Klarinet Archive - Posting 000262.txt from 2003/02

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] Klarinet 101: Performance
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 17:51:14 -0500

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Raycraft [mailto:raycraft@-----.com]
> Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 5:09 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Klarinet 101: Performance
>
>
> 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.

True. However, by looking at what a composer has done in the past, and what
the composer was likely to do, we have a much better idea of what the
composer's intent was. Just guessing won't make it - we put our own ideas
into what was written.

> 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....

The debate is whether or not you can do any damn thing you please with
music. The answer is, of course, "yes, you can", but be prepared to defend
why and how you do it, and don't get offended when you're asked. Just saying
"It pleases me" won't satisfy me (unless you're playing jazz, and even then
I and others might ask why you did that and where does it lead to ... and if
you couldn't answer I'd wonder about it ...).

To me, a score is like a play; the words are all there, the actions are
defined, the setting described. There are an infinite number of ways of
performing that play, and some of them will be exquisite performances. All
of the plays, however, use the same words and the same general stage
direction. It's the actors, director, stagehands, sets, artists, etc. ...
and a little bit of magic ... that makes the performance. Same as in music.

Mark C.

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