Letter from Carl D. Duncan to Patricia Whiting, January 10, 1966

              Dearest Patricia:
That concert tonight was the one you really should have experienced! It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever been exposed to. If you’d been there, I’d have had to hold you down, I’m afraid. More than ever I’m convinced that we have an outstanding music department and under Gibson Walters it really will prosper and become famous.
I’ve written all over the program I have for you, so if you want another, I have one that I’ve put no notations on at all. I had thought to keep it but if you want it, you may have it.
The Wind Ensemble, conducted by Clement Hutchinson gave a polished performance in every number they played. Every player seemed absorbed in his contribution to the combined effort of the group. They played difficult pieces with great skill and no one failed to do his part when his turn came. The Serenade No.1 for ten wind instruments was, I felt an extremely difficult composition as each instrument seemed in a sense to be doing a solo but they all articulated into a composition that achieved a significant unity’ the total effect was rather weird but this, I am sure, was intentional with the composer, Persichetti. The closing number “Old Wine in New Bottles”, in title reversing the biblical figure of new wine in old bottles was highly varied, interesting, and in many portions, beautiful. It was a good one to end the concert.
The “Percussion Ensemble”, however, “stole the show,” especially with its “Symphony No. 1 for Percussion.” Tremendous and powerful rhythms, accented by first one group of instruments, then another and somehow managing to feature all was a truly terrific performance. Outstanding players were 1) the boy (Taylor by name) who played the tympani, -- three to five of them, depending on the piece. (Taylor took Ent 50 from me a few years ago). 2) a blond girl who was extremely versatile and seemingly equally good no matter what her part. There was a good deal of shifting of persons and instruments for the different numbers but this girl seemed to have a key part in each number. The first percussion number used only 3 persons but the number increased to 7 in the symphony. This number [page 2] had a second girl, a brunette, who played a triangle, a tambourine (very effectively) and one or two other of the quieter and smaller percussion pieces. All players were completely absorbed in their parts, the sensitivity of the players and the precision of their timing of seemingly every note made the whole performance overwhelmingly magnetic.
Incidentally (my word again) I saw several students I’d known from 15 to 20 years back. One chap, named Mitchell said, “Oh I know you mostly from West Coast Nature School years ago - and you and your wife’s folk dancing.” Another, George Buehring, an average good student years ago, completely ga-ga over one of the girls - the affair was so intense that everyone said it couldn’t last - and it didn’t. After maybe 15 years of resultant bachelordom, he seems again to be attracting the “fair sex” )had one with him tonight - a charming young teacher) - he is now a principal out Campbell Way - or Los Gatos and a lot busier and more responsible than ever before in his life. They came over and sat next to me, so we enjoyed the concert together. He said he hoped I’d be there and, sure enough, I was.
I’m almost glad you didn’t come for the vibrator tonight, for I went too long without taking my pills and it will help ease some of the aches in my shoulders when I run over time. I don’t realize it until I exert myself as I did tonight after dinner (at LeRoy’s) when I put out too much effort getting to the concert hall. I was afraid I’d have difficulty getting a seat but actually the place was only 2/3 full. It should have been overflowing - and, except for impending finals - and possibly not enough publicity, I’m sure it would have been.
Oh - as my notes on the program point out - the conducting was inspired. [?], Especially, who has trained and who conducted the percussion group, put everything he had into it and did a superb job. I envy the kids in the percussion ensemble especially, in spite of their earnestness and absorption, I’m sure they were having the time of their lives!
The black outfits of the Wind Ensemble were notable too.
I could go on longer, but I doubt if I could really say any more. I’m glad you asked me to go and that I could report back to you. But you really should have been there. Love - Carl.
[5 X 3 card]
PS: I got 3 more Xmas cards in my mail from Stanford today. Also I got a check for a pay increase for the summer months so I’m o.k. financially.
Also I got another compliment on the scarf you made me. One of the girls in the science building - student assistant of some kind - said “My Dr. Duncan, you surely do look cozy with that beautiful scarf around your throat to keep you warm.” I could have told her it keeps me warm two ways - physically because it’s a good warm scarf of just the right weight and thickness and emotionally warm because you made it for me. I really feel good, just wearing it!