Klarinet Archive - Posting 000750.txt from 2001/09

From: "Michael Bryant" <michael@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bernstein Sonata rant
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 08:54:51 -0400

Bernstein Sonata 1941-2. The composer was 23 and he was
pleased with his first published piece.
The 'student period' influence was that of Hindemith in the
Gazioso. He admitted to having bought a clarinet in pawnshop
in 1939 and fooled around with it a bit.
Taking a swipe at a selection British-resident composer does not
really help. A convincing list of less successful music would be
constructed differently. Horovitz was born in Austria.
Stanford was born in Ireland, and Finzi's family was Jewish/Italian.

M

Hat wrote on Friday, September 21, 2001 9:54 PM
Subject: [kl] Bernstein Sonata rant

>
> In a message dated 9/21/01 4:14:06 PM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
> writes:
>
> << Sorry, 'fatuous' for the Bernstein Sonata is a bit strong. I'm just
tired
> of people making uninformed comments about the music which I've made my
> life's work, especially if I read it at 7.30 am before I've had my coffee.
> The Bernstein is a student work, however (albeit the work of a student
> genius). The kind of Latinish second movement is unconvincing. It's a
very
> derivative, pale attempt at the Great American style which was so vibrant
at
> the time, and it's weak Bernstein as well. I can understand why it's
> programmed so often, especially for student recitals (the technical and
> musical demands are reasonable) and there isn't enough of clarinet music
> from this style which can be played by clarinet and piano (unless one
counts
> the piano reduction of the Copland concerto, which is technically harder
to
> play). Of course, your mileage may vary.
> >>
>
> Well, perhaps when the British admit the weaknesses of some of their
"great"
> composers and start programming them less, we Americans will do the same.
I
> wish our music critics and magazines were as supportive of American
composers
> and their music as the British critics are of theirs. And the British
record
> labels too.
>
> To be churlish of towards this one American work, especially considering
how
> popular it is with audiences (who perhaps should count for something in
all
> this) seems unfair. Do you really thing that the sonatas and sonatinas of
> Malcolm Arnold, Horovitz, Bax, Stanford, etc. or the Finzi Bagatelles are
so
> much better? For my 2 cents, the Bernstein sonata is a better work than
any
> of these and I also think Bernstein was a better composer than any of
these
> as well.
>
> You call the 2nd movement 'derivative.' Derivative of whom, exactly? To me
> it's more derivative of weaker composers who came later.
>
> I am not trying to disqualify your right to dislike any work. I am just
> wondering what other works you hold this particular work up against when
you
> find it so wanting.
>
> David Hattner, NYC
> www.northbranchrecords.com
>
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>

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