Klarinet Archive - Posting 000686.txt from 2000/06

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart Concerto - Quintet?
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 17:48:22 -0400

Hello Alf,
I am sorry you feel this way. I do not wish to insult you, or indeed any
other player/performer, least of all Mozart.
But I am indeed very serious. Would you allow me to ask you what is the
difference between the concerto, that is the <solo> part, being accompanied
by an orchestra, a wind band, (there has been an arr. in the publishers
catalogues for years), an electronic reproduction, A piano reduction, (which
I dare say has been used several times for performance in addition to
rehearsal) or a string quartet. If the guy is stuck out in Central Australia
without an orchestra, and he has string players who wish to be included in
his idea, and he has the part prepared, then why not let him go ahead. I
agree that an Eb clarinet arr. is unthinkable, and I will be the first
person on the planet to refuse him. As a composer myself, I cannot see the
point of view where some consider that music can be considered to be
<masterpieces>. There have been <masterpieces> written which have never seen
the light of day, in their original form, due to composer/publisher
disagreements. Mozart/Beethoven, the whole range of who we call Masters have
had run ins (at some stage of brilliant composition) with their publishers
who have insisted that they (the composers) must make changes - cuts etc
etc. In fact it is known that publishers editors have made almost new
compositions in their quest for sales. Mozart was indeed a great master, but
what a <bloody> life he had trying to make a living. The poor sod just did
not know how to make it work as a profession. He did not have any business
acumen, and I dare say he spent his money as soon as he earned it. What a
wasted life. What a waster! Today, we all hold a different view, mistakenly.
Had he been alive today in the 21st cent. he would still be asked to perform
his music of course, for <so little money> that he <will still die a pauper
in the year 2035>, because he would still be the same person, sadly, with
out the where-with-all how to make it work. One has to take <business
opportunities> in every sphere of life, whether one is an engineer, or a
composer. An engineer will build a bridge and be paid the appropriate amount
of remuneration for his efforts. Do pop stars receive fair remuneration? I
do not need to tell you that serious composers also do not.
There is far too much idolatry in serious music, these days. To divert
momentarily - I purposely did not enter into the conversations re the basset
clarinet/concerto . I wanted to learn as much as possible, as I know very
little of the history of it. But now it has calmed, it has to be seen as
fact that the solo part is a mish mash of Mozart and Stadler, and his
publishers editors. I believe it will remain forever so. As an
<arrangement> if you like. So, continuing with idolatry in serious music -
it compares to young people going overboard when they see Michael Jackson.
Handel wrote his Messiah in a couple of weeks or so. He did <not> see God,
he saw 3 full plated meals to make him fatter twice a day. He probably
spewed up over the original copy of the Hallelujah Chorus.
It`s false and unfair to criticise me (and John) when we have to earn a
living in <this> world, just as much as you and the bridge builder. I don`t
want to be referred to as a Master in 250 years time. I want to earn a
living in the year 2000. Mozart did not, in his era. If I can do that by
playing and teaching Clar./sax., playing piano, composing and ARRANGING,
instead of being a rapist, or a critic, then I would wager your annual
salary against mine that Wolfgang himself would have said "Go ahead".
Best wishes,
Tony Wakefield

----- Original Message -----
From: Alf Hörberg <alf.horberg@-----.se>
Subject: SV: [kl] Mozart Concerto - Quintet?

> John and Tony, who can be serious about such a project. Here, people have
> spent half a lifetime researching, arguing, thinking, trying-out and
> experimenting trying to restore this piece. It's an ongoing discussion
about
> small things like, if this note should be played an octave lower or that
> note should have one sharp or not. Than this comes up, hey, let's get the
ax
> out and demolish the piece and see what happens. It shows such a lack of
> respect for this master-piece and the people who have put down thousands
of
> hours of research that you should be ashamed. It's like cutting Mona-Lisa
> out of the picture for the background didn't go with the wallpaper. There
> are other pieces to commit rape to that are less fragile than the Mozart
> concerto. Just get the hands off the concerto and play the quintet K.581
> since you have that instrument setup available
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tony Wakefield <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2000 5:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [kl] Mozart Concerto - Quintet?
>
>
> > John,
> > I havn`t heard of this in U.K. before, but if you are <serious> about
this
> > project, if you can find the means to finance it - for example a
> publisher,
> > I will certainly look at the possibility of reducing the orch. acc. to
> > string quartet. Mail my e-mail address to discuss further please.
> > Tony W.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: John W. Sheridan <otare@-----.au>
> > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> > Sent: 18 June 2000 01:42
> > Subject: [kl] Mozart Concerto - Quintet?
> >
> >
> > I am considering performing the Mozart clarinet concerto in next year's
> > Eisteddfod here in Alice Springs and as a full orchestra is neither
> > available, much less practical would like to know if any arrangements
for
> > a string quartet are available - 2 violins, viola, cello/bass.

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