Klarinet Archive - Posting 000545.txt from 2002/09

From: w9wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Stravinsky 3 Pieces
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 02:41:33 -0400

<><> Stravinsky apparently acknowledged to Mazzeo that there were
two different sorts of breath marks [snip] but never pointed out in
print that not all breath marks are created equal.

This point was not lost on me. Various people on the list have
explained to me frequently (during the last couple of years) that a
musician can obey what's printed and still play the music in their own
unique way ("make it their own"). So this is a perfect example.

The argument, I suppose, is where to draw the boundary --- namely,
whether the musician's goal is only to 'shade' the composer's intent and
thereby add a personal flavor (similar to adding just a pinch more spice
to a stew) or whether the musician's goal to really follow their own
spirit without reservation.

....well, I've said it often enough, but when I hear in a master class
that "The composer intended <such-and-such> and therefore you must do it
exactly this way", I bridle. It's not a matter of questioning
authority. It's a matter of two opposing goals: to express oneself or
to express the composer. There must be room for both approaches ---
just as stage & film acting means to express a personality that is not
your own --- I know this deep down in my heart. But the preceding
words *do* mean what they say --- that there's room for both attitudes,
not just for one. And it's obvious which camp I belong in.

Thanks and Cheers,
Bill

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