Klarinet Archive - Posting 000324.txt from 1997/12

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Today's Titus on the Met Broadcast
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 20:27:10 -0500

On Sun, 7 Dec 1997, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:
> Are you suggesting that anyone may do whatever they wish when performing,
> the only requirement being that we like it that way? Do you seriously
> believe a play to be a free agent to do what s/he wishes when performing?
> Both the written notes and the performance practice need not be
> observed?

Yes - as I think about it, if a person has proven their musicianship and
feels a need to publicly perform in a non-standard way, if done in a
tasteful (boy - now there is a word you can jump on!) way - not to mention
a way that is endorsed by a publication for professional musicians by a
reputable publisher - then the only people it hurts are those who are
purists (I like purists by the way) and those who can't listen to anything
but the most elite (another word...oboy) of musical compositions.

> Is this your suggestion?

You are being redundant! Although, I know you meant it in a "I can't
believe he wrote that.....I better ask again" way.

> > If the Boston Pops plays the Beatles does it mean they are unprofessional?
> > If some movie producer produces a movie based on a book, is that person
> > unprofessional? It really boils down to how it was presented and why.
> > There is nothing wrong with the version Morales played.......it is still a
> > beautiful work, and it is still representative of Mozart's music, albeit
> > not the original intention.

Reread the quote...it does not refer to playing a piece and expecting
others to accept it as original or representative of exactly what the
composer (or we think the composer...) had in mind....it simply asks
questions of when a person is considered a profesional or not.

Roger Garrett
IWU