Chapter 4

Not all Heroes are Famous

My home

My wife Barb and I live in an over-55 community where there are no fences separating mostly connected houses and yards. The community is large but close-knit and we are blessed to have many available activities to help foster our feelings of togetherness such as community-owned tennis, paddleball and pickleball courts, golf, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a community library, a fully equipped health/fitness club and I can’t leave out the Saturday night dances. People live here to be part of a greater group and enjoy the companionship of like-minded neighbors to avoid spending their twilight years alone.

A most appreciative audience

As a professional musician I have always been used to a regular practice regimen and still maintain one these days. At this point in my life, I am grateful to have concerts to practice for. Sometimes these ‘concerts’ take the form of hospital visits, memorials or in just a few weeks at the time of this writing, Kol Nidre, (at our local Temple Ner Ami) which is part of the beginning of the service on the eve of Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement. 

Sometimes while practicing, I allow myself to spontaneously drift into almost forgotten, sweet melodies that I have performed and loved in years past by composers such as Irving Berlin, Fritz Kreisler and Johann Strauss. I am entertaining myself and hopefully those within earshot. From time to time a couple of residents named Gwen and Ben, in keeping with the close-knit nature of our community, would stop to listen from outside my window while on their walk and politely make requests for some of their favorite tunes from many decades past. I was happy to oblige them at the time and because this was during Covid I became inspired to perform open-air concerts, which I performed from our porch in the back of our house for all the neighbors to hear. The expanse of green grass was full of colorful blankets with residents enjoying the music, at a distance from one another but at the same time, together.

Introduced to Hank

At some point during our burgeoning friendship, Gwen mentioned to me that her father, Hank, was living out the remainder of his life in a local facility for assisted living care called Aasta Assisting Care Home in Camarillo, CA. 

Gwen spoke with such love about her father.  In high school Hank lettered in basketball and baseball and was offered a tryout by the Chicago Cubs. He entered the US Navy during WWII and served aboard the USS Hanna, a destroyer escort in the South Pacific where he participated in Operation Crossroads, and eventually after the war was honorably discharged.

Gwen described her father as a generous, religious, loving person who dedicated his life taking care of his family. Gwen also mentioned that her father had a truly great and abiding love for classical music. In fact, he played the clarinet for several years growing up.

Gwen’s dad married the love of his life, Anne Shirley MacDonald, and in 1953 moved his family from Chicago to Glendale, CA. A few years later Hank started his own business in Ventura, CA and he spent his last working years as a corrections officer and director of the carpenter shop at the county prison for the Ventura Sheriff’s Department.  When Anne passed away, Hank moved to Dalonegha, GA to live with family prior to his final seven years of assisted living in Camarillo, CA.

Gwen told me that her father was a devout Catholic and the sort of man that only had good things to say about others.

A most appreciative audience

In the few times that I visited her dad we built a friendship. I asked Hank about his life and he was always so humble, always more comfortable talking about someone else, especially his children who he was so proud of. When I did play for Hank, his eyes would sparkle. In fact, I am not sure I ever played for anyone who enjoyed music more. He seemed quickly enraptured by every piece I played. 

Thinking about all Hank had done in his life for his family and friends, I felt honored to play a role in comforting this man who had protected, provided for and worked so hard to make everyone feel loved and safe.

Gwen told me that her precious father did not have long to live. On my last visit, Hank seemed a little more subdued than usual but still very much involved emotionally with the music I was providing. One piece led to another as I was so happy to ease some of Hank’s discomfort as he neared the end of his life.  By the time I was coming to the end of the beautiful “Ave Maria” of Franz Schubert, perhaps his very favorite piece, his eyes were closed, a faint smile appeared and he fell into what seemed like a deep sleep.

Here was this man, worshipped like a king by his family, in this ordinary hospital bed in a room that could have been for anyone, yet it was here, in room 201 at the Aasta Assisting Care Home that was to be Hank’s final address before he passed away just days later, on Labor Day, September 2, 2024. It didn’t matter where he was because his daughter Gwen DeSantis was by his side and many of the rest of his family were near.  Hank loved his family and they loved him very much in return.

Henry Emil Schmalen III and his beloved wife, Anne Shirley MacDonald had 7 children, 17 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. 

Rest in peace, Hank.

(Chapter 3)

Professor Jettel and me by the Artist’s Entrance to the Vienna Staatsoper, where we used to meet when I was 12 years old. Through that door behind us, Professor Jettel led me to the orchestra pit to witness the greatest music, performed by some of the greatest instrumentalists and opera singers in the world. It was sitting next to Rudolf Jettel, surrounded by the Vienna Philharmonic where I decided to devote my life to becoming a musician. Vienna, 1973/74

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey

Part 1 – Why

Hello Friends,

I wrote “From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall” to share my life pursuing a career in classical music, traveling the world studying and performing with some of the greatest musicians of the day, with the triumphs and glory of success and some of the challenges I faced as well. I was not interested in writing something just for music students and professional musicians although some of the personal experiences I share about Bernstein, Menuhin, Serkin, Yo-Yo Ma and Pablo Casals will be of particular interest for the classical musicians.

