Klarinet Archive - Posting 000434.txt from 1998/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] 1234/2341
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 11:34:37 -0400

> > I don't like this idea at all. It could explain a lot about the
> > bad properties of American
> > woodwind playing (not denying there are good ones, too)......
> > Roger S.

> > On Fri, 9 Oct 1998, Roger Garrett wrote:
> > >
> > > Why accent at all? You either head for an arrival point, arrive at an
> > > arrival point, or come away from an arrival point in classical literature.
> > > It's that simple - accents are non-essential - but the arrival point is
> > > indicated by the high point in the air stream combined with (hopefully)
> > > some kind of cadence/tension/release point in the phrase.

On a serious note, it is possible that Roger (that sounds strange saying
my name) misunderstands what I am saying. I didn't say the high point in
the melodic contour (I am hoping that is what Roger interpreted) - I said
the high point in the air stream in conjunction with
cadence/tension/release point in a phrase. There can be as many as 3
arrival points within an 8 bar phrase - which would lead to a stair
stepping approach toward the main arrival point within any given phrase or
harmonic progression. John Yeh speaks of the stair stepping approach in a
musical line that shows a clear arrival point.

I sat in a lesson with David Shifrin when we were trying to find a way to
describe verbally what we do physically to realize a musical line within
the context of any given work - in this context - a classical era piece of
literature.

I am hoping that my comments above, spoken very simply and without great
descriptions, is not taken to mean something that I didn't intend.....it
is a standard, very traditional approach toward teaching musical line.

I have some problems with anyone taking someone else's post and, without
finding out if that person had a particular idea that was not clear,
announcing to an entire list that the idea represents "bad properties of
American woodwind playing." Roger hasn't heard me play, nor has he seen
me teach - therefore I find such a comment to be somewhat hasty and
judgemental.

Roger Garrett
IWU

-------------------------------------------------------------------------