Klarinet Archive - Posting 000125.txt from 1998/07

From: "RJ Carpenter" <emerald1@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: Mozart and the V-word
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 12:55:51 -0400

Thanks you so much, Chris, for expressing exactly what needed to be said.
Dan was speaking as the * arrogant fool * that he himself attempted to
describe. To say that music either comes solely from the heart or solely
from the head is a foolish statement. To play music properly, we have to
use our head and apply the proper styles where it is appropriate and be
mindful and respectful of the techniques of the time. To play music
"right", we have to be expressive and emotional; traits which come from our
"heart". As I've stated so many times before; it's times that this clarinet
community becomes more open and receptive, and less ignorant and bigoted.
Not to say that the whole community is; for it definitely is not. But until
we accept the fact that they're different ways to interpret each piece; each
phrase, and each note that has ever been written... then we will never
achieve and never evolve... which leads to extinction.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tristan Carpenter- Clarinetist, Saxophonist, and Bassist.
emerald1@-----.net
www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/bayou/2048
"...music is the voice of the soul."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Written by
Maestro645@-----.com

>
>In a message dated 7/6/98 5:49:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
>leeson@-----.edu writes:
>
><< Insofar as music coming from the heart, that is the kind of remark
> that is heard from an amateur on the fringe of the music business.
> It is a hollywood understand of music. Music comes from the head
> and the heart has little to do with it.
>
> In sum and substance, any performer who approaches K. 622 knowing
> nothing about the practices of the late eighteenth century (those
> practices governing how one approaches and performs works of this
> nature) is simply arrogant.
> >>
>
>Dan:
>You speak of other people being arrogant, but reread your first paragraph I
>cut, please. That comment about if music is from the heart means that the
>person is on the fringe was rather arrogant as well.
>Take, for example, the second movement of the Mozart Concerto. Are you
trying
>to say that you shouldn't express yourself with slow, dreamy melodies?
>(Forget vibrato for a moment.) I didn't think so. But the best expression
>comes from your heart, because you want it to MEAN something. Playing
>straight from your headmay be just fine and dandy, but pieces sound just
>boring playing it straight. True expression DOES come from your heart.
>You have been very bold in your comments, and you don't care whose feet you
>step on. You are respected as a clarinettist, but for God's sake, have
some
>sensitivty! I understand you are very passionate about this subject (am I
>correct in assuming that 18th century music is your forte?) but sometimes
if
>people want to do something you just don't agree with, just let them do
it.
>And if you run across that person in an audition, and you both do your own
>things, and you get accepted, then you can think silently to yourself that
you
>were right, so that your pride isn't hurt.
>This matter is always going to be debatable, so why don't we just put it to
>rest? So what if there IS some documented proof on stylistic remarks? On
the
>other hand, they might be other talented clarinettists of that time who did
it
>differently, but never wrote it down.
>Another example I can site is a comment from my piano professor. Take
Bach,
>for example. If there had been a piano with pedals in his day, he would
have
>wrote pieces for it, so why don't you just play his pieces on piano, and
use
>pedal wherever it's needed? It is stylistically with today's times, so
just
>combine old in new in an effective manner.
>So with the concerto, if a person wants to use vibrato to express
themselves,
>just let them be. Obviously, you won't use jazz-style vibrato. (Mozart
would
>have God strike you down with lightning!) But if slight vibrato is
wanting,
>go for it, just use it tastefully. Then they can concentrate on making
other
>things in the 18th century style ( like trills), where they might value
that
>more important.
>Well, I've probably said too much, and will probably be flamed (I can
already
>guess one person, and there might be another, depending if he reads this),
but
>I don't care. I just needed to vent. Just please remember, Dan, not to be
so
>arrogant yourself with your comments, and just let some people be.
>Respectfully (at the risk of being flamed),
>Chris Hoffman
>

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