Klarinet Archive - Posting 000771.txt from 2001/09

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tenuto as force
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 09:48:16 -0400

Sorry, Tony, but your response doesn't entirely make sense to me. I do have a
musical dictionary and it defines tenuto as "held, sustained." It seems to me
that any note not marked staccato (or with some other marking) should be held
for its "correct full value." Unless tenuto does mean something beyond normal
value, its use would be totally redundant. It seems to me that the slight
sustain is a way of giving a note emphasis without using extra force.

When I was a kid taking lessons, I was taught to interpret tenuto markings as
calling for "legato" tonguing. That was a clarinetist's interpretation and I
have a friend who plays horn who was taught the same thing. My daughter's
piano teacher, a very well trained Russian emigre and consummate musician who
had been a teacher in her homeland, invariably taught my daughter that notes
were marked tenuto to call for a little extra emphasis. The first time she did
this, I was surprised and asked her about it. She gave me a fairly lengthy
explanation, most of which I have forgotten over the years but, from it, I
gathered that this was a common interpretation among pianists (who don't tongue
and can't "slur"). Some musical dictionaries occasionally oversimplify. This
issue may not be entirely black and white.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

Tony Wakefield wrote:

> Bill,
>
> Tenuto is not a 'force' marking. It means to hold the note for it`s correct
> full value. I.e. the opposite of staccato. In extreme cases, some
> over-zealous musicians will interpret it to mean 'more' that it`s true
> value.
>
> Do you not have a dictionary of music on your shelves, by your bedside, in
> your pocket, on your dash-board - in each vehicle?
>
> T.W.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "William Wright" <Bilwright@-----.net>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: 24 September 2001 02:06
> Subject: [kl] Tenuto as force
>
> > I feel a bit amateurish having to ask this, but....
> >
> > Is it accurate to say:
> >
> > If a tenuto appears in a melody that has no other durational or force
> > marks (no accents, no staccatos, etc), then the tenuto is solely a force
> > marking with less emphasis than an accent would have in the same
> > situation?
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Bill
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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