Early Influences, Part 2

When we left off in Part 1, I had just traveled to Cleveland to play for George Szell and a short while thereafter, I was offered a position in the Cleveland Orchestra. Well, a few weeks into my first season Szell was frustrated with my ensemble sense and knowledge of the music.

“Your father was such a good musician- what happened to you?” He continued, “ You don’t know the music, you are staring at your part, as if seeing it for the first time, you don’t know how to play with the conductor or your colleagues and the other choirs of the orchestra!”

I, of course, at 18 was in tears. But I recognized that he was right. And the greatest journey of my education began. (more…)

Early Influences, Part 1

In thinking over those highpoints or turning points of ones life it is difficult, without some distance and perspective, to weigh the importance, both positive and negative, of life’s happenings. I would have to start with the choice that my parents made when we moved to Dallas from New York City in 55 or 56.

The main cello teacher in town was a woman and my parents felt after the close association with Ruby Wenzel in Westchester N.Y. that I needed a male teacher. So, slightly nervous that this would not be a good move they contacted Lev Aronson, principal of the Dallas symphony, a brilliant pupil of Piatigorsky in Berlin before the war.

Well, he was totally captivating and I am so pleased that there is a life story of Lev just recently published: “The lost cellos of Lev Aronson” by Frances Brent. He was, for a young boy finding his own way with music, a mesmerizing influence. That I very quickly shared with him the overpowering world of music in a way that I somehow couldn’t with my parents was our secret. Lessons lasting over two hours sometimes were the norm and when one of my parents would collect me they somehow sensed not to intrude on our lessons or what we were doing. (more…)

Tales From The Bowl

An old man was walking on the beach and noticed that a little girl was busy picking up stranded starfish and said, “the beach is so long and there are so many starfish it can’t possibly help the starfish to throw them back into the ocean.” She replied, “Well, if I don’t throw them back they will die.” “Well, there are so many it won’t make a difference,” exclaimed the old man. While tossing one back into the water, the little girl replied “I am sure it makes a difference to this one!” (more…)