Klarinet Archive - Posting 000259.txt from 2003/02

From: "Raycraft" <raycraft@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Klarinet 101: Performance
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 17:08:38 -0500

Hey Guys,
We do need, as closely as possible, to be true
to what the composer had in mind.....BUT sometimes
we just don't KNOW what that is/was.
Part of the fun of listening to/performing different
pieces is that there IS going to be A LOT of variation
from performer to performer, and that's what makes
it interesting!!! Otherwise, we could just throw away
all the musical instruments and program a machine to
play everything the SAME way every time!!! I happen
to believe that PEOPLE are what matters here.
I just find it incredible that this "conversation/debate"
is going on and on and seemingly going nowhere....
Sue

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Pay" <Tony@-----.uk>
Subject: Re: [kl] Klarinet 101: Performance

> On Sun, 9 Feb 2003 12:16:08 -0700, cactus@-----.net said:
>
> > You are being too literal.
>
> I'm not 'being' anything about Marlena's post. I think what she wrote
> brings up an interesting question, one that many students and even many
> professionals find confusing. That's why I put it in the form of an
> essay topic, in order to suggest that understanding its resolution
> requires thought and, probably, personal experience.
>
> > What I understood her to say was that in general, the personal
> > expression/interpretation (as opposed to merely a robotic rendering of
> > the notes) that the performer brings to the piece is what tends to
> > makes it interesting.
>
> But in fact, if you read the full text of what she wrote, she was
> suggesting not only that you have to "...change tempo, dynamics, right?"
> but also that changing the notes could count as more of the same.
>
> I wasn't being rude to Marlena. I understand that she was taking an
> attitude that ensures that the performer is 'present' in a performance,
> as opposed to being a robot. She wanted Stephen to do what *he* wanted
> to do, rather than worrying about what he *should* do.
>
> The thing is, that's only half the story.
>
> And when you say,
>
> > ..the personal expression/interpretation (as opposed to merely a
> > robotic rendering of the notes) that the performer brings to the piece
> > is what tends to makes it interesting.
>
> ...I think that the 'bringing to' bit, that seems to imply an 'addition'
> of some sort, is the metaphor that creates the difficulty. It's as
> though you have to 'make it interesting', then.
>
> Tony
> --
> _________ Tony Pay
> |ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
> | |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
> tel/fax 01865 553339
>
> ... See that buzzer, That's your sound card that is.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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