Thirty-two letters on Stockhausen's Zyklus, a lesson at Juilliard, and two DVDs that took a hundred and one days to reach the post office.
Autumn 2005
MN–01
13 October 2005 New York
Hi—
My name is Michael Caterisano and I'm a percussion student at Juilliard, where I study with Dan Druckman. I've been working on Zyklus for several months and I'm basically at a point where I feel comfortable running the piece, although there are a few more changes I'd like to make. I really like the way you play the piece — I have a CD which has four different recordings of you playing it — and I'm wondering if you have any free time to give me a coaching of some sort. I know you worked closely with Stockhausen, and I'd be very interested to hear what your thoughts are about Zyklus and its performance challenges. My recital is not until December 20th, so if you have any free time before then, I'd appreciate it immensely if I could talk to you about the piece and play it for you.
Thanks,
Michael
MN–02
15 October 2005 Capri
Michael,
Thank you.
Yes, I would be willing give you some coaching. I am in fact now in the process of planning a trip to the US for November or early December. I will let you know as soon as these plans have been finalized.
In the meantime are you familiar with the Wergo LP with an article by me explaining the various techniques I developed for Zyklus?
regards,
Max Neuhaus
MN–03
15 October 2005 New York
Mr. Neuhaus—
Thanks so much for responding! It would be fantastic if you were available during either of those months. What is your standard fee for coachings?
I'm not sure if the CD that I have is a reprint of the LP you're talking about, but I did read the liner notes and there was a discussion of how you conceptualized the piece — I think it talked about how you made an effort to maintain the idea of spontaneity during performances by knowing the score well enough to make decisions on the fly and play the piece differently every time. I also know that you thoroughly explored playing the piece at different starting points and experimented with different orientations, which I have yet to explore myself. I'm not sure if there was an article by you or if it was just an extended bio, but I'll take another look. It's possible that we have that LP in your library as well.
Anyway, I really appreciate your response and look forward to hearing from you about when you might be available.
Thanks,
Michael Caterisano
MN–04
18 October 2005 Capri
Michael,
Perhaps there is another way to go about this. Rather than making this a one off, why not ask Dan if he would like to make this coaching session into a 'Master Class' on Zyklus. Julliard could also video tape it making it available for future generations as well.
The recording is but the liner notes are much more extensive than what is on the Alga Marghen CD.
That would be good. Please let me know if you can't find it.
Regards,
Max Neuhaus
MN–05
26 October 2005 New York
Mr. Neuhaus—
I spoke with Dan about your proposal and he says that he is very interested, but he will probably need to talk to you about possible times to do such a class. His email address is DanDruck@aol.com if you'd like to let him know about your travel plans when they're solidified. Let me know,
Michael
MN–06
26 October 2005 Capri — to Dan Druckman
Dear Dan,
Yes, our mutual friend Jan Williams told me you were at Julliard.
Having never done a master class before I am not quite sure what the usual practice is. My idea when Michael wrote me was just to open up the coaching session to others and video tape it for the future — basically listening to those who play Zyklus, commenting and answering questions for an hour or two. I won't be playing, of course, as I stopped more thirty years ago.
The dates for my trip have now been fixed. At the moment I am open at any time period on November 15th, 18th, 19th or the morning of the 21st, but I will be making other appointments over the next few days so we should fix the time quickly, now.
With kind regards,
Max Neuhaus
PS Perhaps we should invite Jan down as well?
Dan replies: a class on Zyklus would be wonderful, but every percussion slot that week is spoken for. "Perhaps another time down the road — it's a great idea."
MN–07
2 November 2005 New York
Mr. Neuhaus—
I just got the email Dan sent about how the masterclass doesn't quite work timewise, but I'd still love to at least meet up with you while you're in town and hopefully play for you. Let me know what your availability is.
Thanks a lot,
Michael
MN–08
2 November 2005 Capri
Michael,
Yes, let's try to do this. Let me wait until next week when my schedule has filled out a little more before we fix a time.
Where are you set up to play?
Did you find the liner notes from Wergo record?
Regards,
Max Neuhaus
MN–09
2 November 2005 New York
I'm set up at Juilliard in one of our practice rooms. I haven't been able to find the liner notes for the particular record you're talking about. Let me know if you know a place where I might be able to find them.
Michael
MN–10
4 November 2005 Capri
Michael,
I managed to dig these out of the archive for you.
Regards,
Max
Encl. — Wergo Zyklus notesMN–11
11 November 2005 New York
Michael,
How about meeting for an hour on Tuesday the 15th at noon? Perhaps we could first meet in a cafe nearby to make your practice room easier for me to find. Do you have a cell phone?
Did you receive my email with the Wergo record liner notes attached?
Regards,
Max Neuhaus
MN–12
11 November 2005 New York
Max—
Unfortunately, I'm not available on Tuesday or Wednesday… I'm supposed to be an extra in this movie and I have to be at some movie studio all day on the 15th and 16th. How long are you in town? Are there any other days that work?
Michael
MN–13
11 November 2005
Michael,
I'll be in town through the morning of the 21st but my schedule is getting a bit tight.
How about doing it Saturday or Sunday?
Regards,
Max
MN–14
11 November 2005
Max—
Either of those days would be great. I'm free until 5:00 on Saturday and all day Sunday. Let me know when a good time for you is.