Classical musicians deserve recognition, too!

In today’s world it is often sports figures, actors and pop music stars who are universally popularized as entertainment icons.  Classical composers and musicians have stood on these same pedestals of fame for hundreds of years, but these days their notoriety trails far behind that of their peers from other industries.  I believe that many of the people who come back to life in my book deserve to have their stories reach a wider audience for the kindness, the generosity and the humanity they showed to me and to others.

Who has made a difference in your life?

Part 2 – Rudolf Jettel

In From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall, I describe Rudolf Jettel as my “musical father.”  In fact, he likely held that position in many, many different young people’s minds throughout the 20th century.

Jettel’s Early Life

Professor Jettel was born in the Favoriten district of Vienna in 1903, the city in which he spent much of his life.  He studied clarinet and composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and was also trained as an instrument maker.  He had such a gift for crafting clarinet reeds in the days long before computer assistance or composite materials that his reeds were eagerly sought out by a multitude of his students on practically a daily basis.  In his later years, when Prof. Jettel had to go to the hospital, his students, past and present, were in a panic not just because they cared for their dear professor. Who was going to make their reeds?

Clarinet reed (front and side)

Not just a performer

Jettel’s musical skills as a clarinetist were on par with the greatest players of his time.  He was the principal clarinetist of the Vienna Philharmonic until 1968 and also composed many pieces for clarinet and saxophone. He wrote etudes for the clarinet from beginning levels to the most advanced and the solo works and chamber music he composed were performed by the very best performers  of the day including members of the Vienna Philharmonic. Today, almost 50 years later, his etudes and solo pieces are still used by teachers and their students all over the world. Jettel also played alto saxophone and composed pieces for a jazz band, although unfortunately as his life pre-dated this modern world of mass production, a recording is very hard to find.  I myself am the proud owner of one of his records, of which only a couple dozen copies are known to exist.

Vienna Staatsoper, home of the Vienna State Opera, Dec. 2022.

A hero during the war

Rudolf Jettel, was a great hero to the Jewish people in the time of Hitler.  Using his prestigious position in the Vienna Philharmonic he personally helped many Jews escape Austria during that horrific time. My orthodox relatives in Vienna told me about Prof Jettel, who risked his job and even his life helping Jews.

Well-deserved accolades

Today the Vienna Philharmonic honors Rudolf Jettel in perpetuity, for his selfless heroism during this period of history with the ‘Silver Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria,’ the highest such award that can be given to a civilian. A large plaque now hangs prominently in the Vienna Philharmonic Museum with his name on it.

New Years’ with the Jettels

On New Years’ Eve, when I was in my 20’s, I would sit with Professor Jettel and his wife in the Hotel Intercontinental, across the street from Stadt Park, eating delicious deserts while friends came by in small groups to say hello.  His wife found it amusing to surreptitiously watch people (more uninhibited than usual during all the celebrating going on) doing strange things, and would often poke us when something especially amusing was happening. She would whisper  “Schau, Rudi!! Schau” (“look, look”).  She was trying hard to be subtle but her eyes got so big when she spotted anyone dressed or acting in an unusual way. Mrs. Jettel provided me with more than enough entertainment just by her very animated facial expressions.

Rudolf Jettel and his wife, Liesel. Vienna, 1973/74.

My most important influence

I am not sure anyone had a greater influence on my life than Rudolf Jettel. I basically began the clarinet with him as a twelve-year-old (1961/62). If you have read my book you know how Professor Jettel had me sit next to him in the Vienna Philharmonic during opera performances. In my early 20’s I went back to Vienna to study with him (1972/73) and by the time I was 30 (1979) I appeared as a soloist in the Musikverein, Vienna’s most prestigious concert hall, with the eventual Grammy Award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Jettel and his wife, Liesel sitting very proudly by his side in the audience.

Sneaking a smoke

They were a great couple. The only time I saw him sneak anything behind her back was when he would quickly and quietly tip toe out their front door into the hallway, tearing a cigarette into several pieces and proceed to inhale as many as he could before she caught wind of what he was up to. She despised his smoking, mostly because his doctors told him to stop or else.

I will never forget my musical father, Professor Rudolf Jettel.

Thank you for your interest!  If you have not done so already, you can purchase my memoir directly from Amazon or if you prefer, Barnes and Noble. For that matter you can go to any bookstore to order it. 

I look forward to reaching out again next week with some new and interesting material. 

See you online! David

David Singer, Grammy Award-Winning Professional Musician for 55 years
Author of “From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall“
www.singerclarinet.com
Blog updated frequently

Click here to see Taxiing Toward Success – Chapter 2

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