Klarinet Archive - Posting 000273.txt from 2002/10

From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Brahms Clarinet Sonatas
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 00:48:40 -0400

Listers -

I've been somewhat amused and a little bewildered by being taken to task for
something that I did NOT say and intentions that I did not have regarding
the study of the Harold Wright/Peter Serkin recordings of the Brahms
Sonatas. Those of you who thought that I sought to duplicate Mr. Wright's
wonderful interpretations of Brahms, over-estimate both my abilities and my
ego (to think that I could do this under the best of circumstances).

Also, a review of my posting reveals that I never said anything about
"copying" Mr. Wright's performance. (Never assume.)

When I first read through both Sonatas, I wasn't really inspired, but after
working on Sonata #1 for a several lessons, my teacher suggested that I see
if there were recordings of the Sonatas by Harold Wright. After listening
to the Sonatas several times, my ideas about them changed 180 degrees. I
thought WOW!!! What is happening here that makes what might be thought of
as "ordinary", suddenly become beautiful and sensitive music.

Since I had no intention of ever performing them in public, I studied the
Brahms Sonatas for what I could learn from them to increase my clarinet
abilities and musicianship. Thus, my reason for marking (lightly) my scores
to reflect Mr. Wrights interpretation. ("Lightly marked", because, if it
turned out that there was something that didn't suit me, I could simply
erase the marking.)

Marking the score seemed to be a reasonable thing to do since, try as I
might, I couldn't quite get the hang of remembering each of Mr. Wright's
subtle interpretations just by listening to them. (Maybe some people could
do this, but I doubt it.)

What I learned from studying Mr. Wright's technique, subtle rubatos,
tenutos, phrasings and all the rest has given me an entirely new view of
musicianship and how to interpret other music, including "routine" studies
and, of course the Rose Etudes.

Since I am not an "intellectual", I am not going to get into any
philosophical arguments about the use of CD's in teaching. My purpose in
replying to Tom Henson's original question regarding the availability of
Brahms Sonata #2, was to tell him about the Wright CD and my experience and
use of it.

Regards,

Gene N.

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