Klarinet Archive - Posting 000110.txt from 2004/05

From: ormondtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: RE: [kl] Questions on Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 14:33:34 -0400

Dan=A0Leeson wrote:

> translated to English from English should
> read, "I like it that way," which under almost
> all circumstances is no reason at all.

Dan, the above statement is based on a number of underlying axioms, with
which I suspect that most of us agree --- but it also includes one axiom
that is open to question, to say the least.

Four concepts on the "most of us agree" side:

(a) "I like it" doesn't provide much information; (b) the individual
musician isn't responsible for, and probably can't hear all of, the
ensemble's/orchestra's complete sound and hence it's the conductor who
must decide; (c) often there is a truth-in-advertising obligation to
provide what the composer wrote, even if the instruments have changed
since the composer wrote; (d) if you want to receive a paycheck or a
passing grade, you'd better satisfy the boss or judge.

But the underlying hint that a performer's musical pleasure is
irrelevant really bothers me.

I don't have a problem with saying: "You may like it this way, but don't
do it if you want to keep your job / receive a passing grade / be
historically accurate / tell me something meaningful / blend with the
rest of us / honor the composer's intent / etc etc".

But I feel that buried in the statement is an axiom that, independent of
all other considerations, if it isn't historically accurate or the
composer's intent, then you are less of a musician for doing it. I
think it's more accurate to say, "In a significant number of situations,
especially when [whatever], 'because you like it' is not an acceptable
reason.

It's a case of many different worlds, and it can be tiresome to start
every post with a qualifier such as "When performing in a classical
environment". But I don't think it's defensible to dismiss all the
other musical worlds with the phrase: "under almost all circumstances,
[because you like it] is no reason at all."

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