Klarinet Archive - Posting 000401.txt from 1994/05

From: Jim Freeman <collnjim@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Re G. Fitzgerald's assertion about Schifrin
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 23:15:08 -0400

On Sun, 22 May 1994, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

> An assertion was made about Schifrin's performance of the Mozart K. 622
> and concluded with the question, did anyone dispute that this was the
> best performance.
>
> I dispute this. Thank you.
>
> ====================================
> Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
> (leeson@-----.edu)
> ====================================
>
I also dispute that this is the best performance, but more
importantly, the whole idea of the possibility of ascribing "bestness" to
any particular performance (recorded or not) seems to me to be an
unworkable one. When clarinetists use words like "best performance",
usually a more accurate meaning is "performance I prefer." We all have
preferences, of course; what gets us into trouble, in my opinion, is the
attempt to justify them upon grounds other than subjective ones.

Jim Freeman