Klarinet Archive - Posting 000136.txt from 2002/01

From: Bear Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] "Kegelstatt" and the TRUTH about the "Mozart Effect"
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 14:14:38 -0500

Hello, Klarinet List.

I'm a BIG fan of Mozart, and LOVE the K. 498 in
Eb Major "Clarinet Trio" for Clarinet, Viola and Piano.
I looked it up in a book I own, "Mozart: His Character,
His Work" by Alfred Einstein, New York, Oxford
Press, 1975 Printing. It confirms my suspicions that
Mozart played the viola at the premiere of this work.
(I thought I had read that somewhere, years ago.)

On the Nash Ensemble Cassette, VC 7 91074-4, with
4 of Mozart's chamber works on it, it does list the Clari-
net Trio by the spelling "Kegelstatt", or "Skittle-Alley".

However there is a serious issue regarding mistaken
ideas about the "Mozart Effect". Some people think
that having your small children listen to Mozart's
music, will make them smart at math, science, and in
school in general, later in life. I think that's ridiculous!
Just look at the effect that Mozart's music had on
him! He spent much of his time, laughing like a
Cackling Chicken and chasing pretty girls! THAT is
the truth about the Mozart Effect!

For those of us, who just aren't any good at laughing
like a Cackling Chicken, we have to compensate, by
dressing up in a Chicken Suit, and hanging out in
Classical Music bars, trying to pick up pretty women!
(Do you have ANY idea, how expensive the Dry
Cleaning bills are, for a Double-Extra-Large Chicken
Suit? I gotta tell you. It's not easy having Mozart
Effect Syndrome!)

Meanwhile I've decided to go for 5 movements, to
total around 15 minutes, for my new Trio for Flute,
Oboe and Bb Clarinet. What was the 3rd Movement
"Capriccio", will now be the 5th Movement, and is
almost done. (I couldn't resist, so now, not only is the
2nd [Slow] Movement a Fugue, but I put a Fugato in
the middle of the "Capriccio".) I've also begun a new
3rd Movement "Pastorale". I don't know how easy it
will be to play, but I'm trying to give enough Breathing
Rests for each of the 3 players in it, and I'm having a
lot of fun writing it. YOU guys will have to judge how
worthy it is, once it's done.

I gotta go pick up my Mozart Effect Chicken Suit
from the Dry Cleaners.

Bear Woodson
Fat Fuzz-Faced Theory Geek and
Composer in Tucson, Arizona, USA

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