Comments on: Going Old School http://www.livmusic.com/2006/06/21/going-old-school/ Ruminations on a life behind three buttons Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:40:35 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ken Saul http://www.livmusic.com/2006/06/21/going-old-school/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Ken Saul Thu, 29 Jun 2006 15:54:48 +0000 http://www.livmusic.com/lmi/?p=81#comment-219 My teacher, Joe Alessi Sr., studied with Mr. Glantz when he was at Juilliard. He had many amusing stories about Mr. Glantz. Here are two. When arriving at the lesson, Joe would say "Hello Mr. Glantz", at which he would respond, "Call me Harry." At the next lesson, it was "Hello Mr. Glantz", and the response "Call me Harry." Finally, Joe got up the nerve to say "Hello Harry", and was bitten by "It's 'Mr. Glantz'!" Another story -- Mr. Glantz would demonstrate his etudes, or a portion of them for the student to give them an idea of the style. One lesson, he was standing with his back to Joe and played through one of the very most difficult of the Etudes in his book without missing a single note or nuance. Joe was completely impressed and said "Mr. Glantz, that was wonderful. But I couldn't see what you were doing. Could you turn toward me and play it again?" Mr. Glantz responded, "What are you, crazy???" Mr. Glantz would take a summer vacation every year and leave the principal chair open. Everyone would shift up a chair, leaving the 4th chair open for a student. Joe Alessi often played with the NBC Symphony under this arrangement, before landing jobs with Radio City Music Hall, the Met Orchestra, and many other gigs. -Ken My teacher, Joe Alessi Sr., studied with Mr. Glantz when he was at Juilliard. He had many amusing stories about Mr. Glantz. Here are two.
When arriving at the lesson, Joe would say “Hello Mr. Glantz”, at which he would respond, “Call me Harry.” At the next lesson, it was “Hello Mr. Glantz”, and the response “Call me Harry.” Finally, Joe got up the nerve to say “Hello Harry”, and was bitten by “It’s ‘Mr. Glantz’!”
Another story — Mr. Glantz would demonstrate his etudes, or a portion of them for the student to give them an idea of the style. One lesson, he was standing with his back to Joe and played through one of the very most difficult of the Etudes in his book without missing a single note or nuance. Joe was completely impressed and said “Mr. Glantz, that was wonderful. But I couldn’t see what you were doing. Could you turn toward me and play it again?” Mr. Glantz responded, “What are you, crazy???”
Mr. Glantz would take a summer vacation every year and leave the principal chair open. Everyone would shift up a chair, leaving the 4th chair open for a student. Joe Alessi often played with the NBC Symphony under this arrangement, before landing jobs with Radio City Music Hall, the Met Orchestra, and many other gigs. -Ken

]]> By: Craig Morris http://www.livmusic.com/2006/06/21/going-old-school/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Craig Morris Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:59:24 +0000 http://www.livmusic.com/lmi/?p=81#comment-218 Roy, Thanks for the comment. My teacher, Ray Crisara, played with Harry Glantz in the NBC Symphony under Toscanini. He has so many great stories about his time in New York, both in the studio and with the NBC Symphony. It was a golden era for trumpet players; there was a lot more work and a lot more variety of work for players in those days. Ray Crisara was Principal Trumpet in the Met at the age of 19, but he left that position to go play in the studios for NBC because, in his words, "I just couldn't imagine sitting there playing <i>The Barber of Seville</i> for the rest of my life." That is oviously a huge change from today where one of the best jobs available is playing principal in the Met. Yes, times they are a changin'! Craig Roy,

Thanks for the comment. My teacher, Ray Crisara, played with Harry Glantz in the NBC Symphony under Toscanini. He has so many great stories about his time in New York, both in the studio and with the NBC Symphony. It was a golden era for trumpet players; there was a lot more work and a lot more variety of work for players in those days. Ray Crisara was Principal Trumpet in the Met at the age of 19, but he left that position to go play in the studios for NBC because, in his words, “I just couldn’t imagine sitting there playing The Barber of Seville for the rest of my life.” That is oviously a huge change from today where one of the best jobs available is playing principal in the Met. Yes, times they are a changin’!

Craig

]]> By: Roy Griffin http://www.livmusic.com/2006/06/21/going-old-school/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Roy Griffin Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:59:29 +0000 http://www.livmusic.com/lmi/?p=81#comment-211 Craig, As a youngster Mr. Glantz was my hero. I used to seek out NBC Symphony recordings just to hear him.Even today, my favorite recording is an old LP that has him playing "Quiet City". I have played it for students and been amused at their open mouthed amazement when they hear him. The sad thing is that none of them had ever heard of him! My guess is that they might feel similarly about Mr. Caston and Mr. Mager! Thanks for the post! Roy Griffin Craig,
As a youngster Mr. Glantz was my hero. I used to seek out NBC Symphony recordings just to hear him.Even today, my favorite recording is an old LP that has him playing “Quiet City”. I have played it for students and been amused at their open mouthed amazement when they hear him. The sad thing is that none of them had ever heard of him! My guess is that they might feel similarly about Mr. Caston and Mr. Mager!
Thanks for the post!
Roy Griffin

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