 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 13:38
Feb. 4, 1929 - Stan Drucker's birthdate.
That's got to be a record for the oldest Principal Clarinetist in a major orchestra. (I don't remember Gigliotti's age when he retired, but not that old)
I wonder how that ranks with other principals in orchestras (major)??
And who will get the gig when he retires?
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-08-05 13:49
"And who will get the gig when he retires?"
GOD is the only one I can think of?
Stanley is a living legend, and still plays great every night, even after 55+ years with the NY Philharmonic. Bless you, Stanley, and be well my friend.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-08-05 13:59
There's a chance whoever replaces him hasn't even been born yet.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-08-05 14:40
76 isn't so old anymore. My dad is 81 and drives me crazy with all the things he can do. He'll complain, "I'm so tired today." I'll reply, "Well, Dad, what did you do today?" To which he says, "I went to the barber shop to work for a few hours (he's been retired for years but still barbers), then when I got home I went to play golf and played 18 holes." I can't do that and I'm 55. Of course, I never could cut hair.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-08-05 14:51
Somewhere in a closet is a reed that ages while Stanley doesn't.
Frank Miller was pretty grey around the edges at the end of his 50+ year career, and Bud Herseth's tenure was also in the mid-50's on his retirement.
I think there is something about the mental and physical process of playing that keeps us young and sharp. The man is a machine, and he just keeps cranking out the hits.
Whoever gets that gig some day in the far far distant future is going to be one hell of a player. A whole generation waited for and never got a bite at that apple, so the pent-up talent ready for a shot is huge. I'd buy tickets to listen to those auditions.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 14:57
I have a student who's 80. He's learning to read music after playing by ear for years and years.
He calls me a couple of months ago to say "David, I'm not sure if I can make this weeks lesson. Ya see, I was changing a lightbulb and the dryer tipped over...."
HUH???? WTF?
"Well, I was standing on the dryer to change the bulb and it tipped over and we both went down - I cut my wrist slightly, not sure if I'll be up for playing this week".......
He made the lesson
:)
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-08-05 15:03
His other great passion is his boat.
Perhaps he fishes.
And we all know that "time spent fishing is not deducted from your life."
His voice (replete with a trace Brooklyn accent) can be heard commenting on the Leonard Bernstein biography segments being broadcast on PBS radio.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-08-05 15:38
Seriously folks, I believe that reading and playing music is very good for our mental outlook. Like memory, if we constantly exercise it we will have a stronger mind. Of course, we have to take care of the physical as well, right Allan?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-08-05 16:20
The good news and the bad news:
Drucker isn't planning on stopping.
In the meantime, an entire generation of clarinetists have come and gone while Stanley has sat principal with the NYP.
BTW - Drucker's mouthpiece is about the same age that he is...GBK
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 16:20
A year before Leopold Stokowski's death in 1977, the 94 year old signed a new six-year recording contract.
Cahuzac wasn't still principal at that time though - was he?
Gigliotti recorded a few CD's after he retired also.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-08-05 16:21
I have the Cahuzac recording of the Hindemith that Ken Shaw refers to, and the playing is awesome -- you'd think the guy was in his thirties.....
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Author: noahbob
Date: 2005-08-05 16:39
There is a rumor going around that stanley is retiring this year. My tutor told me he happens to be good friends with him. My teacher used to be the principal in the florida philharmonic, unitil their recent unfortunate demise. The man replacing stanley will most likely be Mark Nuccio. He is very good and has played on alot of different movie soundtracks and recordings. His is also the assistant principal so it would make sense lol. It also seems Stanley isn't doing much solo performances and ensembles this season, and mark and the other clarineteists are. So it is probable that he is nearing retirement soon and is likely that we will se a new principal clarinetust of the NYC phil for the 06-07 season.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-08-05 16:48
noahbob wrote:
> It also seems Stanley isn't doing much solo
> performances and ensembles this season
Stanley is still performing actively in numerous chamber music and solo performances in and outside the NYC area. (perhaps not as many in the summer, because he loves his boat, which he often docks out here)
Last month he performed in the same music festival that I was also fortunate enough to play in.
http://www.musicfestivalofthehamptons.com/ ...GBK
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-08-05 18:09
Noah......don't spread things around that you don't really know about.
Bradley
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 20:01
"His is also the assistant principal so it would make sense lol."
----------------------------------------
Actually no, it wouldn't.
Would be interesting to see a list of who folks "have their money on" to get it. Only problem with that would be keeping the negative comments completely out of it such as "o, he isn't any good, it really should be xxxxx" or garbage like that.
