Klarinet Archive - Posting 000251.txt from 1995/05

From: Martin Pergler <pergler@-----.EDU>
Subj: Beeth #7 and Gran Partita for wind octet
Date: Sun, 7 May 1995 15:23:47 -0400

I caught the tail end of a radio concert from Vienna last night which had
a wind octet (+ string bass) playing a transcription of Beethoven's 7th
symphony and a transcription of the Gran Partita.

The Beethoven was amazingly effective, though this was strongly dependent
on the crispness and exactness of the playing and some wonderful
ensemblework...I wonder if they used a conductor or if they just know
"all the right tempos and timing" by heart from orchestral experience.

I approached the "reduction" of the Gran Partita with a great deal of
superciliousness, but it worked reasonably (though it lacked the glorious
full sound of the 13 instr version). Only some movements were played --
I'm not sure if this was to fit into the radio timeslot, or part of the
arrangement. I think the important basset horn parts were mostly divided
between clarinets and bassoons.

I'm wondering if anyone else has heard these and what take they have on
them -- particularly someone who, unlike me, has experience in this
repertoire. Also, are these transcriptions, esp. the Beethoven, generally
available?

The players were, I believe, called the Vienna (Wind?) Virtuosi. Didn't
catch a word about the arrangers.

Martin

-------------------------------------------------------
Martin Pergler pergler@-----.edu
Grad student, Mathematics
Univ. of Chicago