Klarinet Archive - Posting 000642.txt from 2000/09

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: RE: [kl] Espressivo, Brahms Sonata #2
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 14:26:46 -0400

<><> Ed Lacy wrote:
I am forced to conclude that you are obsessing far too much about the
word "espressivo." It means just what it says, play expressively.

Thank you for the common sense reminder. I agree that this
discussion has mutated. I didn't mean to make a federal case of it.

The discussion began with my temptation to avoid thinking about a
few notes that I had written myself. I was going to write
'espressivo', thereby pretending to have decided something when in fact
I hadn't. In other words, a 'cop out'. There are so many ways to be
expressive that the instruction doesn't give much guidance. In fact, I
see no problem with instructing the player to "Do your thing" if that's
what you really wish to say.
Not that it makes any difference, but in my own case, I eventually
decided that what I wanted was a pair of half notes in largo tempo to
'swell' (as in "< >").

As a separate issue, it eventually seemed reasonable to me to get a
copy of the Brahms and to ask myself, "What _would_ I do in the specific
example that Tony has cited?" Some things would be inappropriate, of
course, such as trying to 'klezmerize' the phrase.
But again, I didn't intend to be obsessional. It's interesting
for me just to look at some 'real' music for the first time and tinker
with it. The "allegro appassionato" puts it beyond my reach, probably
for several years at least; but music is a long term pursuit and I may
as well start thinking about it.

Cheers & thanks,
Bill

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org