Klarinet Archive - Posting 000883.txt from 2000/08

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: singing helps playing
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2000 21:36:38 -0400

At 11:20 PM 08/27/2000 +0100, you wrote:
>On Sun, 27 Aug 2000 15:55:14 -0500, rgarrett@-----.edu said:
>
>> At 09:27 PM 08/27/2000 +0100, you wrote:
Tony first wrote:
>> Bernstein himself, caught up in a stunt that he
>> > probably wished he'd never begun, showed understandable irritation
>> > during the film of the recording.

Then he responded again:
>Anyone with *any* understanding of style can recognise what is
>unacceptable about these recordings, regardless of what Bernstein said
>in informal conversation to you.

Just in case you don't remember what you first wrote, I pasted them above
so that you could see why I responded. I'm not sure anyone is qualified to
decide, other than personal opinion, what style Bernstein wanted - except
perhaps Bernstein. This kind of goes hand in hand with what Dan Leeson
often says about Mozart - that no one knows for sure what he wanted or
thought because we can't ask him. However, Bernstein shared that opinion
with me. I believe he wasn't lying about what he thought. He certainly
didn't seem to be insincere at the time. The main point I was making is
that your statement, when compared to what Bernstein said about the
recording session, was incorrect - no matter how you personally choose to
characterize the meeting and discussion I had with him.

I am sure you recognize that I have not shared my personal opinion of the
recordings you mention - just in case your post was somehow linking my post
with your negative feelings about the recording sessions and subsequent
commercial recordings (which you certainly should feel comfortable
sharing). I do think that my interest in that recording is remarkably
different than your's.

BTW, I do have some nicely signed programs by Bernstein, and he visited our
school. He was scheduled to rehearse with our orchestra, but he was not
able to do so. It was a nice three day event with him in town.

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, IWU Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

A Clarinetist's Revenge is sometimes personified by the following excerpt
from the London Daily News, circa 1926:

"The saxophone is a long metal instrument bent at both ends. It is alleged
to be musical. As regards markings, the creature has a series of tiny taps
stuck upon it, apparently at random. These taps are very sensitive: when
touched they cause the instrument to utter miserable sounds suggesting
untold agony. Sometimes it bursts into tears. At either end there is a
hole. People, sometimes for no reason at all, blow down the small end of
the saxophone which then shrieks and moans."

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