Honoring Stanley Drucker: Inside the Final Volumes of the Heritage Collection Coda
by Jerome Bunke and Marco Varisco
Date Posted: December 12, 2024
Remembering Stanley
Stanley Drucker is recognized as being one of the most influential clarinetists of our time. A legend of the New York Philharmonic, Stanley holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a Clarinetist; performing for an astonishing 62 years, 7 months, and 1 day.
The somber two-year anniversary of Stanley’s passing is fast approaching this month, and while it may seem that the book has long since closed on any additions to his musical legacy, Stanley Drucker’s “Coda” has finally arrived.
History Behind the Heritage Collection
Stanley Drucker retired from the New York Philharmonic in 2009, but his musical career was defined by much more than being first chair. Drucker generously shared his artistry, musicianship, and craftsmanship in even the most humbled venues such as houses of worship, libraries, schools, and other community spaces. Many of these performances survive in the form of recordings that were eventually archived by Drucker’s longtime student and friend, producer Jerome Bunke.
Bunke along with Clover Field Recordings have worked extensively to collect more than 50 years of Stanley Drucker’s previous live and studio recordings. The result of this effort is a more than decade-long compendium project known as the Stanley Drucker Heritage Collection.
At the time of his passing in 2022, the Heritage Collection consisted of 9 volumes of CDs, with the next installments of the project in mid-production. Bunke’s team was fortunate to get Stanley’s final approval and blessing on the repertoire, but the mood and focus of the project naturally shifted after everyone received the unfortunate news on December 19th of that year.
David Bernard conducting Stanley Drucker’s performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, November 2014. Courtesy of David Bernard.
About Coda
The final installment of the Stanley Drucker Heritage Collection, appropriately named Coda, lives up to its name in more ways than one. Not only do these volumes intend to showcase the last of Stanley’s unreleased but masterful material, but also feature and highlight the great musical community that revolved around him as well. This includes featured performances by Stanley’s wife Naomi, as well as written tributes from those that worked intimately with Stanley throughout his career.
Some tributes are featured below:
“[Stanley’s] music still stands as “must play” repertoire and “must listen” music for millions of fans. His renditions of the Bartók Contrasts (recorded by Peter Bartók with Mann and Hambro) and the Debussy Première Rhapsodie, along with the Nielsen and Corigliano Concertos [will] make you see what national treasures are all about.
Since my affiliation with Vandoren, I have had the opportunity to get to know Stanley as a person - beyond the clarinetist - and it was then I realized why he’s such a talent. Not only is he gifted when it comes to the mechanics of the instrument, but his humanity, sense of humor, generosity, and passion that I have experienced in person is present in his playing. That’s why Stanley’s playing is so special. He touches you at every level.”
Michel Skinner, President of Dansr, Inc, U.S. importer for Vandoren products
Stanley Drucker instructing a young student of the All City High School Orchestra, March 15, 1975 - Photograph by the NYC Board of Education. Courtesy of the New York Philharmonic Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Archives.
"Legendary performers have always inspired composers. Many of our favorite works were created for such superstars as Stadler, Baermann, Hermstedt and Benny Goodman.
In the 20th Century, Stanley Drucker’s legendary name stands out! It was his extraordinary and fearless virtuosity that the young John Corigliano had heard when imagining the wild capabilities of Stanley’s clarinet.
It was an absolutely thrilling evening, when at Avery Fisher Hall in 1977 Stanley danced onto the stage to unleash a dazzling flourish of virtuosity that our world had not yet experienced. This was to be one of the most legendary performances of the modern era.”
Franklin Cohen - Principal Clarinet Emeritus of The Cleveland Orchestra
“There is no one like Stanley Drucker. He set the gold standard for clarinetists around the world, and did this for more than 60 years. He is a true icon.”
John Corigliano - Composer
Stanley Drucker. Courtesy of the New York Philharmonic Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Archives, c. 1970’s.
“Stanley Drucker was a force in the music world. As colleagues in the New York Philharmonic for 30 years, I got to hear him from one row away. Stanley was one of the greatest musicians I had the privilege to work with. His imagination, creativity, beauty, and facility pushed the limits of what is possible on the clarinet.”