The thread would get closed pretty quickly if that happened.
So, logically it would be from among a pool of very, very highly qualified applicants - but would it be an up an comer who's a monster in their 20's, or someone who's already quite seasoned in their 30's or even 40's? Certainly it "could" even be somebody in their 50's.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-08-05 21:12
I think the only sure bet is that Stanley's eventual replacement will be someone with several years of seasoning as principal in a good orchestra. Stanley himself came up that way. So did Larry Combs. Robert Marcellus and Harold Wright each played for several years in the National Symphony before moving on to Cleveland and Boston. Ricardo Morales did the same at the Metropolitan Opera before going to Philadelphia.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-05 21:40
Yup, but then there are also guys like Joshua Smith on Flute, the young David Shifrin, Bassonist David McGill (I came in 2nd to him in a Phila. Comp - got beaten by a Bassonist.... ((and rightfully so)) , and Judith LeClair who got Principal Basson with NY at 23, and the new Met. Principal Cl who is really young.
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/trends/03/01/nyphil.bassoon/
is a really good article on Judy LeClair - at 41 she was talking about retiring in the next 10 years......
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2005-08-06 15:01
Drucker's age surprises me. He looks a lot younger than that to me and he certainly plays as if he doesn't need to think about retiring any time soon. Then again, I think it's true that people stay young longer now than we used to.
mloss wrote,
>>Somewhere in a closet is a reed that ages while Stanley doesn't. >>
LOL! Yup, I think you've figured out the secret.
But seriously (very seriously, since I'm already 57, don't own a time machine or one of those special reeds and never came close to professional quality playing to begin with...), I've known a lot of musicians who stayed healthy and active, both mentally and physically, far longer than average. Some studies seem to show that the mental activity of music is good for the brain, but I also think that some instruments may help people stay fit longer, and I think clarinet may be one of those. Playing the clarinet should work pretty well as a breathing exercise; and also, wanting to be sure of enough breath for playing the clarinet may encourage people to continue with other forms of exercise.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-06 15:07
I'm only 5 months younger than Stanley and I'm playing better than I ever did. My guess would be that IF there is any thought to his stepping aside it wouldn't have anything to do with his musical ability. I'm nowhere in his league, mind you, just noting that age doesn't necessarily have anything to do with continuing to play.
Bob Draznik
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-08-06 18:46
Hello,
If Mr. Drucker retires within the next 5 years, I would put a lot of money on a bet that Ricardo Morales would be the next principal of the New York Philharmonic. I've hung out with him quite a lot recently and he obviously misses New York City. I guess someone would have to beat him at that audition, which seems unlikely to me.
I did see Mr. Drucker a couple of months ago and he does look incredibly young. I've heard of people living up to 120 years--who knows? I think if I had the chance to leave an unsurpassable legacy, I would play just as long as I possibly could. George Burns kept performing until 100, but he didn't have to find a reed that worked every night!
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-06 20:45
"but he didn't have to find a reed that worked every night!"
I have heard there is a new product coming out soon....Viagara for reeds.
Bob Draznik
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-06 20:55
Ricardo would probably be the 2 to 1 bet whereas all others would start at 3:1 and above.
He still teaches at Juilliard - it would be a much shorter commute
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2005-08-06 21:16
My student is 86. A fellow that plays clarinet in our Trad Jazz groups is 94. He said to me "I am really sorry but I need to sit down now when I play." We all usually stand up for our set. I hope I'm still out there wailing when I'm 94. He plays very well and has a beautiful tone.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-08-06 21:56
Playing is physically and mentally great for all ages - especially the elderly.
Gigliotti used to say that the problem with getting older for players is that they don't hear the upper frequencies as well and if they aren't playing full time that they tend to "loose it" and not even know (not their hearing, but the quality of their playing).
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-07 11:22
"There are no elderly clarinetists."......Douglas MacArthur
Bob Draznik
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Author: Keil
Date: 2005-08-07 16:19
i wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find Jon Manasse as Drucker's successor.
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-08-09 17:05
Don't forget Julian Egerton who was in his 90s and still playing professionally in the 1940s. But he was no longer at the top of the tree and had never changed over from Albert system. It is a pity he never recorded despite the enormous overlap with recording technology, so we will never know if he was really all that good. But he was a leading British player in his heyday.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-08-09 17:29
Hello Mr. Draznik,
That's a great quote from Douglas McArthur. Where did you hear that? Do you know anything about a context? Thanks.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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