Klarinet Archive - Posting 000945.txt from 2000/10

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Minor key - Mendelssohn Octet
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 11:21:54 -0400

Before we all become overwhelmed with the beauty of this magnificent
work (and I think he was about 17 when he wrote it), let us pause for a
moment to remember the extremely important reason why this particular
piece is up for discussion.

There was a posting that made the explicit assertion that works in a
minor key are, of necessity, more tragic, more sad, more morose than
works in a major key (though these words were not used, they are mine).

I took exception to this view saying that perceiving works in a minor
key as being inherently sad and poignant simply because they ARE in a
minor key is not a correct interpretation of the origin of or reason
behind their poignancy. I also suggested that such emotions are a
societal construct, not a physical reality. In effect, we are taught to
think of the minor key in this way, but that it is societal, not
factural. And to that extent, I mentioned the movement of the
Mendelssohn octet that IS in a minor key and that I peceived as being a
happy, joyful movement.

Now reasonable people may argue this issue forevery, but I did not want
the discussion of the beauty of the Mendelssohn octet to cloud what the
central issue was all about.

stewart kiritz wrote:
>
> I suppose it would be boring if we all liked the same music. I remember the
> first time I heard the Mendelssohn Octet and how pleasing and charming I
> found it.
>
> Stewart Kiritz
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daniel Leeson" <leeson0@-----.net>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 9:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [kl] Minor key - Mendelssohn Octet
>
> > Interesting. I find it a happy, gay, and charming work. And no offense
> > is taken, Bill.
> >
> > William Wright wrote:
> > >
> > > The CD of Mendelssohn's Octet arrived today. If ever there was an
> > > example of how separated I am from the mainstream of music, this is it.
> > >
> > > To my ear, the second movement reeks so badly of despair, compared
> > > to the first and third and fourth movements, I cannot perceive how any
> > > other human being can see "joy" in it. I feel more jolly when I listen
> > > to Hank Williams twang the country blues.
> > >
> > > What else can I say? No offense intended, Dan.
> > >
> > > Cheers (so long as I ignore the 2nd movement),
> > > Bill
> > >
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> > --
> > ***************************
> > ** Dan Leeson **
> > ** leeson0@-----.net **
> > ***************************
> >
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--
***************************
** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
***************************

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