Went to see the NY Phil perform this in October with Anthony McGill on clarinet. Such a great piece, as you describe, but the orchestra was flat with Rafael Payare conducting. They needed any sort of bounce and lightness. After the intermission came a bland performance of Tchaikovsky Pathetique. Looking forward to hearing your teachers performance!
Jealous you got to see Tony McGill perform this! Love his playing (and check out his recording of the Mozart Quintet if you haven't done so already).
Your experience at the Phil doesn't surprise me. I believe orchestras have gotten so used to playing heavy, hyperemotional works from 1850 to 1950 — Brahms, Mahler, Strauss, Shostakovich — that the style of 18th-century music feels increasingly foreign. Bounce and lightness are not attributes I'd use to describe NYP performance I've seen — but they are, indeed, critical!
Thank you for this beautiful piece. It transports me...I can still taste the reed! And smell the cork wax! I loved my Selmer Signet, and I can still see it resting in the bright blue crushed velour inside its black case. I played it with joy all through childhood! Then shrugged it off--sold it for $100--as a high school student. Thought it was something I didn't have "time" for... sigh... I wonder where she is now...?
Oh my goodness, Ann — the cork grease! My mind had completely blocked that aspect of clarinet maintenance. (Didn't it have the oddest smell?!) 🤣
I loved the crushed velour interior so much. In fact, I would leave the case open in my room the first couple of years, because I just adored the look of the different pieces lying so beautifully in the soft lining of the case.
Thank you for being here, and for your lovely comment. 💙
I remember being in junior school and we were given a choice of instruments to study. I chose the violin because for some reason I thought it would be the cheapest - turned out the lessons were all free, and the violin teacher was terrifying, so eventually I gave it up! My mum paid for some piano lessons for me which I studied for a while but we couldn't afford a decent piano so that went west too. Finally I more or less taught myself to play the guitar which I enjoyed, but like you with the clarinet I haven't picked it up in a decade. A shame really. Maybe you will go back to it one day. It is really is an amazing feeling to play your own music. Thanks for this lovely piece. I needed some calm today and this hit the spot! 💙
Oh Jules, thank you — I'm so glad Mozart and I were able to bring you some calm today!
Thank you for sharing your first experiences with music lessons. My first private teacher in high school also terrified me. A gruff former band director who sat and chain-smoked during every single one of my lessons. (What a different time back then!)
I do miss playing music, and I have my eyes on a Greek lyre I hope to purchase sometime in the next year. I can't think of anything more relaxing than just softly strumming the afternoon away with some hypnotic ancient tunes. 💙
Oh wow, Michael! Thank you for sharing this little (big!) piece of your life! I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never heard clarinet like this before. I didn’t want it to end! Mesmerizing to say the least! And the epitome of melancholy…an acute joyful sadness that felt so palpable as I listened and thought about both your journey and your nostalgia. So much brought you to this moment in time with us in this quiet corner of the internet. It’s enough to make a gal verklempt! 🥹
Thanks, Katie! Writing this one made me as verklempt as you felt reading it. 💙
I'm so glad this music brought you closer to the singular beauty of the clarinet's voice. If you loved the concerto, be sure to also check out the quintet!
So interesting by to hear about your complex relationship with the clarinet, Michael. What a piece to allow your developed love for the instrument to shine! 💙💙
Went to see the NY Phil perform this in October with Anthony McGill on clarinet. Such a great piece, as you describe, but the orchestra was flat with Rafael Payare conducting. They needed any sort of bounce and lightness. After the intermission came a bland performance of Tchaikovsky Pathetique. Looking forward to hearing your teachers performance!
Jealous you got to see Tony McGill perform this! Love his playing (and check out his recording of the Mozart Quintet if you haven't done so already).
Your experience at the Phil doesn't surprise me. I believe orchestras have gotten so used to playing heavy, hyperemotional works from 1850 to 1950 — Brahms, Mahler, Strauss, Shostakovich — that the style of 18th-century music feels increasingly foreign. Bounce and lightness are not attributes I'd use to describe NYP performance I've seen — but they are, indeed, critical!
Agree - I saw Dudamel conduct the NYP in a program with Ginastera and Ravel and they sounded so great. Excited for his tenure to start.
Thank you for this beautiful piece. It transports me...I can still taste the reed! And smell the cork wax! I loved my Selmer Signet, and I can still see it resting in the bright blue crushed velour inside its black case. I played it with joy all through childhood! Then shrugged it off--sold it for $100--as a high school student. Thought it was something I didn't have "time" for... sigh... I wonder where she is now...?
Oh my goodness, Ann — the cork grease! My mind had completely blocked that aspect of clarinet maintenance. (Didn't it have the oddest smell?!) 🤣
I loved the crushed velour interior so much. In fact, I would leave the case open in my room the first couple of years, because I just adored the look of the different pieces lying so beautifully in the soft lining of the case.
Thank you for being here, and for your lovely comment. 💙
What a lovely piece - the post and the music!
I remember being in junior school and we were given a choice of instruments to study. I chose the violin because for some reason I thought it would be the cheapest - turned out the lessons were all free, and the violin teacher was terrifying, so eventually I gave it up! My mum paid for some piano lessons for me which I studied for a while but we couldn't afford a decent piano so that went west too. Finally I more or less taught myself to play the guitar which I enjoyed, but like you with the clarinet I haven't picked it up in a decade. A shame really. Maybe you will go back to it one day. It is really is an amazing feeling to play your own music. Thanks for this lovely piece. I needed some calm today and this hit the spot! 💙
Oh Jules, thank you — I'm so glad Mozart and I were able to bring you some calm today!
Thank you for sharing your first experiences with music lessons. My first private teacher in high school also terrified me. A gruff former band director who sat and chain-smoked during every single one of my lessons. (What a different time back then!)
I do miss playing music, and I have my eyes on a Greek lyre I hope to purchase sometime in the next year. I can't think of anything more relaxing than just softly strumming the afternoon away with some hypnotic ancient tunes. 💙
Gorgeous. Thank you.
Thank *you,* Christy — glad you enjoyed!
Oh wow, Michael! Thank you for sharing this little (big!) piece of your life! I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never heard clarinet like this before. I didn’t want it to end! Mesmerizing to say the least! And the epitome of melancholy…an acute joyful sadness that felt so palpable as I listened and thought about both your journey and your nostalgia. So much brought you to this moment in time with us in this quiet corner of the internet. It’s enough to make a gal verklempt! 🥹
Thanks, Katie! Writing this one made me as verklempt as you felt reading it. 💙
I'm so glad this music brought you closer to the singular beauty of the clarinet's voice. If you loved the concerto, be sure to also check out the quintet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7V5mLLzT_A&t=33s
So interesting by to hear about your complex relationship with the clarinet, Michael. What a piece to allow your developed love for the instrument to shine! 💙💙
Complex, indeed — many wounds over the years, resulting in beautiful scars of strength today. Thanks for reading and listening, Kate! 💙