Klarinet Archive - Posting 000417.txt from 2001/01

From: bhampton <bhampton@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Composer vs. performer
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2001 13:20:23 -0500

I believe we finally came to the conclusion that the performer actually has
very little obligation towards the composer's intentions. There is no way a
performer today can possibly get inside Mozart's head to find out what he
really wanted a certain passage to sound like or anything. Even with a living
composer, it's not practical. Part of the performer's job is reading and
interpreting what is printed in the music; theoretically, the composer has
noted down everything that he deems important and wants specified. Therefore,
if it is not in the music, it is open for interpretation. We looked at an
example of a player playing a misprinted note in one of Beethoven's pieces,
and upon hearing it, Beethoven decided he liked that note better, anyway. So
performners have every right to read and interpret the music according to what
they get out of it, even if it's totally different from what the composer's
"true intentions" may have been.

Bailey

@-----.org =====
> <><> Bailey Hampton wrote:
>
>This past semester I took a course called "Truth in Music". We focused
>heavily on the differences between composer intentions versus performers
>intentions and to what extent the performer had to remain "faithful" to
>the composer. [snip of interesting material]
>
>
>
> Given that the course accepted the premise that composers and
>performers have in fact drifted apart over the centuries --- and I'm
>hoping that you're willing to post some more? --- I would like to hear
>something more about what the course said about a performer's
>responsibilty (or independence)?
>
>Cheers, and Thank You for replying,
> Bill
>
>
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