Klarinet Archive - Posting 000598.txt from 1995/05

From: John Baetens <JSBtens@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Thoughts and questions on...
Date: Sat, 20 May 1995 15:14:44 -0400

John Roman posted some questions about different sounds
of different keys. Since I am the one who started this, and had no idea what
the answer was when I posted the question, let me
offer my thoughts first now that I have tried to digest the information
given my other members of the group.
With my own admittedly limited knowledge of music, I cannot
believe that playing a piece in different keys, as long as it does
not change from major to minor or vice versa, can change the color
of the sound, unless changing keys puts the instrument that is
playing in a different sounding range. I believe the color of music
is achieved by the relationship between the notes more than the
key. Let me give an example. Play a G on any instrument. Now
play a C major scale and listen to the G. It sounds bright. Now
play an A minor natural scale and listen to the G. It sounds
somber. But the note is the same. The difference is the
relationship to the notes played around the G.
Back to the original question. Why do stage show composers
write in weird keys? My opinion is to accomodate the singer.
I'm not too familiar with opera. Is it the same way? If not, it's
probably because opera singers are, in general, better trained
than Broadway type singers. Except for Colm, of course. I'd
put him up with the three tenors any day. In fact, if they would
replace Carreras with Colm Wilkinson, it would improve their
performance at the next World Cup.