Klarinet Archive - Posting 000197.txt from 1996/04

From: James Perone <PERONEJE@-----.EDU>
Subj: Why Mozart?
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 15:42:00 -0400

The recent discussion of the Mozart Concerto (that's #1, Canton Dan)
has led me to think about the way in which clarinetists treat Mozart
differently than other composers. For example, we have recently seen
discussion of "what Mozart wanted" and the importance of what he
actually wrote. It seems that the treatment of the Weber Concerto
No. 1 stands in complete contrast. I was practically laughed out of
a Gigliotti masterclass about 15 years for NOT using the
"Baermannized" version of the first movement. Why do we turn all
shades of red/blue, however, when even the smallest changes are made
to the Mozart? Weber's Concertino is another case in point -- the
alternate articulations, whether or not to repeat Variations I and
II, the alternate phrase endings in Variation II, and wholesale
articulation ranges one hears and accepts are amazing. Do we simply
chalk this up to "Mozart was a better composer?" Or is our (as a
community of clarinetists) balance in need of some adjustment?

Jim Perone, Assistant Professor of Music
Mount Union College
peroneje@-----.edu