Klarinet Archive - Posting 000176.txt from 1994/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Final comments to Karen Noel-Bentley and Charles Hillen
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 1994 13:00:28 -0500

The point made by both Karen and Charles that I have not addressed
had to do with the fact that both asserted themselves to be 20th
century players and this, somehow, seemed to exempt them from the
arena that I was trying to play in.

I've grappled with what they said and i am afraid that I have struck
out. I don't know how to come to grips with their comments because
I don't understand how they apply to the issues about which I was
speaking.

At one extreme (and I am convinced that they do not mean to be this
unconservative) their statement could be taken to mean that it is OK
to play the Mozart concerto on the tenor sax because, as a 20th
century person, I have a perception of the work being played that way
and, as a 20th century person, I will have no constraints placed on
my musical creativity.

I can't figure out what the other extreme is; i.e., that somehow being
contemporary is inconsistent with playing a piece in the style of
the 18th century. I am not suggesting that they both don monk's habits
in order to achieve the right attitude.

So Karen and Charles, could you please amplify on what it was you meant
when you spoke of 20th century performers and the difficulties of
playing 18th century music with a contemporary mind set?

Besides, I have spoken enough. It is your turn to do a doo-doo dump
on me. I presume that you don't want to hit and run, but to have a
real dialog with you expressing your views completely. Who knows?
Perhaps you will convince me of the validity of your position. I'm
flexible. I want to learn. There is a great deal about music of this
era that continues to elude me. I really want to learn.

But first, I must understand.

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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