Manuel Zung (BSO violin, 1925-1965) oral history interview: Zung, Manuel, interviewee, 1991-09-26T00:00:00+00:00, 2023-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 35: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on September 26, 1991.

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 35, Side A

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Manuel "Manny" Zung Date: September 26, 1991

0:15 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:35-1:27 early life, born in Russia/Poland in 1902; moved to London, then came to Boston in 1907

1:27-3:05 took up the violin around age 10 or 11, mother loved music; Louis KRASNER was a childhood friend, attended New England Conservatory of Music; in second year of high school took violin more seriously, studied with Vaughn HAMILTON for a year, then with Eugene GRUENBERG

3:05-4:06 graduated in 1925 and joined orchestra right away; SANROMA was a student at Conservatory and already a pianist for the BSO, arranged an audition for Manuel with KOUSSEVITZKY

4:06-9:38 audition for KOUSSEVITZKY, friend George BROWN went first but was nervous, so Manuel went first; auditioned for Kousse and Richard BURGIN, John BEDETTI, and LEFRANC, Max KUNZE; was offered position right away and signed contract with CABOT

9:38-11:27 sat with THILLOIS in second violins, but soon moved to second stand; did not want first stand seat because felt he did not have the temperament for it

11:27-13:40 loose reminiscences about the old timers, including Joseph HOFFMAN, THEODOROVICZ

13:40-15:40 story of the strike: men had a meeting in the tuning room and were split on whether or not they wanted to go; those who went on strike did not return;

15:40-17:54 bridge group with GILLET, BURGIN, and Boaz PILLAR; KOUSSEVITZKY approached the group at Tanglewood and BURGIN invited him to join

17:54-20:49 stories of KOUSSEVITZKY; felt badly for his colleagues as they were non-union and were therefore at risk; he was a strict disciplinarian with high expectations; was critically celebrated even in other cities; 19:29 story of a rehearsal going long and delaying the Zimbler Quartet from attending their weekly performance on the radio

20:49-21:33 first impressions of Tanglewood in the rain

21:33-22:42 played with the Worthington Quartet with GUNDERSON, LANGENDOEN and HUMPHREY; played frequently with Arthur FIEDLER; did not do much teaching

22:42-27:05 Impressions of FIEDLER; met him when he played in the orchestra with him; JACCHIA (then director of the Pops) considered firing FIEDLER; slowly and surely gained discipline among the Pops; significantly improved the programs; played with FIEDLER's symphoneta; fight with Patsy CARDILLO while directing the Pops

27:05-28:41 recordings with the Symphony were very challenging because KOUSSEVITZKY had high expectations; KOUSSEVITZKY was "lord and master" over the recording company

28:41-29:52 discussion of the comings and goings of various old/new timers, like ROTENBERG and DICKSON

29:52-29:59 German vs. French makeup of the orchestra when he arrived

29:59 RECORDING ENDS

Tape 35, Side B

0:19 RECORDING BEGINS: MANUEL ZUNG CONT'D

0:19-3:38 Initial makeup of the orchestra was German; French and Russian players joined later so KOUSSEVITZKY began speaking other languages; little to no English spoken during rehearsals; Thomas BEACHAM and Adrian BOULT were two English guest conductors; Myra HESS played piano solos

3:38-5:08 KOUSSEVITZKY was not the most accomplished accompaniest; brought new music to the orchestra; competition with TOSCANINI and STOKOVKSI; Nicholas SLONIMKSY and SANROMA played the scores on piano to introduce KOUSSE to new music

5:07-7:32 family life; met Irene when she was an accompaniest for himself and many of his students; married in Zung's second year in the orchestra; no children; some siblings still alive but do not leave nearby

7:32-10:11 retired in 1965 (played 1925-1965); rarely plays anymore, just to check the violin's function

[10:40-12:23 small talk, interview actually concludes at 10:40]

12:23-14:18 memories of Leonard BERNSTEIN; friendship between Leonard BERNSTEIN and Kiki SPEYER, daughter of Louis SPEYER; memories of BERNSTEIN at Tanglewood

14:18-21:59 met many people through the BSO; played bridge with RACHMANINOV and SZELL; 19:17 conversations with Fritz KREISLER

21:59 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES