Klarinet Archive - Posting 000659.txt from 2004/08

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Tony=20Pay?= <tony_pay@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Knowing the music --- one step too far ??
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 13:50:43 -0400

--- Ormondtoby Montoya <ormondtoby@-----.net> wrote:

> During the subsequent discussion, the professor said "When
> performing, you should know the music well enough that it feels as
> though you wrote it yourself."

[snip]

> ....it suggests the underlying (and perhaps subconscious) assumption > that a
musician should adopt the composer's personality.

I don't think it suggest that at all. It suggests rather that the musician
should adopt the *music's* personality, as the musician perceives it. Though
the professor doesn't mention it, that perception may well include all the
evidence of the background against which the composer wrote it, as well as what
the composer said about it.

If you've ever tried to adopt the music's personality, and have sufficient
instrumental ability to be able to produce what you come up with, you'll know
that it's a constraint that leaves you with plenty of choice.

> "Serving the music" vs. "serving the composer" vs. "serving oneself"
> is a frequent topic, especially when the music and the composer and
> the available instruments are several hundred years removed from us.

You do rather often talk about it. But there is no inherent problem, as I've
tried to explain.

Tony

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