Michael
MN–15
11 November 2005
Michael,
Let's plan on noon on Sunday and confirm on Friday. I'll call you on your cell as I may be seeing my email only sporadically next week.
Regards,
Max
MN–16
11 November 2005
Sounds great! Do we need to discuss a fee for this meeting?
Michael
MN–17
12 November 2005
Michael,
I have no idea what would be appropriate.
We could save it for the Master Class if that happens.
Regards,
Max
MN–18
16 November 2005
Max—
Would it be possible if a friend of mine watched the lesson and it was video taped? If not there's no problem. Let me know,
Michael
The lesson takes place in person — Sunday the 20th of November, at noon, in a Juilliard practice room. A friend runs the camera.
MN–19
29 November 2005 Capri
Michael,
Below is my postal address again for the DVD to avoid possible mistakes in reading my handwriting.
Please mark it airmail (if not they actually do send it by sea) and let me know when it goes off.
Max Neuhaus Villa Cesina via Belvedere Cesina 55 I-80073 Capri Italy
Could I also ask you to send a copy at the same time to:
Chris Molinski 317 North Gay Street Knoxville, TN 37917
If your recital is video taped, please send me a DVD of it also rather than just an audio recording.
regards,
Max
MN–20
29 November 2005 New York
Max—
I'm still working on putting the video of our meeting on DVD, but as soon as I'm done with that I'll send it to both of those addresses. I'll also definitely send you a DVD of my recital. Thanks again for making time to listen to me play. I got some interesting ideas from our meeting that I think I'll be able to apply.
Michael
December 20th: the recital — on the first day of the New York transit strike.
Winter 2006
MN–21
9 January 2006 Capri
Michael,
What ever happened to the DVDs of the tutorial and your recital you were going to send?
Best wishes for the new year and regards,
Max
MN–22
9 January 2006 New York
Max—
Just got the DVD of my recital, working on copies. Still trying to figure out how to transfer that video cassette onto DVD. Maybe I can get the recording department to do it. Can you send me your address one more time just in case I can't find that piece of paper?
Michael
MN–23
9 January 2006 Capri
Michael,
How did it go?
Yes — or perhaps someone with a newish Mac computer with the iDVD program.
Yes, the two addresses that each get the DVDs are the Villa Cesina on Capri, and Chris Molinski in Knoxville.
Regards,
Max
MN–24
9 January 2006 New York
Max—
The recital went well, I was happy :-). Unfortunately, it happened on the first day of the transit strike, which I'm sure you heard about, so I walked from 125th. The flute player with whom I was playing walked from Williamsburg… crazy. Anyway, thanks for sending the addresses, and I'll send the DVDs out as soon as I can.
Michael
MN–25
27 January 2006 Capri
Michael,
Nice to hear of such perseverance!
Have you been able to get the DVDs off yet?
Regards,
Max
Same afternoon, to a friend: "dude — can you help me get that video of max neuhaus onto dvd? he wants a copy…"
MN–26
6 February 2006 Capri
Michael,
Have you fallen off the edge of the earth?
Did you see this email from the week before last?
regards,
Max
Two minutes later, to the same friend: "help. I need to transfer that neuhaus class to dvd. do you have the tape? HELP"
MN–27
8 February 2006 New York
Max—
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you :-) Sorry it has been taking me so long… things have been crazy. I promise I will send both DVDs as soon as possible, but feel free to keep reminding me if it seems like I've forgotten.
Michael
MN–28
11 February 2006
Michael,
Does this mean you already have them on DVD and only trying to find a moment to go to the post office?
Max
MN–29
11 February 2006
It does. I'll try to have them sent by the end of the week. Again, sorry for the delay, and thanks for your interest in seeing the recital (and the class you gave) :-)
Michael
MN–30
14 February 2006
Michael,
Great!
Please email me when they are in the mail.
regards,
Max
MN–31
21 February 2006
Michael
…and did they in fact get off last week?
Max
MN–32
21 February 2006
Max—
Trying to get the percussion department to pay for a few copies, and then they will be sent ASAP. Sorry again for the delay. The video has been successfully transferred though, and I should be able to mail it any day.
Michael
Spring 2006
MN–33
1 March 2006 New York
Max—
You'll never believe it, but as of a couple of days ago, your DVDs are on the way! I enclosed a DVD of your class, and a DVD and CD of my recital. I also sent the same to your friend in Tennessee. I hope you get them soon and enjoy them. Again, I'm very sorry about the delay, and thanks again so much for listening to me play and for your interest in hearing the recording!
Also, you might remember me telling you about an ensemble I'm in — the New York Miniaturist Ensemble — that commissioned a new Stockhausen piece. We performed it last Thursday, and our concert was reviewed by Musical America. I'll forward you the review in another email.
Michael
Encl. — "Stockhausen's New Piece (of a Piece of a Piece of a Piece)"MN–34
25 March 2006 Capri
Michael,
Thanks for sending these and congratulations on your recital — it clearly demonstrates what a well rounded performer you are.
regards,
Max Neuhaus
MN–35
25 March 2006 New York
Max—
I'm so glad to hear that the recordings made it to you. Thanks again so much for coming to hear me play, and I hope we'll stay in touch.