Klarinet Archive - Posting 000241.txt from 1996/02

From: Takashi Kawai <kawai@-----.CA>
Subj: What does 'rather fast' mean?
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 15:16:24 -0500

Hello, everyone! I'm new in this list.

I'm not sure whether my question should be asked here or
in another place. It seems partially a question on English...

Well, has anyone played Hindemith's Clarinet Concerto?
I have a question on the indication for its first movement.
It says "Rather fast / Ziemlich schnell". Since I'm not a native
English speaker (also, not a native German speaker either!),
I cannot understand his intention very well. I can understand
both words, indeed, however I cannot understand the combination,
what "rather fast" means.
^^^^^^^^^^^
My guesses are:

1. Basically play slow, but not too slow. ???
2. On the contrary, play fast, not slow. ???

I have several CDs (include the performance directed
by the composer himself), and I feel their tempo is not
so fast for the first movement of concert. How do you understand
(or interpret) the indication?

Thanks.

Takashi Kawai

Department of Chemistry
University of Toronto