Klarinet Archive - Posting 000654.txt from 2002/09

From: The Ciompi Family <deal5@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] 'Other versions' of well-known pieces: What would Felix
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 18:14:01 -0400

Dear Tony,
I too have felt the yearning to play that wonderful opening of the Brahms
opus 101, c minor piano trio. For that matter the opening of the e minor
cello sonata has always given me chills and the desire to play it. I feel the
same way about the first movement of the opus 78 G major violin sonata, and
it has even been suggested to me, by violinists!, how lovely this would sound
on clarinet. Alas there are double stop areas that would be sorely lacking,
but it is such has such a "clarinety" mood and melodies.
Years ago, Mark Popkin, an American bassoonist, arranged the Brahms opus
18 string sextet for wind octet (or was it double wind quintet?). In any
event, when I was able to sink my teeth into that slow movement melody,
usually played by the viola, I was in chamber music heaven. From beginning to
end I was transported on wings playing such a divine piece.
Finally, starting with Simeon Bellison, who has not played or heard his
or someone else's arrangement of the Schubert "Arpeggione" sonata played on
clarinet? It can work, but more importantly it is so gratifying to play.

Cheers,

Arturo

Tony Pay wrote:

> On Mon, 30 Sep 2002 07:26:21 -0600 (MDT), AnneLenoir@-----.net said:
>
> > Tony, Dan and any other dedicated purists, who I respect.
> >
> > Recently I heard a verson of the Mendelsohn Violin Concerto played on
> > flute. For many years I have hummed that entire concerto in my head
> > every time I heard it, and my immediate reaction was, "This is great
> > that the flute player gets to play all those gorgeous passages." Not
> > once did I think, "They should have hired a violinist".
>
> Was that a professional performance, or a CD though, Annie?
>
> I bet not.
>
> I think the thing is, it was probably great for the flute player. (And
> I note that you describe it in that way.)
>
> Just to be clear about this: I certainly wouldn't want to stop any
> player playing any tune for their own enjoyment. My own first reaction
> to hearing the wonderful 'cello melody that opens the slow movement of
> Brahms's C minor Piano Trio was to write it out for A clarinet and play
> it to myself.
>
> But that would be different from arranging and then programming a
> version for flute, clarinet and piano in a concert.
>
> I recently heard two flute concertos by Mozart, the various movements
> being played by soloists stepping out from a flute 'orchestra' of
> members of Patrick Gallois's class, with 'guest' cello and harpsichord.
>
> I didn't feel that they had made it work sufficiently well,
> stylistically, but I had no problem with the idea that they were doing
> it.
>
> > I have also heard the Finzi Bagatelles played on flute with chamber
> > orchestra, and they sounded terrific. I never once thought "Oh gosh,
> > they should have hired a clarinetist"
>
> What, not at any point? Usually in such cases there's what I called in
> my previous post, gains and losses.
>
> > I know that you guys would have a cow if you heard my 2nd grade
> > flutaphone class playing "Ode To Joy". To my knowledge not many
> > composers have written for the flutaphone, and I like to teach the
> > students beautiful melodies as a part of their early musical
> > education. It has worked out very nicely because 2 of them are now my
> > little 9-year-old clarinet students, and they are moving along very
> > nicely.
>
> If I had a cow about that, she would be called Daisy, and I would milk
> her and look after her very well:-)
>
> > I will probably never play in an orchestra again, so I won't have the
> > opportunity to play the "wrong" instrument. However, I will probably
> > continue to teach my students many "wrong" melodies, starting with the
> > flutaphone. ANNIE
>
> Long may you continue to do so, Annie.
>
> Tony
> --
> _________ Tony Pay
> |ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
> | |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
> tel/fax 01865 553339
>
> ... Better living through denial.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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