Klarinet Archive - Posting 001224.txt from 1998/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 12:24:21 -0400

On Wed, 30 Sep 1998, Bill Hausmann wrote:

> At 03:56 PM 9/29/98 -0500, Roger Garrett wrote:
> >Musical from the standpoint that the elements are there. The one element
> >that will never be in a marching show that is a major part of
> >self-expression is spotantanity (did I spell that correctly?).
> >
> And your point is...? OK, marching shows aren't spontaneous. String
> quartets do not have the sheer power of a marching band. Dixieland bands
> lack precision. Computer music lacks expression. Modern atonal
> compositions lack beauty. You don't have to have EVERYTHING in EVERYTHING
> for it to be a valid musical expression.

All of the forms you mention above have spontantanity......as with every
musical medium I can think of (at least the complex ones). I don't argue
it is not a musical expression - just that it is not one that has more
colors and dynamic textures than it's concert hall counterpoint(s).
Reread my first post - without removing the statement (and using just the
closing example).........

I have already posted (several times in case you didn't notice) that I
believe marching band is a viable, good thing to have as part of a band
program. But it is not a great outlet for musical expression - in my
opinion.......the most important musical expression involves spontaneous
creativity - sorry - that's the way I see it.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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