Manuel Zung (BSO violin, 1925-1965) oral history interview: Zung, Manuel, interviewee, September 26, 1991; December 26, 199, 2023-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 2: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on September 26, 1991 and December 26, 1991.

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 02, Side A

0:14 INTERVIEW BEGINS

SEPTEMBER 26, 1991

MANUEL ZUNG "MANNY" VIOLINIST b. 1902, 89 at time of interview +audio issues, check file

0:35 early life, born in Poland, came to America in 1907

1:27 taking up violin in England and America, friends with Louis KRASNER 2:28 Vaugh Harrington (SP), Eugeniusz GRUENBERG

3:04 joined the BSO after graduation

3:25-7:30* audition, SANDROMA encouraged Zung to audition with KOUSSEVITZKY, auditioned with George BROWN; auditioned for Richard BURGIN, John Vededi(SP), Max KUNZE (+2 could not hear**, cf 4:55) 5:23 Koussevitzky offers position 7:11 brought mother to speak to KOUSSEVITZKY to confirm position acceptance, it was official

9:00 compliments from KOUSSEVITZKY

10:25-11:30 discussion of first stand vs. second stand, preference for second

11:32-15:48 memories of "old timers" THEODOROVICH, ELCOUSE(SP?) [11:50 - comment from wife] c. 13:00 - trip to world's fair

13:47-15:48 discussion of strike

15:55-17:25 Bridge club with BERGEN (concert master), GILLES (first oboe), BOAS-??? (contra-bassoon)

17:35 KOUSSEVITZKY always referred to "HIS orchestra"

17:55-19:07 day-to-day life with KOUSSEVITZKY, strict disciplinarian, always asked for more than you could give

19:11-12:30 length of rehearsals, would stay extra hours b/c non-union, discussion of need to leave on time for radio broadcast of quartet

21:05-21:30 first recollections of tanglewood (rain!)

21:40-22:15 Zimbler quartet and Worthington quartet, Humphrey on viola, Langeton on cello(SP)

22:30-27:13 Played with Arthur FIEDLER, was part of orchestra before Fiedler took over the pops, joked around with him for years, Fiedler declared he'd become a conductor

27:30-28:40 the difficulties and benefits of making recordings

30:00- mostly German to start

30:10 RECORDING ENDS

Tape 02, Side B

0:15 INTERVIEW BEGINS

Manny Zung

0:27-1:44 KOUSSEVITZKY increased number of French and Russian musicians, and began speaking in these other languages too instead of just German, spoke little English 1:53-2:35 few guest conductors, those that came were Thomas BEECHAM (conductor), Adrian BOULT (conductor), Myra HESS (pianist) 3:00-3:50 reptuation for new music, competition with other competitors, though KOUSSEVITZKY was not a very good reader of music 3:40-5:00 KOUSSEVITZKY learned scores from pianist (Nicolas SLONIMSKY), who would play for him, and Jesus Maria SANROMA(pianist) as accompaniest

5:00-6:40 family life, met wife, Irene was accompaniest, married in second year of time in orchestra, met in '23 [input from Irene]

6:40-7:20 Georges MOLEUX was first clarinet with KOUSSEVITZKY, then became first bass

7:25-8:27 discussion of retirement, house and shed that look the same

[10:40 interview does not actually conclude here - keep listening]

12:25-15:15 BERNSTEIN was a neighbor, would commute together, later kept seeing BERNSTEIN at Tanglewood, performed together

16:00-17:42 memories of RACHMANINOFF playing cards, socializing 17:55 played bridge with George SZELL (conductor of Cleveland Orchestra)

19:17 conversation with Fritz KREISLER, about Eugeniusz GRUENBERG, Felix WINTERNITZ

22:00 END OF INTERVIEW