The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Celebrating the King Of Swing at Yale

Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-25 20:44

Well I didn't say the film was accurate or the acting was good I said you should rent it. I have't seen it since I was in high school, maybe once a few years late on the late late show, but I do remember it was a great inspiration to me and all my clarinet playing friends. Goodman was very much alive when that film was released so I assumed it at least had some truth to it, if not the details of his life up to then at least the gist of how he got to where he was at that time in his life. I've seen many films in my life that were not accurate about history or someones life that was still inspiring and interesting. Hollywood has always taken liberties to make their films "more interesting", which is too bad of course. It was especially true back in those days.
What I do remember about it was that it told that he began studying clarinet as a serious student, I seem to recall the Lazarus or major etude book on his music stand near the beginning of the movie and then doing what he did best, play swing. It's a little like George Gershwin learning how to play the piano, getting a job playing in a music store playing the newest sheet music and then getting fired for doing his own thing. In both cases the rest is history. I still recommend seeing it if you're a clarinet player. By the way, I studied with Eric Simon several years after Goodman took lessons with him to learn the "Mozart style" before making his Mozart recordings. ESP

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics