Klarinet Archive - Posting 000359.txt from 2004/08

From: joseph.wakeling@-----.net
Subj: [kl] Copland concerto and "swinging"
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 18:51:21 -0400

Tony Pay wrote:

> I hate, for example, that I have to use the argument that
> Benny Goodman played 'straight' in his recording the passage
> in the Copland concerto that many players nowadays 'swing' --
> possibly in order to give themselves spurious 'jazz' credentials.
>

I actually think that Benny Goodman plays it *too* straight; it feels to me as
if he's scared of the fact that there are notes in front of him that he "has"
to play---although there are many marvellous things about his performance.

I think it ought to be possible to "swing" the relevant passages without
actually altering the rhythm at all, by e.g. placement of stress on the notes.
Altering the rhythm (which is the "easy" way of swinging it) just seems to
work against the effect that Copland wants to create, once you examine the
piece in detail.

.... That said, when I can play this piece properly maybe I have the right to
comment on it ... ;-)

-- Joe

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org