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Together Norman and I have shared countless musical moments. They have not all been transcendent - no honest musician will tell you that every moment in performance is all he would hope it would be. But there have been many, many special moments that we have shared, moments that have forever shaped me. Mahler 7 with Bernard Haitink, Bruckner 3 with Kurt Sanderling, recording sessions with John Williams, premieres of Norman's compositions, "Le Grotte Cosquer" (duet for tenor and bass trombone) and "Passions of Survival" (for trombone and orchestra - I conducted the premiere with Norman as soloist). I could not name them all if I tried. But they are all out there, moments in time that inform other moments. And after today, they take on a new kind of meaning because I know that Norman and I will not create any more of those moments together as members of the Boston Symphony.
While this transition is difficult and very emotional for me - after all, Norman and I are good friends who have shared music over the last two + decades of working together - I am very happy for him. Norman and I are nearly the same age - he is five months older than me - but his life path brought him to the Boston Symphony 10 years before I came in 1985; I held many other jobs before I came to Boston (playing for four years in the Baltimore Symphony, working as a high school band director for two years and free lancing in New York City for three years). As a result, Norman has an opportunity to take advantage of retirement from the Boston Symphony at a relatively young age. He has many plans for whatever days he is given in his future. You can read about Norman and his activities on his blog, frequencybone.blogspot.com and on the website for the company he and his wife manage that is the umbrella for the publication of Norman's compositions and his and Carol's shared musical endeavor, the "Frequency Band," which is Air-ev Productions.
There is much, much more I could write about such a friend as Norman, and the meaning of this transition. But for now, it is best for me to use the words that cannot be spoken. I wish my friend well in his new journey and look forward to the continued development of our friendship in the days ahead. This photo, taken by BSO principal oboist John Ferrillo just a few days ago, shows Ron, Norman and me at Symphony Hall. I like this photo. I like it a lot. There are many stories behind our eyes. And many more yet to be told.
Douglas Yeo. All rights reserved. |