Klarinet Archive - Posting 000472.txt from 2004/04
From: "rien stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: [kl] =?iso-8859-1?Q?Ab=EEme_des_oiseaux?=
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 17:03:38 -0400
Patricia A. Smith wrote
<<
Rien, please post and let us know what happens with this performance.
To my mind, it is important for all of us to remember those who
sacrificed to rid the world of the menace of Hitler. Your performance
will commemorate those great people who suffered and died to free so
many people, as well as honor a great composer whose vision supported
himself and those around him during the darkest days.
Please, if you have the time, keep us abreast of what happens with
this. Also let us know if there are recordings available of your
performance. Though, at 46, I may be a bit younger than you and Keith,
I feel a lot older than the spring chickens on the list, and sometimes
feel as if I've missed a lot of opportunities, as well as given up
others, so I could raise a family. Yours and Keith's writings make me
feel hopeful that I not only can have a successful career encouraging
others, but that I can also, once the children have grown older, resume
playing in public, and be successful! Thank you both for the fine
examples you have set for all of us on the list who need encouragement!
Patricia Smith
>>
Dear Patricia
Let me begin by giving you a little historical background. I never
considered myself as a good clarinet player, but in the last 1 1/2 year
several things have happened that made me think a lot better of myself as a
clarinettist. Some years ago when talking about the fourth of May with
someone who organises the conmemoration of those killed in the last World
War, I was asked to occasionally say something from the view of a second
generation victim. I consented. This year I was asked to do so, but I said
maybe it would be more impressing if I'd play the third part of "Abîme ...".
I explained why, and the organisation agreed. They asked me to give an
explanation of the piece, and that is the way it has been announced in local
press: "A piece of music from KZ, introduced and played by Mr Rien Stein".
(KZ stands for Konzentrationslager, concentration camp). But it is in my
view not a good idea, to introduce it myself: it is very difficult, after
you introduce the hopefull future in the coda, to begin in the very dreary
mood the first and third part begin with. (If I had to analyze the piece I
would say it has the form of A-B-A'-coda, where he coda opens an outlook on
a very hopeful future.)
Does BTW, someone on this list know what birds Messiaen reproduces in this
piece?
Rien
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
