Klarinet Archive - Posting 000495.txt from 2004/09

From: Tony Pay <tony.p@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] Kegelstatt (was, a little Monday morning present for all)
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 14:52:28 -0400

On 27 Sep, "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net> wrote:

> Tony brings up one of the most difficult problems of any editor who is
> preparing an edition of a work and has access to the autograph in the
> composer's hand.

But, notice, not one of the most difficult problems that face a performer.

The thing is, finding little arguments like the one I described is one of the
delights of playing any piece. We *need* the problems. What you're trying
to do is to make sense of what you have to play -- using any editions and any
knowledge you may have, sure -- but also using your own expressive
understandings.

I couldn't have made that argument until I had the experience of trying to
make the piece work on period instruments, because I couldn't see the problem
that the 'f's might have been trying to solve.

The Henle Weber 'Urtexts' are good for a similar reason. They give you the
available historical evidence, including Weber's manuscript, but also
including Carl Baermann's access to his father's material and memory of his
father's performances -- and then *they leave you to make up your own mind*.
Or, better, to give your own recreation of the piece.

Music doesn't 'live' in texts. Texts are 'dead' music.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd tony.p@-----.org
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339

... Friendly checkout lady. Thanks for keeping me that way!

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