Klarinet Archive - Posting 000912.txt from 1999/09

From: "Rien Stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: [kl] The practice of playing solos (the Mozart controversy)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 18:27:12 -0400

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Sorry, but I do not understand why you professional people are devoting =
such a lot of time to a discussion on how to play Mozart - or, for that, =
a certain passage in the Copland concerto - . There is too much personal =
taste in both how to interpret a piece, and in the evaluation by third =
parties as to that interpretation.

When someone starts to study a piece - even if he or she has studied it =
a hundred times before - in my opinion he or she must try to find the =
way of playing it that plaese HIM OR HER best, and try to stick to that =
way, though of course this opinion may change when one gets deeper =
involved into the piece. Of course when the composer is still alive one =
can ask him about certain possibilities. I remember meeting Messiaen in =
I think the year 1974, when the Utrecht conservatory ran a Messiaen =
project he attended, and being one of the very few people fluent in the =
French language I automatically came to discuss with him some points. =
When I asked him rightaway about a female student singer, he only =
answered me she had a very beautiful voice, and had a great career =
ahead, but he did not give his opinion about the way she sang some of =
his songs, he said it was her way to see these songs, and it was a good =
and valid way, though different from what he had ecpectedd to hear. And =
he added that was a great compliment!

So I think the issue you people discussing the topic of how to play are =
having a vain discussion without right or wrong. The whole topic burns =
down to the issue:

Either youi play music on a purely commercial base, and adapt yourself =
completely to the taste of the public. Then, when lucky, you will end up =
very, very rich, look at Frank Sinatra or the spice Girls. Or you are =
sincere, and play what you like the way tou like. (Of course, as an =
orchestra player, things are slightly different, but that 's not at =
stake here). And probably never will be rich, but be a luckier man or =
woman!

Enjoy your playing.

Rien

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