Klarinet Archive - Posting 000597.txt from 2001/09

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Recognizing what is on the page
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 16:32:00 -0400

In a message dated 9/17/01 4:13:05 PM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
writes:

<< > My attitude toward playing softly is: if you don't miss any soft attacks
in a
> whole concert, you probably weren't trying hard enough to play soft. It is
> FAR better from my perspective to miss a few and have a bunch of
extrordinary
> ones that to 'get' them all but have most of them be ordinary or too loud.

My head is a bit 'thick' this Monday morning after a heavy weekend of posh
garden party chamber ensembles 5tets AND nonets on the banks of the Thames,
and a 'drop everything panic' to shoot over to Gatwick to stand in (on
piano) at the hotel.

So could I ask David to elucidate a little more here, as I don`t understand
what he`s explaining. >>

I am not sure how to put it any better. Basically what I am saying is that
playing extremely softly is very difficult. I think we all know that from
experience. It is also necessary an enourmous amount of the time. The
question is, when it comes time for the performance in front of an audience,
do you try to play your absolute softest and risk having a note not speak? Or
do you play it safe and make sure it always comes out solidly if not as
magically as a perfect attack.

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

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