Klarinet Archive - Posting 001137.txt from 1998/05

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] Grand Canyon - 1st Clarinet Part
Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 17:53:13 -0400

Edwin V. Lacy wrote:

> As to why the Grand Canyon Suite is programmed less often now than it was
> 50 or so years ago (if it is), I can only speculate. Personally, when I
> was 19 years old, I thought it was a pretty outstanding piece of music.
> However, to me it doesn't bear repeating an infinite number of times.
> Perhaps the tastes of the public, like mine, have changed over the years.
> We can point to numerous examples of pieces in the repertoire, once
> popular, which have become almost extinct today.

I think I agree with you on this, Ed. Grand Canyon is a well-crafted work and I
enjoy listening to it every once in awhile, particularly the Sunrise section. I
have to wonder though if it would have lasted as long as it did without Phillip
Morris Cigarettes. (Remember "CALLLLLLL FORRRRR PHILLLLLLLIP MORRRRRRRRRISSSSSS"
over "On the Trail"?) On the other hand, IMHO, Daphnis is a masterpiece. It's
on my desert island list -- and it is plenty challenging for auditions. (Anybody
remember any of Grofe's other works? Aside from a piano concerto, they were
mostly suites in the style of "Grand Canyon" but generally boring and all alike.)

> How many have ever heard "Through the Looking Glass" by Deems Taylor? I
> never have. But, I know that it has a difficult bassoon solo in it, and I
> once had to learn it because I had a teacher who had played the piece back
> in the 1930's and had made a mistake in it. If this work ever comes
> around again, I'm prepared! But, I think a lot of people liked this work
> in the 1920's and 30's. In my lifetime, I don't ever expect to have to
> demonstrate my mastery of the bassoon solo!

I have two recordings of this piece, an old ERA LP by Howard Hanson and a
currently available CD by Gerard Schwarz ahd the Seattle Symphony on Delos. (The
couplings on the CD are a number of works by Charles Griffes. (Again IMHO) all
worth a listen. In fact, I'd rather listen to it than "Grand Canyon" -- but
that's just my opinion.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org