Mindy Kaufman - Solo Piccolo and Flutist of The New York Philharmonic
“He plays every piece like he was playing it still for the first time.”
Carl Schiebler -New York Philharmonic Orchestra Personnel Manager 1986-2016
“Stanley Drucker is an artist for the ages. His musical legacy will live on through his brilliant recorded performances, many being released on the Heritage Collection for the very first time."
Mitchell Estrin - Professor of Clarinet University of Florida
Author of “Stanley Drucker: Clarinet Master"
Stanley Drucker with clarinetist/producer Jerome Bunke and pianist Kazuko Hayami, October 25, 2022.
“I am honored and humbled to have played a part in the Stanley Drucker Heritage Collection. Examining the scope of the project and the breadth of Stanley Drucker’s artistic output, as soloist and chamber musician, represented in this set are incredible. A talent like his rivals that of the legend of classical music. Please enjoy the Coda of this project as much as I do.”
David Gould - Director of Vandoren Artist Relations in the US for DANSR.
Sitting in the orchestra and hearing Stanley play all the major repertoire for so many years was an inspiration. However, playing chamber music with him constantly throughout our friendship, with all the intimacy that chamber entails, was a revelation.
There was not much need for excessive conversation about the music. As with the great conductors, most of the communication is made with the hands, facial gestures and the eyes. Stanley was the EYE Man! He would always be looking, communicating, touching base, while indicating either subtle or more obvious musical expressions.
Stanley, ever so playfully, would navigate this intimate and extremely transparent music through his depth of insight, his inexhaustible imagination and those communicative eyes that always resulted in fresh and spontaneous music making.
In the course of a lifetime as a musician one meets so many great musicians, but few are blessed with the combination of virtuosity, musicianship, generosity and inspiration that we see in such abundance in our dear friend Stanley Drucker.
Leonard Hindell - Bassoonist
December 2016
Stanley Drucker playing the Copland Clarinet Concerto with Leonard Bernstein conducting. September 9, 1970. Courtesy of Clover Field Recordings.
“In rehearsals, Stanley was particularly focused on the precise rhythms. He would often subdivide even small notes. But at a performance, he was totally free and spontaneous with rubato, improvisatory color and dynamic changes. It was utterly exciting and full of fun to play with him. Stanley had an amazing stamina and concentration; he called it mind control. Stanley told a reporter that he tried to bring the audience to a fantasy world with the first three notes. I think even the first note was magical!”
Kazuko Hayami - Pianist
December 2016
“[Stanley Drucker] was a musician who was so incredibly creative, imaginative, and had a technique like Heifetz. He knew how to magically bend time in his musical phrasing without disturbing fearlessness and youthful spirit. His sound was and is so unique and recognizable that there is never any question as to who is playing that fantastic clarinet solo on a recording. There is only one Stanley Drucker!”
Glenn Dicterow
Concertmaster, New York Philharmonic (ret.)
How to Order the Heritage Collection Coda
The just released final edition of the CD collection, Coda, consists of volumes 10 to 14. Special features include:
- Stanley's only recording of the MOZART CLARINET CONCERTO, led by famed Park Avenue Chamber Symphony conductor David Bernard
- Live performance of the Spohr Concerto No. 3
- Live performance of Berio’s Sequenza IXa for Clarinet Solo
- Bonus interviews with Stanley Drucker
- A 44-page booklet containing photos, tributes, and detailed program notes
Stanley Drucker’s playing reflected the spontaneity and zest that he exhibited in living a full life. Heritage Collection: Coda holds a bitter-sweet connotation, but his participation and blessing affirms Coda as being an invaluable addition to Stanley’s discography.
To purchase this CD set, go to digitalforce.com and use promo code "SD 2025" on the order form. Take the musical journey of a lifetime with Stanley Drucker through the Stanley Drucker Heritage Collection.
Also, take advantage of special bundles and signed copies of other editions while supplies last.