Klarinet Archive - Posting 001420.txt from 1998/10

From: John Dablin <johnd@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tempo di Polacca
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 17:24:36 -0500

Out of curiosity I looked up Polonaise (= polacca) in my Oxford
dictionary of music(by Michael Kennedy), and read:-
"A nat. Polish dance, in simple triple time and of moderate speed; it
should, perhaps, more properly be described as a stately ceremonial
procession rather than a dance, and probably originated among the
aristocracy in 16th century."

So that's one opinion, but it certainly accords with what I consider to
be a typical polonaise, such as the final variation of the 4th movement
of Tchaikovsky's Suite no 3 in G.

To my mind a work such as the last movement of Weber's 2nd concerto
should be played so that every note can be heard, fast perhaps, but
precise, and an excessive tempo which just blurs the sound is not very
artistic. On the other hand I once heard a reviewer refer to the final
bars as the "applause" music, which is true too.

You pays your money and takes your choice...
--
John Dablin
Aylesbury UK

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