Klarinet Archive - Posting 000617.txt from 1995/10

From: Jacqueline G Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Wind Ens
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 1995 23:59:32 -0400

Just HAD to toss in a word here!

As the former Eb clarinet player for the University of Arizona Wind
Ensemble, I have had the dubious honor of playing 4 works by David
Maslanka, the composer you mentioned, and one of those pieces was
"Tears". The other three were "A Child's Garden of Dreams" (which I also
played at Northwestern under John Paynter), and his Symphonies No. 3 and
4.

Of the four pieces, "Tears" is probably the one I liked least. His other
works are much larger in scope and I think this is what he does best. I
have had occasion to meet the conposer (he often travels to schools where
his works are being performed and does master classes, etc.) and he is a
very quiet and spiritual person. A little far out for my taste, but
really into what he does.

Perhaps you will have the opportunity to play one of these larger wind
ensemble works, which may change your opinion (or not -- but I've never
been big into wind ensemble anyway -- it's just good prep on Eb!!)

P.S. Maslanka is currently at work on a Mass for LARGE forces, and
the work is scheduled to be premiered here at the U of A.

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu

On Sat, 14
Oct 1995, Lou Polcari wrote:

> I can not believe what is being played by the so called wind ensemble
> today... I am having some trouble adjusting to playing clarinet in this
> "ensemble" The music for the "ensemble" is in IMHO of poor quality... ie in
> this band we are playing a work be someone called Maslanko (or something that
> sounds like that anyway) The title of this is called "Tears" it comes with a
> five page Essay from the "composer" to explain to the band what the music is a
ll
> about....? Am I the only guy who thinks this is bad 20th century music? I li
ke
> the work of Ned Roram and Coligiliano ect. but this? ugh. I know that there
is
> better things for a band to play then this. I may have to can't this in priva
te
> as I don't know who from my Uni is out there...
>
>
>
> Lou Polcari
>