On these dreamy, melodic lines Stokowski placed the stamp of Guetter's tone, warm and nostalgic, singing easily over the background of the orchestra. One of Walter's most memorable recorded solos was a phrase scarcely three bars long. First stated by the clarinet, the theme is repeated by the bassoon. It is an effective clarinet solo, not easy to equal on the bassoon. But when Guetter took up the phrase with his great tone, he gave it such a soaring quality that the clarinet was more than equaled.
Legends are apt to build up in the wake of great players.
There was a story that Guetter made his reeds with the knife only, the implication being that he was so skillful that reed making was no trouble for him. In truth, like any bassoonist, he used all the conventional tools, and like others he fought the battle of the reed his whole career. His cousin, Hans Moennig, told of the difficulties Guetter had on his last tour with the orchestra, when the reed which sounded good in one city would not work at another stop, and the pressure of concerts and travel left him too little time work on reeds. His illness, starting with a little indigestion, began to take an increasing portion of his energy, and the pressure on him mounted. Dr. Jack Phelan is a physician who plays clarinet on a non-professional basis.