Klarinet Archive - Posting 000234.txt from 1995/06

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Creativity in performing
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 01:52:20 -0400

James,
A while ago I posted a rather vehement "indictment" of the
Orchestra Player mentality of playing anonymously and unimaginitively.
This is done in order to sublimate the individual to the musical will of
the conductor and to blend into the collective sound of the ensemble.
(Truly, orchestra musicians are the most conservative of artists). The
player becomes a somewhat faceless instrument carrying
out the conductor's ideas. This is a very prevalent concept among
orchestra players in the US and is becoming more and more common
overseas. In and of itself it is not a bad idea, in theory. I mean, we ARE
hired to
help the conductor achieve his/her musical vision. However, if taken to
extremes, the players surrender all musical integrity in favor of the
purely technical aspects. Unfortunately, I think you have run into far too
many such "orchestra drones", as I have called them, who are inhibited
about being musicians, instead of just note players. You have my
sympathy. The problem in the US is that by far the vast majority of the
orchestra players who hear auditions are such players, and so, are looking
for just such impersonal playing. These players teach the next generation at
colleges and conservatories. It's a vicious cycle. As a composer, I
know it is difficult to speak out against this for fear of offending
these so-called creative artists (re-creative, if you really want to be
truthful about it) because you want
your pieces played but at least you should be aware of this phenomenon.
However, there are mavericks here and there who are truly musicians in
the purest sense of the word (as I suspect you are) and view music as a
totality of tone color, dynamics, phrasing and technique and are not
afraid to use all of these tools in the pursuit of musical expression.

Fred Jacobowitz

On Mon, 12 Jun 1995, James Sclater wrote:

> May I take the opportunity to respond to Dan's assertion that
> performing is not a creative act. It seems that just because a performer
> is not called upon to devise the specifics of notes and rhythms, etc. that
> Dan views the performing process as non-creative. Speaking as a
> clarinetist and a composer, I would take issue with this. It has been my
> experience that most performers are not creative enough, at least with my
> works. Very often I find myself asking perfomers to be freer in their
> approach to the music. I don't feel as if I have the last word about
> interpretation of my pieces and depend on others to show me things in
> them... new ways to phrase, etc...new elements to bring out. If this is
> not being creative, I don't know what is. I don't want to hear my works
> played exactly the same way each time.
> As a composer, I use A or Bb clarinet mostly based on key and
> technical facility. If something is technically difficult, I try to pick
> the clarinet which will make the passage less of a problem. Having played
> many works in which the choice made was a poor one, I feel this is
> important. I don't really care what instrument is used to play my pieces
> as long as the result is musical.
> I can't help but believe that they are many composers out there
> who would chuckle at this whole discussion.
>
> James Sclater inet: sclater@-----.edu
> Mississippi College (601)925-3445
> Clinton, MS 39058
>