Klarinet Archive - Posting 000821.txt from 1998/07

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart's bsn vs cl concerto
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 11:41:56 -0400

On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 EbKlarinet@-----.com wrote:

> Yes, Ed, I definitely think the bassoon concerto is inferior to the
> clarinet concerto, but that's not to say that it is inferior music.

I'm still having some trouble understanding this. It is inferior, but it
isn't inferior. Something is missing in this equation.

> but it's not just my opinion--everything I've read about the subject
> says that the clarinet work is simply the greatest wind concerto he
> wrote, and possibly the greatest concerto for any instrument in his
> entire output.

I sometimes fall into this trap, too. I may catch myself saying "X is the
greatest composer," or "Y is the greatest symphony, concerto, whatever."
Still when we get to the point that we try to offer something to back up
these often-unsubstantiated opinions, we may find ourselves struggling.
This problem exists everywhere, not just in music. For example, in any
social gathering, start a conversation about what is the greatest movie
ever produced. Which would you say is a greater movie, "Gone with the
Wind" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?" Obviously, both are examples
of the best in movie making, but there is little basis for comparing them.
It's much like trying to answer the question, "Which is greater, an apple
or a horse?"

You may feel that there is more basis for comparison between the two
Mozart concertos. Both are for wind instruments, and both are by the same
composer. But, if we want to say that one is greater than the other, we
need to have some substantive argument on which to base our claims.

BTW, the above notwithstanding, Mahler is the greatest composer! ;-)

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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