My experiences at Ithaca College gave me an appreciation for art, beauty, and humanist sensitivities, which ultimately became the fundamental values in my life. With this in mind, I recount some of my fondest memories at Ithaca College.
It all started on orientation day, a cool, clear fall-like September day. For a kid from Elmont, Long Island, Ithaca wasa sight to behold, particularly from South Hill. The new arrivals, adorned with freshmen beanies, entered the gymnasium for their orientation presentation. At some point in the proceedings, a musical interlude was offered. The most ethereal sound wafted through the gymnasium. What could that possibly be? In addition to being a clarinet major, I also played the saxophone and flute for many years, yet I could not fathom the origin of this magical woodwind sound that I was hearing. It was Don Sinta, the saxophone professor, playing an alto sax, an instrument I had played since fourth grade yet at that moment was unable to identify; it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
Committed to the clarinet as my major instrument, I was assigned Charlie Bay as my major teacher. I asked him to help me improve the beauty of my sound, always keeping in mind Don Sinta’s alto sax. He did his best to help me, but the achievement of this ideal always eluded me. Nonetheless, Charlie Bay took me under his wing and made me feel like a son. I was often invited to his home for dinner. Although we totally disagreed on many political and social matters—he was pro-war and I was an anti-Vietnam War protestor—he found room for our differences and was always there for me during the turbulent times of growing towards manhood. Knowing Charlie Bay has taught me tolerance and personal sensitivities.
During my junior year, Karel Husa entered my life at Ithaca. Having developed a taste for avant garde contemporary music, I wanted to compose. My base model was the purity, efficiency, and precision of Webern, as extended by theories expounded by Boulez. I wrote a duet for clarinet, which I submitted to Mr. Husa and offered to play it for him in hopes that he would accept me for composition class and lessons. Mr. Husa was warmly receptive of me. A friend and I played the piece for him, and he granted my request.
Although the direction of my compositional thoughts differed greatly from his, Mr. Husa was very supportive of my efforts. When I composed a wind quintet that was a good effort but highly derivative of Webern, he was most supportive and championed its performance. I know I was not a great talent, but Mr. Husa’s support and encouragement of my experimentations fostered a confidence in me to explore whatever I felt was interesting and appealing to me, even in the face of the skepticism and scorn of others.
In my senior year, the College’s concert band, under Kenneth Snapp, was invited to perform at the National Music Educators Conference in Washington, D.C. Among the works to be performed was the newly minted and now famous Music for Prague by Karel Husa, which we had premiered at Ithaca College earlier that year. Working with Mr. Husa as a performer was also a rewarding experience for me, as it was absent of the pressure-filled, unforgiving, and humiliating experience one often endured in the concert band. It was the humanity of Mr. Husa that shone through in his music and his handling of the musicians under his direction. It was this sense of humanity that was the greatest gift I received at Ithaca, and from Mr. Husa in particular.
The opportunity to perform the work in Washington, in front of the best of our peers, was an experience I will always remember and cherish as an Ithaca music student. I strongly believe in, and financially support, Ithaca’s efforts to give current students in the School of Music the experience of performing at Lincoln Center, as they have done every couple of years in the recent past and will do again this April. I believe each participating student will find that the memory of such an event will be among the greatest memories they will have of their college lives.
Charles Hack graduated from the School of Music in 1969. After teaching music for three years, his career shifted to real estate in New York City where he is now president of Parkview Associates, Inc. He and his wife, Angella Hearn, have generously provided financial support for the Lincoln Center concert on April 15, as well as the two previous concerts in this venue.
