Klarinet Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 1997/07

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: RE: Mendelssohn Symphony #5 "Reformation"
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 18:06:07 -0400

On Wed, 2 Jul 1997, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

> Jacqueline, I am not quite sure what it is that would interest you.
> I've played the piece a few times and feel that the last movement
> is politically focused and a statement by Mendelssohn about his
> religion. As for the choice of instruments, what is it that
> troubles you about three movements in C and one in B-flat. The Schubert
> 9 has three movements in C and one in A, so what's the concern?
>
> =======================================
> Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
> Rosanne Leeson, Los Altos, California
> leeson@-----.edu
> =======================================
>
I thought that it was rather a late work (after 1840, into the Romantic
period) to employ a practice that is *seemingly* of the Classical period,
or more common in the Classical period, in any case. I also think that,
compared to #3 & #4, that it is a bit austere -- not all gooshy & juicy.
Please don't think I was troubled by the choice of orchestration, Dan,
just inquisitive in a scholarly fashion as would properly befit a doctoral
student. And I promise to do my homework, too! Actually I was pleasantly
surprised because I just had my C clarinet repadded (the upper joint) and
it plays like a dream now (except for the high D which is whacked out, but
will be fixed by the next rehearsal).

So, to sum up, I guess I'm postulating that this work is more a reflection
of the Classical period than of the Romantic, and that the instrumentation
choice (C - Bb - C - C) sort of reflects this. I was also hoping that
someone might have some special insight or performance experience to
share, or something. Am I even close, or do I have to go back to the
remedial Dan Leeson 101 course? I think it's important to have some sort
of historical background/perspective on works one is performing.

Was Mendelssohn nearing the end when this was written, and had some sort
of religious coming-to-terms? I couldn't get a composition date on the
library computer, but Mendelssohn died in 1847.

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