Klarinet Archive - Posting 000469.txt from 2002/07

From: "Kevin Callahan" <kionon@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Music the makes you Wince
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 20:09:03 -0400

> Re. Kevin Callahan's nomination, George Gershwin is one of my favorite
> composers. I love "Summertime," if it's sung by a first-rate musician
with a
> mature voice.

I typically hate all Gershwin. Even Rhapsody in Blue. I think another
clarinetist on the list mentioned something about the strength of the
disharmonies in all of Gershwin's works. Yes, it was revolutionary, perhaps
even genius... but it gives me a headache. And as for the the "first rate,
mature" muscian, I have a professional recording of it from when I studied
opera through the ages, and that's ruined me on it. Either it was a terrible
musician, or my continued hate of Gershwin continues to prove itself right.
I'm not inflexible, and I don't usually just lump things into categories
such as "hate," but Gershwin, above all else, probably comes the closest.

> Alas, I've heard "Summertime" sung so many times by very young
> amateurs that they've nearly ruined it for me. My high school's untalent
> competitons suffered from an infestation of teenaged white girls who tried
> way too hard to look sexy, and who attempted, one after the other
(sometimes
> three or four of them on one program!), to sing "Summertime" in what they
> imagined was a black accent. Thus they sounded not only off-pitch but
> racist, too. They never would be missed, no, they never would be
missed....

I know the kind. I've heard some terrible renditions of Phantom of the
Opera. I fear the day I'll have to sing in front of audience (despite being
a voice minor, which I explained in an earlier post) because either I'll
blow out some ear drums, or I'll be shot at from the audience. I do live in
Texas, you know. ^_~

Kevin Callahan

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