Klarinet Archive - Posting 000208.txt from 2001/09

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: [kl] Editions
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 22:29:00 -0400

Around 20 years ago, in London, as a well-known clarinet player, I was
invited by the then representative of Universal Edition to produce
editions of the some of the more substantial works of the clarinet
repertoire.

What I replied was, that we didn't *need* more editions. What we needed
was holographs of the composers' manuscripts. Many editions just
'quasi-solve' the problems that performers really need to solve for
themselves. (In fact the attitude required for solving these problems
is what leads to to genuine performance.)

There would have been, of course, difficulties involved in this
approach, to do with variant readings in different sources, and changes
in the course of publication. Nevertheless, however that was to be
handled, I didn't want to add my own 'opinions' to any edition. It
would have been enough for me that the composer's first thoughts, plus
annotations corresponding to later changes if necessary, were *visible*.

This decision on my part may well surprise the 'market economy'
supporters here. Clearly, I didn't act in my own self-interest, which
goes against what they would predict: namely, that I would maximise my
own profit, and capitalise on the opportunity.

But, I didn't, and don't, care. I don't want to have the sort of
reputation that Alamiro Giampieri has nowadays.

Universal Edition didn't take up my suggestion, but, *shame on them*.
We now have Pamela Weston's efforts.

Doubtless Neil Leupold and Kevin Fay (for example) will be able to
explain why.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN artist: http://www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

... You are only young once, but you can be immature forever.

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