Klarinet Archive - Posting 000532.txt from 1996/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Abduction arrangement
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 13:08:30 -0500

Of course, anyone may choose to accept anyone's opinion on the
authenticity of this matter, but I have difficulty accepting
record jacket notes as being substantive musicological sources.

Blomhert's research was very thorough and is published in a 300
page book. I have no way to evaluate the view of someone who
says (in a record jacket) that this is not that case. The
party may be right, but I don't accept such statements as fact.

Levin did an analysis of Blomhert's work for the Mozart Jahrbuch
about 3 years ago. He also disagrees with Blomhert as to the
authenticity of the arrangement but Levin's analysis is
substantive and thorough. It can be examined.

Just because someone comes along and criticizes authenticity in
record jacket notes does not make them right or wrong. Such
arguments are irrelevant to the issues unless there is some
substantive research that can be examined. Otherwise what you
have here is one guy saying "Yes, it is by Mozart" and other
guy saying "No it is not." What can be concluded from such
a dialogue? Nothing. That's what.

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