Klarinet Archive - Posting 000672.txt from 2002/04

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Mozart Concerto Competition
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 09:42:57 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote,
> My problem has to do with the judges. Since the competition is going to
> take place in Italy, I have to assume that the judges will be
> predominantly from the repertoire of Italian players.

[snip]
> I offer the hypothesis that there are few Italian
> clarinet players now alive who have been able to make any contribution
> to the 18th century school of clarinet playing, either from the
> viewpoint of performance practice issues, or their interest in the use
> of the basset clarinet.

[snip]
>... if all the judges are from the orchestras of Italy that I have heard,
>18th century style issues will go right over their heads like they were
>not part of the 20th century.

Dan, I realize you're trying to be honest and blunt rather than merely
insulting; and let's assume for the sake of argument that your assessment of
Italian knowledge of Mozart is correct, a point I'm not knowledgable enough
to debate with you, though it seems like an awfully large generalization.
Nonetheless, IMHO it would be more constructive to wait and see how this
competition turns out before condemning it, rather than assume that the
judges and other officials can't or won't learn anything between the
announcement of the competition and its completion. Though I'm not in love
with the entire idea of music competition, I think that a rigorous endeavor
of this sort can provide a powerful motivation for learning and growing.

Lelia

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