Klarinet Archive - Posting 000261.txt from 1995/02

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 1995 06:16:18 -0500

I am most grateful to Anthony Grenci for the information about the
evolving bass clarinet part of Rhapsody in Blue (which in the
schools around here is called "Rap City Blues"). I have played it
for years in the New World Music publication without ever giving
10 seconds of thought to the peculiarities that it has developed.
It is a clear case of a performance practice arising in the total
absence of any logic. If you discussed this part with any orchestral
bass clarinet player in America, every one would tell you how the
part should be played (and all would be in agreement, somehow), but
with no real knowledge as to how this state of affairs came about.

It is just like the story of the tenor who was singing Verdi's Otello
and in the rehearsals was told to "Go to the back of the stage, turn
around with your butt to the audience, wait 10 seconds, then turn
around again and begin your big aria."

So the tenor asked why this crazy marching around the stage was
necessary and was told that "The first Otello, Tamagno, did it that
way under Verdi direction and the tradition exists. Do it!" So he
did.

But when, during the second world war, this tenor found himself in the
US Army in Italy, he went to see the then still living Tamagno who was
still legendary. He brought up this incident and asked Tamagno why
he did all this unnecessary marching around the bloody stage.

Tamagno thought for a while and then said "I marched to the back of the
stage?"

"According to the stage director tradition, you did," said the American.

"I don't remember doing that," said Tamagno.

Suddenly his face lit up and he said, "I know!! Of course I did. I had
a high note coming up and I would go to the back of the stage, turn
around, and spit."

So much for tradition.

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

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org