Klarinet Archive - Posting 000594.txt from 2002/09

From: Paul Harris <pwharris@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] My attempt to formalize my unstructured ideas
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 01:09:12 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Maurey" <edsshop@-----.ca>
Subject: Re: [kl] My attempt to formalize my unstructured ideas

> Great to have you back, Dan. Yes, my atheistic prayers were answered. We
> do seem cleansed of the Godsters.
>
> Regarding your homily on instrument choice: How can you expect us
> clarinetists to take the choice of clarinets seriously when composers are
>

Ed Maurey wrote:

A long article in which he outlines his position on why one should not
substitute one Clarinet or other instrument for the one the composer called
for. I have read with interest the positions and remarks made by a number
of other people on this list in regard to this matter and am reminded that
it has been performance practice through out many centuries to perform the
music with what ever band or instruments available at the time and to not be
too concerned about whether or not a composer really intended for this or
that instrument to be used. Mozart wrote the concerto for the basset
clarinet because that is what Stadler had at the time and he probably
thought it sounded neat. However, that didn't keep other performers of the
era from performing it on their regular A clarinets and I suspect that
Mozart would not have been offended as it was the practice to use what was
available. Many composers before and since have actually written sonatas or
concerto's for different instruments and then made an "edition" for another
instrument. Brahms for instance with the viola variation to opus 120. In
view of this, does it really matter if some one plays Strawinkys' three
pieces all on the Bb or A if that is what he or she has to play it on and
does it really matter if one substitutes a C clarinet part on an Eb or Bb
clarinet if that is what they have. The slight difference in tonality
probably won't be noticed by anyone other than Dan Leeson anyway.
Paul Harris

---------------------------------------------------------------------