Klarinet Archive - Posting 000357.txt from 2004/09

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Persichetti
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 13:24:45 -0400

I remember very well that in 1953 I played my fist piece of band
music by Vincent Persichetti. It was the Divertimento for Band
and I went crazy for it. Then as I played more and more of his
music, I sensed that he was repeating himself, or else that could
have been my flaw in failure to recognize a particular style.
Now, in the rare cases that I hear his music, I have become more
convinced that he was a composer with only one thing to say, and
the rest is just a repeat.

I thought, back in 1953, that he was going to be something new
and exciting, but I've been disappointed. On the other hand, I
so rarely play band music that I may be giving him an unfair
shake.

Not being involved with band music any more, what is the general
concensus of Persichetti's band music today? If my thinking is
in the minority, maybe it's time I started listening to some more
of his music before forming too unreversable a position.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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