Klarinet Archive - Posting 000480.txt from 2000/12

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Peplowski continued.
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2000 14:09:02 -0500

I don't intend this as negative critique, but consider the
metaphors that are being used in this thread.

The weight of public opinion is that 'classical' performers should
bring their music 'to life' by representing the original music
accurately, and that 'jazz' performers should bring music 'to life' by
doing something new with it.
Tom's words --- "carrying the torch" --- fit into the discussion
we've had several times about "making the music your own". In
'classical' music, the responsibility for innovation appears to be with
the composer, and the performer's responsibility is to bring the
composer's music to life in an 'accurate' manner. But in jazz, the
player is most praised if he or she is part-composer and 'does things'
with the music. "Carrying the torch" means one thing in jazz and
another in classical.

Another thought is that if good playing means to portray the
composer accurately, then as time goes on, the variation between the
best 'classical' players should dwindle as they all approach whatever
the 'truth' is. Obviously the approach can be perturbed if the best
players disagree, or if history books disagree, or whatever. Still,
the announced goal for classical players is to approach an unchanging
goal: to honor the composer's intent.
In jazz, however, one of the announced goals is to innovate and to
do something new (to improvise) with the music.
It's an interesting comparison.

Cheers,
Bill

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