Klarinet Archive - Posting 000000.txt from 1997/09

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: Re: you call that music?
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 1997 00:10:00 -0400

In a message dated 97-08-31 13:48:35 EDT, Bill E. wrote:

<< Lawrence Welk made MUSIC? I guess most of us have become more broad in
our interpretations over the years. But as for myself, even today, try as I
will to watch the reruns, I still cringe, hold by breath, and let out a
scream as I frantically run for the remote after only a few seconds of that
torture.

Bill E. (whose grandparents always turned it on - as background "music" for
their conversations)>>

Bill,

As one who was born and raised in Southern California and watched lots of
Lawrence Welk live from the Aragon Ballroom on Lick (sp?) Pier in Santa
Monica live on KTLA Channel 5 (where Cecil and Beany got their start start on
live TV with Stan Freeberg and Dawes Butler long before Jim Henson
discovered hand puppets) I'd like to add a few personal observations.

First, I memory serves me correctly (and Dan Leeson can confirm this because
he was there), didn't Mozart compose quite a few divermenti to be used as
background "music" for grandparents' conversations? For example, IMHO the K.
439 divermenti for 3 basset horns are not all equally wonderful. In fact,
every time I hear K . 439d, I run for my remote control. Even Wolfie knew
what sold commercially.

Secondly, while you're not a fan of Welk's music, was there a problem, for
example, with the musicians' technique -- intonation -- dymanics -- phrasing
-- interpretation? Did the fact that they were "reed men" playing sax,
flute, AND clarinet present a problem? When musicians signed on with the
Welk organization, I can only surmise it was a full-time job which meant they
didn't have to hustle studio gigs and teach obnoxious students just to
survive. I would certainly appreciate some input -- pro or con -- from the
Los Angeles crowd who were making a living as musicians at that time.

And finally, the Lawrence Welk show was purely and simply entertainment. I
would challenge you to come up with a single entertainer -- or group -- today
who can bring so much pleasure to such a widely diverse audience...and
inspired a few folks on KLARINET.

Just some thoughts...

Don Gross
La Canada, California