Klarinet Archive - Posting 000338.txt from 1997/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: K. 622
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 10:10:04 -0400

On Fri, 10 Oct 1997, Lou Polcari wrote:
> in clarinet performance from the University of Oregon's School of Music, and
> have studied over 45 grad hr. in music history.

How is Wayne Bennet doing? Have you played for Bob Ponto yet?

> About
> playing these concerti on other instruments, the question is why? Aside
> from the fact that they were written for the voice of the clarinet, why
> would a flutist with so much very good flute lit want to play the Mozart?
> Or any other instrument for that matter.

Are you asking to provoke thoughts or are you hiding an opinion within the
question? If it is the latter, I have a response.

Many composers have their works transcribed for other instruments, and
many composers give permission for their works to be transcribed for other
instruments or medium. For example, why would a violinist want to play
the Beethoven Trio, Op. 11 which was originally intended for Clarinet,
Piano and Cello when there are so many other wonderful trios out there for
Violin, Piano and Cello? I believe they do because the piece is GREAT!
Just because the composer added the optional part doesn't mean that it
doesn't work well. I like the Beethoven Trio, Op 1, No. 1 for Violin,
Cello and Piano....so much so that I transcribed it for clarinet, added
some of the double stops into the cello part, and performed it on a
recital a couple of years ago. I really enjoyed playing the piece....it
is wonderful music. Frankly, there are a ton of other trios I could have
chosen, but I really like THAT trio.....and I have always been jealous of
violinists for having that piece to play. Along the same lines, many
scholars have written that the K.622 is the best wind concerto that Mozart
wrote. IF that were accepted by someone, it would stand to reason that
they might want to play that piece on their instrument. Nothing wrong
with that.

Along the same thread but a different color thread, what about the works
of Bach? I think if Bach had heard some of his organ works played by a
wind band....(and all those instruments had been available to him then),
he might have written for that medium. Why play Bach with a band when
there is so much good original literature for the wind players? Why did
Vaughann Williams transcribe his Folk Song Suite for Military Band for
Full Orchestra? Same reasons.

Roger Garrett