Klarinet Archive - Posting 000919.txt from 2000/03

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Wagner/Publishers
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 20:55:10 -0500

On Fri, 24 Mar 2000 11:01:22 -0800 (PST), jamesc@-----.com said:

> "Dr. Laroy Borchert" <lborcher@-----.edu> wrote:

> > I place much of the blame, not on students who believe what they
> > read on the cover of the music, but on the publishers who, after
> > close to 40 years, still knowingly publish the piece with Wagner's
> > name listed as the composer.
>
> I suspect that publishers realize that they'll sell more copies of a
> piece by "Wagner" than by "Baermann". That's sadly a disincentive to
> switch completely over to the truth.

I recall that once, many years ago, I was asked to play the 'Wagner
Adagio' in a chamber concert given by the Nash Ensemble. I said
that I would of course be happy to do so, but pointed out to the musical
director of our group, Amelia Freedman, that the piece wasn't by Wagner,
but by Baermann, and should therefore be credited to him.

A few days later, she came back to me, saying that the promoter wanted
nevertheless to present the piece as by Wagner. I said that if they did
that, I wouldn't play it.

But the promoter insisted.

So we didn't play it.

I used to be quite righteous about this little story. But thinking
about it now, I think everyone's interest (including Baermann's) would
have been much better served had I gone along with the promoter's wishes
-- which were obviously connected with his/her concern to attract an
audience -- but then, done a little introduction before playing,
explaining the situation.

Publication is of course a slightly different matter.

Or not, if the truth is actually printed in the copy?

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

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