Klarinet Archive - Posting 000758.txt from 2002/07

From: "Mario Hunter" <bandmanmario@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Do clarinetists prefer classical to "classic"?
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 03:23:13 -0400

I was taught that a "classic" was "anything that withstood the test of
time". To most Americans the term "Classical Music" seems to be synonymous
to the old Be-Bopper's definition of Classical Music which was: "That Long
Haired Stuff" and that definition did not limit the compositions to those
written between 1750-1800. Music does not have to be musical to everyone
before it is music and a classic piece of music does not have to be
Classical Music before it can be considered a classic. It's not a classic
rock thing or a (classical) clarinetist thing but rather a genre thing. Any
music that is pleasing to generations of ears has won a popularity contest
and is (or will more than likely become) a classic. My feeling is that
neither Grout nor Palisca really meant for the genre thing be that big of a
deal. Maybe that's why as professional musicians we sometimes take ourselves
too seriously and forget that it's about the music and not all about us and
what we know. Our listeners should simply be able to hear all of that when
we play. Gray areas between genres are not new....in fact, they're classic.
Mario
----- Original Message -----
From: "C & B Sabal" <jomalu@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Do clarinetists prefer classical to "classic"?

> <>Is a clarinetist more likely to enjoy classic rock ro oppose it, because
> most rock doesn't involve the
> clarinet. I mean, is a drummer more likely to like it, or a clarinetist.
So
> far I think the majority doesn't like it, but what does everyone else
think?
> ***********************
>
> Although I ask many questions, I typically don't respond to much. In this
> case, I felt I needed to say the following:
>
> I'm having a hard time with questions asking us to make sweeping
> generalizations about what a "clarinetist" likes or dislikes. Whether the
> music has a particular instrumental part or not, I do not believe, has
> anything to do with one's taste in music simply because we play that
> instrument.
>
> I think it IS true that we develop our musical tastes over time, and that
> our tastes change. Initially, we heard and were influenced by whatever
> music our families listened to. Perhaps we were fortunate enough to have
> come from families where music was an integral daily part of our lives and
> we were exposed to many styles from an early age. For some of us, we were
> bred on pop culture and never heard Mozart until we played it in contest
> because our band director gave the piece to us as a "goal". And thus the
> light went on (or off, depending on the person). Maybe our parents took
us
> to classical music concerts as children and we were not to listen to the
> other "noise" coming from the radio while at home.
>
> Although it might be interesting to note the types of music preferred by
the
> members of this list, I think it would be entirely unfair to expand that
> knowledge to deduce "clarinet players like...".
>
> We can not be defined by what we do but rather by who we are.
>
> I hope that doesn't sound like ranting...apologies if it does.
>
> Take care-
> Barb Sabal
>
> PS- I like 60s/70s "classic rock" just fine...not my favorite as it was
when
> I was about 15 yrs ago, but I still like it
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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