Klarinet Archive - Posting 000406.txt from 1994/11

From: "William A. Helmers" <reedman@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Listing to the recording first
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 1994 14:21:20 -0500

Listening to a recording as a means of preparing for a performance is an
interesting topic. No clarinettist lives in a vacuum. We are all
influenced to some degree by other musicians, whether they are clarinetists,
teachers, conductors, singers, or whatever.

The problem for a musician (especially a student, or inexperienced
performer) is that listening to a recording early in the process of learning
a new score tends to rob that person of authority. Often, the artist on the
recording will be quite well-known and successful, making it likely that a
less experienced player will find the recording to be an attractive model.
The result is often a form of musical plagiarism. If even a seasoned
performer can be influenced by a fine recording by a Harold Wright or Karl
Leister, what chance does the young musician have to assert their own point
of view?

My recommendation would be that a score first be thoroughly prepared before
consulting a recording. At least this way, the musician's own ideas will
have had some time to develop independently. Another possibility might
be to listen to a different instrument: If a clarinetist is preparing a
Spohr concerto, for instance, why not listen to a Spohr violin concerto with
Heifetz? Working on Schubert? Try listening to a singer.

In the end, the successful performance will be the result of a strong point
of view by the performer. One can never eliminate the influence of other
performances, but recordings must not rob us of our own point of view.