Klarinet Archive - Posting 000500.txt from 1997/01

From: Gary Young <gyoung@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: How much opinion vs how much fact
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 17:11:30 -0500

Jerry --

Thanks for your friendly, gracious reply. I was beginning to think I had
unintentionally gone over the line in what I said. :)

----------
From: Jrykorten@-----.COM]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 1997 6:33 AM
Subject: How much opinion vs how much fact

Reply to Gary Young RE

>Jerry Korten writes: "To make an assumption that a composer, such as
>Stravinsky or Brahms, was only casually acquainted with the difference
>between an A and a Bb is naive and insulting. You should not publicize such
>views." Wow!

Wow, those words are a little harsh. Did I sound quite that bad? This must
have been after my temper was flared from 100 attempts to log on to AOL here
in NYC!

My feelings especially are quided by the Stravinsky, who - in choosing two
clarinets for the three pieces, clearly understood the difference between the
instruments. The effect he is after, I believe, is one of timbre. I doubt
absolute pitch played a role in his decision (although the first two
movements do use the low E this is an argument for using the A by necessity,
so I see here the reason to argue on this point as well).

I think I was getting upset that people do not consider the A and the Bb
different animals (different timbre, not just different keys). And the
comparison of composers like Poulenc (a wonderful tunesmith, whose piano
repretoire I love and play) or even lesser american composers, (who lack of
attention to detail in tempo markings etc) to the likes of Brahms or
Beethoven. These are the "welders of the planes of light".

I agree that a composer would learn more and more about an instrument as they
matured. Clearly Brahms had a revelation late in life about the Clarinet -
thanks to Muhlfeld. I think that Brahms was a genius, yes. And I will assume
that he had specific reasons to choose a particular instrument. I find it
irksome that people so freely choose to second guess, when representing his
art. But I agree to do things the way I would do them, and let others do as
they may. As much as it horrifies me.

Again I agree I wrote harsh words, it must have been late at night when I
wrote that. Sorry... Please allow me to continue in discussion and not follow
my own rule. I promise to sit on my email for a day and reread before sending
the next time!

Thanks Gary

Jerry Korten

   
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