Klarinet Archive - Posting 000862.txt from 1997/10

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: Mendelssohn Sonata
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 14:36:24 -0400

I've recently been taken with the Mendelssohn Sonata. That beautiful Andante
movement!

But alas I don't know the history behind this piece. I was totally lost when
I tried to follow Levin/Neidich's version with the score.

Then I read the intro to my edition (MCA) wherein it is said "It was
necessary to make a few minor cuts in each movement in order to achieve a
certain balance of form"

!!!!AAAHHHH!!!

I do prefer to hear the composer's idea of what he thought was balanced and
what is not. Actually having someone else balance a work of art - 100 years
later - unbalances me!

In the piano literature I can usually go to Henle and find a good "urtext"
version that is close to what the composer wrote. Is there such a version of
the Mendelssohn Sonata for clarinet? I'm told by the folks at Frank's music
that this is the only version left.

Anybody know how Levin/Neidich came up with their version (aside from
improv's there are major sections in their version that do not even show on
mine).

Thanks in advance

Jerry Korten
NYC