Klarinet Archive - Posting 000609.txt from 2001/01

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Gran Partitta
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 05:56:44 -0500

Not quite - "Mossart" implies a wrong pronunciation. "Partitta" suggests
a possible former regional or professional variant, particularly as it
appears in some
dictionaries (which I certainly hadn't realised).
Roger S.

In message <200101180338.WAA02951@-----.org writes:
> 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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--
Real men DO eat quiche - with raw HTML

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