The Work of Claus Ogerman

Received in email on 11/21/05:

Dear BJ:

I was delighted to find your extensive website about Claus, and I have an amazing memory of him from my teenage years that left an indelible impression on me; at the same time, I would love to send my regards to him directly if you would know how, and once you hear my story you will know why.

Back in 1974, I was an 18 year old with a crazy idea; to put together a “music company”, where I could be a songwriter, arranger, producer, using my background in classical music and pop together. I ambitiously rented a small office on the 4th floor of The Brill Building and set up shop. At the end of the hallway was Johnny Mark’s office (the writer of “Rudoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, among other things), and in between Mr. Mark’s office and mine was this man who would play the most creative, brilliant recordings of jazz/classical music I had ever heard. Finally, I was lucky enough to get to know him, and, you can guess, it was Claus Ogerman, who was working on what became a Ballet and later the material for Gate of Dreams. He also played unfinished mixes of the Classical Streisand album for me from the reel-to-reel tapes he was using as “rushes”, and I lived in awe of him. He had invited me to a recording session in New York one evening as well, but sadly for me, I had another engagement.

My own business was way to ambitious and poorly planned for me to maintain, and sadly, I lost touch completely with Claus. I did, however, keep up with his music, and have added pieces to my collection as I can find them. I tried to contact him directly about 10 years ago, but he probably didn’t remember me at all, and I could only leave the briefest of messages with his secretary, who may or may not have passed them on to him.

Anyway, I thought you might like to hear this anecdote about Claus and perhaps let him know how much he inspired me. My professional career as a musician has been rather modestly successful as a composer, opera singer and arranger. I will be turning 50 next March, and Claus continues to inspire me 30 years after those days of listening to tapes and reading his scores with him at the Brill Building.

I intend to keep up with your website, and am very impressed with how thoroughly you have put together this tribute and ongoing catalogue of one of the most amazing (and underrated) musicians of the last 75 years.

With highest regards,

Dean Meyers

Webmaster's Note: Although he promised me an interview in December 2005 regarding his friendship with Claus Ogerman, Dean Meyers has so far not sent me the answers to the interview questions I sent him at that time, despite reminders from me asking if he was still willing to participate in giving me the email interview. However, I am grateful to him for providing to me the working address of Claus Ogerman during the 1960s and 1970s, which was 1619 Broadway, New York City (The Brill Building). This building and address are legendary within the music industry as almost all pop songwriters, arrangers, and music publishers of the day had their offices and headquarters in this historic building which sat between West 49th and West 50th Streets. According to the info Dean provides above, Claus' office was on the 4th floor of this building. At that time, The Brill Building apparently was also the home of both Helios Music and Glamorous Music, both of which are music publishing companies owned and run by Claus himself. Here are some photos of this beautiful building for reference:

Received in email 12/6/05:

I am a composer/musician who has been lately developing my orchestration techniques and have been listening a lot to Brazilian Bossa nova greats (Jobim, Caymmi, Joao Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, etc.) and was floored by your web site. You have one of the richest resources i have seen on the web for this music and i congratulate you and thank you for what will be many more visits to your site. [. . . ] I am a composer/musician who has been lately developing my orchestration techniques and have been listening a lot to Brazilian Bossa nova greats (Jobim, Caymmi, Joao Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, etc.) and was floored by your web site. You have one of the richest resources i have seen on the web for this music and i congratulate you and thank you for what will be many more visits to your site. [. . . ] I am trying to find out if i can purchase a CD of [Terra Brasilis] as it is one of few recordings that I could get stranded on a desert island with. I tried top search the Warner Bros. site to find this disc, but I can't even find anything by searching their site with the word "jobim"-hard to imagine! Any thoughts?

Vern Graham

Subject:     congratulations and a question
Date:     January 5, 2006 2:18:44 AM EST

Hi,
congratulations for such an amazing size for the great Claus! I've been
browsing through it for hours... (I'm also a big fan of him). And I think
tomorrow I'll be ordering several records!!
I'm a jazz guitar player, working on my first solo album.
[. . .]

Thank you, regards

Gustavo Sadofschi
Argentina

Subject: Greetings from London :)
Date: August 21, 2006 5:11:08 PM EDT

Dear Miss Major,

I should have emailed you earlier, but it was only today that I noticed that you became a Wikipedian! I must thank you for the wondeful help that your site has given me in many of my edits to the Tom Jobim and Bossa Nova releated articles. I am User: Gareth E Kegg, and I'm a huge fan of the Bossa Nova, Brazilian jazz, Vocal jazz and Sinatra, which see most of my edits.

I also started the Claus Ogerman page, to which I'm sure you'll have several valuable changes to make. Your site was invaluable in creating the page, which I only wish was more informative about his immortal arrangements. I first heard Ogermans work on Krall's 'Look of Love' album, which heard whilst flying to New York on a school trip a
few years ago. Hearing his arrangement of the 'Night We Called It a Day' as we flew at night was one of the most magical experiences of my life. I've gone on too long, but want to thank you again for your incredible website, and I hope that you'll enjoy contributing to
Wikipedia.

Yours,

Gareth Kegg

Received in email on November 13, 2006

Hi,

I have found your perfect site about Claus Ogermann this evening and it thrills me !!! Really great !!!

I am in contact to Hannelore Cremer, the female singer from the German Decca 45's of 1958/59 on wich Claus Ogermann recorded as Tom Collins.

[. . . .]

All the best from rainy Munich, Germany

Oliver Härle

Subject: Claus Ogerman Site
Date: June 29, 2007 8:33:47 AM EDT

Hi Barbara,

Just Wanted To Say That Is An Absolutely Brilliant Tribute To An Amazingly Talented Man!
I've Some Claus Ogerman Artifacts, In My Vault, From The Work That He Did With My Father, Jimmy Radcliffe ("San Juan" And "Walking By Myself Again"), And Various Other Helios Music Treasures. If You Would Like Label Scans Let Me Know.

All The Best,

Chris A. Radcliffe
Black Patch Productions
Lucky Duck Music Publishing

Subject: Long live Claus!
Date: November 8, 2007 12:36:41 PM EST

Hi BJ,

Thanks for putting up this site. I am a big fan of Claus Ogerman. I discovered him quite recently from Diana Krall's Dancing in the Dark arrangement.

My all time favorite composers/arrangers are Henry Mancini and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Luis Ramos

Received in email on 1/5/08:

Claus Ogerman – Additional recognition

Hello Ms Bear,

I admire your work on Claus Ogerman and other great arrangers/conductors...
The Ogerman site is particularly erudite and comprehensive.

[. . . .]

Please continue with your wonderful work.

Incidentally my wife and I were in Rio in February 2005 for Carnaval. In between dodging pickpockets I visited several music stores where Ogerman's arrangements for Jobim and the Gilbertos are held as sacred.

The most frequent comment about "the orchestra" was "was not the Brazil sound then. But is the Brazil sound NOW". They are grateful to Mr Ogerman for transporting their music to an international audience – and see him as a pioneer.

Enda Bracken
AUSTRALIA