Klarinet Archive - Posting 001113.txt from 1998/01

From: Andrea Ciona <aciona@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: transcriptions
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 14:52:23 -0500

Certainly, a piece performed in it's original form is perhaps the 'best'
rendition, however I think that transcriptions are very good too.
Symphonic works transcribed for band often expose young players to classic
repetoire they would not otherwise hear. They think that the William Tell
Overture is the theme song to a TV show, and that Hoe-Down is strictly
related to American beef commercials. Therefore, I think that
transcriptions are integral in exposing young people, and the public in
general, to "classical" music.

On Sun, 25 Jan 1998, Labadorf wrote:

>
> In a message dated 1/24/98 12:39:21 PM, Bill E. wrote:
>
> << Tom asks why transcribe from original instrumentation if that's not
> what the composer intended? The answer, of course, is "So that
> clarinettists can play Adagio for Strings, flutists can play K 622,
> concert bands can play the William Tell Overture, etc." Is it good
> art? Maybe not. Is it required to experience music in its perfect form
> in favor of not experiencing it at all? I don't think that either. >>
>
>
> I would have no objection to a flutist playing K 622 so long as I or anyone
> else didn't know about it. For personal pleasure, okay, but not for public
> performance! My point is with audience perspective.
>
>
> << I
> believe it was Vaughan Williams who addressed this issue in general when
> he declared (referring to the playing of music), "If something is worth
> doing, it's worth doing badly." I believe he was a lot more than
> half-serious about this. >>
>
> Vaughan Williams was a fine composer, but I disagree with him on this point.
> Are you sure he was not being sarcastic? Again, in private quarters, playing
> badly is okay. Didn't we hear on this list a report of the Vienna Phil
> playing Ravel badly? That audience did not put up with it.
>
> <<But where do you draw the line? How
> democratic can art be? >>
>
> This is definately a judgement call - one that I would not trust to anyone.
> As I mentioned in my first posting, I'm not against transcriptions as a rule.
> The transcriber has to know what will work. But I think you would be hard
> pressed to find very many pieces that sound as well or better than the
> original setting.
>
> Tom L.
>