christmas? They have the programs established...do you shoot for the home run series? I looked at the NYPO schedule for next year and couldn't really find one that was clarinet extra-heavy..maybe they did that by design? Do you shoot for a conductor that you know and work well with (does the NYPO even have a music director now?)?
What if they don't like Contestant #4 after the first concert...does he have to stick around for another three weeks?
So many questions. And I think they should be ashamed of themselves for treating some great clarinet players like they were cattle.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-04-01 16:52
Well......before anyone cancels their NYP subscription, remember not to believe everything you read.
Especially on April 1.
For those of you who saw through our little ruse, congratulations.
For those of you who didn't, thanks for reminding all of us that:
"Yes - I want to believe."
...GBK
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-04-01 16:59
...and now that the prank has been made plain, I would like to announce that I will graciously accept the position that has been offered me with the NY Phil.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-04-01 17:20
I've been had!!
Post Edited (2009-04-01 17:23)
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Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2009-04-01 17:39
Why wouldn't we believe it? Is it any more crazy than anything else these people (orchestras) do nowadays?
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2009-04-01 20:44
Nice joke. Actually this is what the Concertgebouw Orchestra have been doing for this whole season- trying out guest principals for one week, who will then be invited directly into the final round of an audition to take place in June. Personally I don't think it's such a bad idea. British orchestras have been using trial systems like this for ages.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-04-01 22:46
I can think of several orchestras’ that the principal is not necessarily the best clarinetist. No, I'm not going to name names. There are instances where perhaps the second or assistant, maybe even the bass player, is a superior player than the first. As far a blending goes, don't you think the second player already has to blend with two different tone qualities in NY. This is often the case in an orchestra where the principal and the assistant don't have the same tone quality or style, for better or for worse. A good second just knows how to blend; they don't have to change equipment to do it. Our former second player, Gordon Miller, 52 1/2 years of service, managed to sound great playing with many different principals. Hasty, Gennusa, Cohen and Barta, talk about different tones and styles. He managed to do a great job with each. I'm assuming they will ask those that at least got a split vote on last years audition. I don't think Morales is interested otherwise he would have auditioned last year, I don't believe he did. He has a great job already. ESP
http://eddiesclarinet.com, (check it out, lots of articles and live performances and more)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-04-01 22:52
Good thing I don't have to audition for MY (engineering) job, otherwise I'd be a homeless person for sure! I really do admire guys like Ed P and Larry B and all the other top orchestral players for getting and holding onto their gigs.
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