Klarinet Archive - Posting 000456.txt from 2000/11

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Neat Tunes Today
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 12:38:05 -0500

Looking past phrases such as "bass crap", which are inappropriate,
I would like to comment that a few nights ago I went to a concert (held
in a church, but not religious music), whose announced intention was to
ignore "Weber, Stamitz, et al".

What a pleasure and also what a relief!!!!

I've discarded the program now, but it was music written during the
last 75 years, including variations on a Paganini theme, that was
'classical' in mood and presentation but with hints of jazz, pop music,
folk music (much of 'classical music' for a century or two ago was
derived from folk music), and so forth. Most of it was more lyrical
than the 'classical standards', with longer melodies that developed into
something.... as though the composer had a complete statement in mind
before he or she started writing. The instrumentation included things
like clarinet + strings + piano + guitar (played by the sort of
guitarist who makes his instrument sound like a full orchestra).

When I got home that night, I actually felt relaxed.... as though I
had had an enjoyable conversation with the composers.... as opposed to
being on edge because of 'impossible' 'ethereal' tones and leaps that I
had been asked to listen to and understand.

I really do think that music students would be better served if
teachers paid some extra attention to modern music, even with beginning
students -- which does not mean focusing on atonal or experimental
music.
There is always the copyright and expense issue with modern music,
of course. Brahms and Mozart are for free.

Cheers,
Bill

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