Klarinet Archive - Posting 000897.txt from 2001/06

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Composing Problems.
Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2001 07:41:00 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: <A4ACHESON@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Composing Problems.

<<Or do those of you who play in wind
bands just treat these difficult clarinet parts as a bit of fun, without
wanting to put too much effort into practising and playing them to the best
of your ability, <because> you know beforehand that there are going to be
several slip ups.>>

> Here in the British Isles particularly we have inherited a tradition of
> arrangements made for military band, arrangements to be played outside in
> parks and seaside bandstands to the acompaniment of barking dogs and
> screaming children, [when it wasn't raining; and when it was.] It is a
tough
> job to play many of these arrangments at all and impossible to play some
of
> them well. But that was not always necessary. The advent of the concert
band
> playing mainly indoors has led to a different approach, but old traditions
> die hard!
> AA

Traditions do indeed die hard, but it is nevertheless my observation that
these traditions, and such writers who we have contributing original music
for the modern wind band, need to move apart. The days of enjoying a good
blow, through the Tannhauser Overture on the Eastbourne Bandstand and
accepting the multitude of wrong notes, seems to still prevail with some
bands. And on a hot Sunday afternoon there is indeed an air of considerable
enjoyment for that kind of music making. Nothing wrong with that.

What I am advocating, is that there are now two worlds with two kinds of
bands. 1)The die hard military band, and 2) the concert wind band. I am
observing that the writing, composing, and/or arranging for the concert type
band is no better, or no more intelligently orchestrated than for the
"safety in numbers, and let`em have it" kind of band. This is very sad.
Intelligently written orchestration can and does make a concert wind band
sound almost like a symphony orchestra. Because it lets the players apply
themselves to worthwhile, not futile, preparation of their part, in order
for them to give of their best during performance, which will invariably be
in some concert hall, under more formal and serious setting.

I am observing some lack of interest on your part, in my posts on this
subject, almost as tho` some of you might feel that I`m off my head,
rabbiting on and on.
Think about this:- A lot of the symphony ochestras` are experiencing
difficult times. It has been muted that they might die. Some of them
might!More and more concert bands are springing up all over the world. Here
in the UK the classical radio stations are playing ever more frequently
concert band stuff. You ALL require intelligently written clarinet parts to
play. Not ridiculous crap which you don`t enjoy, or have the time to
practise, or even don`t wish to complain about seriously. (Maybe you are not
a professional musician, and you feel you don`t have the right to voice an
opinion). But it <is> the pro`s who do complain, and they voice their
opinions very strongly - (my previous mention re Jack Brymer). Indeed, I was
myself on the receiving end of Kenny Baker`s tongue when I presented him
with some rock figures which he decided he couldn`t figure out there and
then in the studio. I had to do an immediate re-write.

All I`m saying is, <YOU> start to voice your opinions more to composers and
to publishers. It will benefit the wind band in the long term, and it will
certainly make <your> clarinet parts much more approachable and enjoyable.

End of sermon - GO PRACTISE!

Best,

Tony W.

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