Klarinet Archive - Posting 000120.txt from 1999/06

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Koechel's number -- my answer.
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 14:19:15 -0400

On Wed, 02 Jun 1999 09:51:32 +0100, I said:

> So, what happened to *me* was,

[snip]

A couple of days ago, I told this story to Malcolm Bilson, with whom I
was having the great good fortune to play K452, and he responded with a
story of his own that I found illuminating.

He said that he had gone to play to a Mozart society in Japan, I can't
remember the precise name of the society, and that one of the pieces he
had to play was Ksomething. But *he* thought, it would work better for
this recital to play instead Ksomething-else at that point.

So when he arrived, he said that if they didn't mind, he'd like to
change the programme. But the organiser reacted with horror.

"You have to realise," he said, "that the society has exactly 626
members, one for every work in the Koechel catalogue. So it is a great
honour for member number something that you play 'his' piece. He will
certainly be present at the concert. If you do not play it, you will
insult him.

"Also, member number something-else may not be coming to this concert,
and if you play *his* piece, and he is not there, he will be disgraced.
Therefore, we would be very grateful if you would play the programmme as
advertised."

Apparently there is great competition for these K-numbers, and they
sometimes fall vacant only when the holders die off.

I have no further details, but I found the idea very charming.

Does anybody have any further information?

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN family artist: www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

... When you're 70 tomorrow's yesterday before you know it was today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org