Klarinet Archive - Posting 001093.txt from 1998/01

From: Labadorf <Labadorf@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Re: Adagio for clarinet choir
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 09:37:57 -0500

In a message dated 1/25/98 8:38:45 PM, Bill Hausmann wrote:

<<I'll bet it would sound better than if the clarinet ensemble played the
work on violins! Transcriptions are made because people who play different
instruments want to play more good music than is written for their specific
horns. It is as simple as that!>>

Bill, you are right. I should refine my position lest I be called a
hypocrite, because I myself play transcriptions. I agree that there is so
much more to learn from music of other instruments than can be learned on our
own. e.g., Bach Cello Suites for phrasing, Paganini Caprices for technical
dexterity and embouchure flexability, Mozart Piano Concertos for clasical
stylistic improvisation and ornamentation, Beethoven String Quartets because
they're fun, etc. But, if the average Joe/Jane was comparing recordings of
one of these works played in original instrumentation and transcribed for
clarinet, which one would s/he buy? My guess would be the original
instrumentation. ("Depends" is not allowed here)

My original question really should read, "Why bother to *perform* any music as
long as it can be performed with the original intended instrumentation?" Some
might say that a particular transcription would sound better than the
original, but this is rarely the case. To put my argument to practical
application, I would recommend programing concerts or CDs with original music
for your media. Let's not subject our audience and composers to second best
representations simply because we want to play more good music.

Tom L.