Klarinet Archive - Posting 000406.txt from 1997/10

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: Who's best?
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 01:51:04 -0400

Who's best?

I was interested in the various remarks regarding the compositions of
this or that Versus this or other composer.
I don't want to state my thoughts on the merits of various composers and
their works but I can only add that when most pupils come to me saying
they want to learn the Mozart Concerto or
Brahms, especially the Brahms trio, I tell them that they are not ready
for it.

Why not the Mozart? True, the chords are simple, the runs simple (on the
surface) but that work is "Naked". There is no flashy technique to hide
behind. You have to put up or shut up.

I usually have pupils play a lot of other things; a lot of Romantic
composer's works, concertos, Baermann studies, one's where you can get
away with it, meaning; you can muster enough style to play it
But you can't do it in Mozart or Brahms.
As someone quoted in a post, Karl Leister said you have to be at least
35 to play Brahms.
I don't know about Mozart. However, if one prefers Romantic composers
versus Mozart, it will be good for development of their playing styles.
By the way, Galway's rendition of the Mozart slow movement is very
inspiring. I think that clarinetists can benefit from listening to it.
Avrahm Galper