Klarinet Archive - Posting 000603.txt from 2001/01

From: George Kidder <gkidder@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Gran Partitta
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 23:13:27 -0500

I really quake at the thought of even hinting that an authority like Dan
Leeson ( and I say that with deep respect) might be establishing a
dangerous principle, but I think you are, Dan.

Suppose I (knowing next to nothing about Mozart compared to you) were to
have been the bloke who scribbled GRAN PARTITTA on the manuscript. Suppose
I also put it in a file labeled Mossart. Both of these are wrong! The
former has become hallowed by use, while the latter never got off the
ground. But suppose it had? Would that make the spelling Mossart correct,
or even correct only for this piece.

Spelling is an iffy thing, and attitudes (even scholarly ones) have changed
since Mozart's time, and maybe even since 1803. Going somewhat earlier,
Shakespeare wrote his name in a number of different ways, it appears, and
didn't seem to worry about it. We NOW consider the spelling I just used
"correct", but that is us, not him. Who knows what Mozart would have
thought about GRAND PARTITA, or GRAN PARTITTA, or any other variant.

I would rather modify your statement to read "but 'Gran Partitta' is the
accepted spelling and every single ....." That avoids giving the bloke
with the crayon an absolute authority he does not disserve. I would rather
accept the suggestions of my spell checker - and you know what that's like!

At 14:11 1/17/01 -0800, Daniel Leeson wrote:
>I got an off-list note from a nice and well-meaning person who corrected
>my spelling of "Gran Partitta." I hate to be the one standing up while
>everyone is sitting down, but "Gran Partitta" is correct and every
>single recording, reference, use, etc. of the term "Gran Partita" is in
>error.
>
>The use of the title is derived from the fact that it appears on the
>autograph manuscript now in the Library of Congress. It is written in
>red crayon (though absolutely not in Mozart's hand) in the upper center
>of the first page.
>
>The title was added by an unknown person ca. 1803 and has nothing to do
>with Mozart, but if it is to be used because of its presence on the
>manuscript, then it should be spelled the way it appears on the
>manuscript, and that is, absolutely and unambiguously 'GRAN PARTITTA."
>
>For further detail see, Mozart Jahrbuch, 1997, "A Revisit: Mozart's
>Serenade for Thirteen Instruments, K. 361 (370a), the 'Gran Partitta'",
>pp. 181-223 with particular emphasis on p. 222, "The 'Gran Partitta'
>Subtitle."
>--
>***************************
>** Dan Leeson **
>** leeson0@-----.net **
>***************************
>
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George Kidder
Bar Harbor, ME

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