>from: Steve Tarter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >I have just heard that the horn world has lost another great >statesman...<snipt> >James Winter (a former teacher, mentor and friend<snipt>
Hornfolks: Jim's kindly intervention is one big reason I still play horn today. He was playing in the Fresno Philharmonic when they did Bruckner 8. I had been hired in to sub on one of the extra horn/Wagner tuba parts and was given an extra mouthpiece for the tuba in order to facilitate swaps between the two. We held extra tuben rehearsals before every single full orchestra set including the dress and concert for purposes of tuning the instruments (which were horrifically out of tune to begin with). After just one week of this, my chops gave out for no discernable reason. I had no idea that part of this was due to the fact the mouthpieces had different rim sizes. Other byplays in the tuben section compounded difficulties. After a particularly rough rehearsal where nothing seemed to go right, Jim followed me backstage as he had noticed the entire tuben section was having severe problems close to concert time. He concluded that I was having some serious trouble with my chops after I described the difficulties and very kindly offered me lessons at his home to attempt to diagnose and remedy the problem. It only took him about 5 minutes to inform me that the mouthpieces were different. In addition, I had been unconsciously 'dropping my jaw'; thereby increasing the aperture of my embouchure to a point where generating a buzz was almost impossible without using heavy pressure (not at all in my book). After one hour of lesson and about two days of practicing on some particular etudes (as well as giving up one of the mouthpieces) and I was as good as new. We all recognize Jim as an outstanding hornist in his own right as well as an excellent teacher. I also recognize him as one of the kindest people I have had the privilege to work with. I thanked Jim before, many years back on this very list-and I shall do so again for the last time. Jim, you will be sorely missed. Rachel Harvey _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
