Klarinet Archive - Posting 000869.txt from 1999/09

From: gtg <gtgallant@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Improvisation, Marcellus, etc.
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 17:30:48 -0400

<<Second, Smith suggests that, due to "the quality of
Marcellus'
playing" he did not need to improvise. The converse
of this
statement (if you need to improvise, your playing
doesn't have any
quality) is empty, vacuous, and without material
substance, this
having serious negative consequences to the validity
of the
statement itself.>>

Absolutely true. Back in the "day", performers were
often judged on how well they could improvise
cadenzas, pieces, etc. The better the soloist, the
better the improv. Beethoven used to have cutting
sessions with the great pianists of his time by making
up pieces on the spot (a standard practice)! He
wanted to show who was boss, and destroy all
competition. Needless to say, Beethoven usually
prevailed. Marcellus obviously wasn't a student of
history regarding period performance.

I believe that if one is to play "old" music, one must
live in the past and observe the composers/periods
intentions. If Bach himself embellished his own
compositions in a Baroque style, why would a performer
assume they are smarter than him and not embellish?
The answer is ignorance, low intellect, stupidity,
lack of musical understanding, immaturity, etc, etc.
There are no buts, excuses, or "special cases". A
boring, ignorant performer gives a boring, ignorant
performance.

BTW, a robot or computer can play notes. 'Nuff
said!!!

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