Klarinet Archive - Posting 000862.txt from 1997/12

From: Josh-Boy <joshcole@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: Morales
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 20:51:42 -0500

> > > > If everyone played everything EXACTLY as the composer intended EVERY SINGLE
> > > > TIME, wouldn't this world be really boring musically?
> > > > Claire M. Sanders
> > > > Secretary, Zeta Sigma Chapter, Sigma Alpha Iota
> > > > Secretary, ASU Band Council
> > > > bab603@-----.edu
> > > > =>-->-->-----
> >
> > Chaos theory says things cannot happen exactly the same more than once.
> > The idea (and again, in my opinion) is to play as the composer intended as
> > closely as possible. And besides, because instruments and concert halls,
> > etc., differ, the music will sound different anyway. It's all how the
> > listener responds to it, neh?
> >
> > Joshua Coleman
>
> But Josh, how does a reasonable person determine what the composer's
> intentions were? Except for the rhythmic intentions as described
> by the notation, the pitch intentions as described by the note placements,
> and the intensity intentions roughly described by the not very precise
> dynamic markings, the rest is not so clear.
>
> The fact is that music notation has many limitations and one of the
> things that I don't think it tells us at all are what the composer's
> intentions were.

This is what I meant, actually. After reading all the posts and really
sitting down to think about it, the best we can do as far as playing what
the composer intended beyond what's written is to read any description the
composer left of the piece. If these are not available, we can simply
guess by what history dictates (i.e. pieces written during WWII by German
composers could very well depict bomb raids, war, etc.). By intentionally
or otherwise leaving out certain notes, passages, whatever, this destroys
the composers written work. When I said composer's intentions, I meant
following the written crescendos, notes, ritards, etc.,etc.,etc. If we
follow these as performers, then we can preserve as much of the
"composer's intentions" as possible.

Hope this clears up any misunderstandings. If not, e-mail me privately.
Or just suck it up and move on :). Just kidding.

Joshua COleman