Klarinet Archive - Posting 000325.txt from 2003/02

From: "Heinemann, Stephen" <sjh@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Castelnuovo-Tedesco Question
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:22 -0500

> Elizabeth Berry wrote:
>=20
> Professional integrity IS maintained by vigilance and duty. and it IS =
part
> of the job, but for crying out loud, why over analyze music?=20
>=20
Where does analysis end and overanalysis begin? Not at the point where, =
for whatever reason, it makes you squirm, but at the point where it =
ceases to have explanatory power -- musically speaking, where it stops =
affecting the way someone performs/hears/regards a piece. That someone =
may or may not be _you_ in particular.*

As Lelia pointed out, the majority of bandwidth in this thread has been =
posted by people objecting to the existence of the thread. Some people =
believe that _any_ intellectualization is overintellectualization; =
members of that camp might consider simply _not reading_ posts in that =
thread if it doesn't interest them.

Although the thread started as an inquiry into what judges at =
competitions may or may not find offensive, the ideas expressed along =
the way have gone into other more or less interesting areas. Here's a =
similar tangent, not specifically clarinet-related: The third measure =
of Chopin's famous C-minor Prelude (Op. 28, No. 20), depending on which =
edition the pianist is using, ends with either an E-natural or an E-flat =
in the melody.** The decision on which of those notes to use may vary =
from one player to another, but the player who makes that decision based =
on careful, thoughtful analysis is much more likely to give an =
interesting, informative, and enjoyable performance than the player who =
makes that decision based on a coin toss. =20

The process is everything. It is not a matter of just picking one =
alternative and getting on with your life; it is from such alternatives, =
and the ways we choose among them, that our lives, musical and =
otherwise, are constructed.

> When music is a profession, keep in mind that it is just a hobby [...] =
=20
>=20
When your goal of reaching professional status is reached, it will be =
interesting to see if you still subscribe to this statement.

Steve Heinemann
Bradley University

P.S. As a subscriber only to the digest form of this list, I also =
appreciate the quote-snipping, and apologize if what I've said here =
duplicates other posts currently coming in. I'm also _very_ glad to see =
Tony Pay posting again.

* By "you" in this paragraph, I don't mean specifically Elizabeth Berry.

** I have an opinion (an informed one, I hope) on which note is correct, =
but that isn't important here.=20

****************************
Dr. Stephen Heinemann
Associate Professor of Music=20
Theory/Composition/Clarinet
Bradley University
Peoria, IL 61625
(309)677-2603
sjh@-----.edu
****************************

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