Klarinet Archive - Posting 000930.txt from 2004/10

From: Gary Van Cott <gary@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Appealing to the superficial
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 20:31:47 -0400

A lot of Bach organ pieces work wonderfully well in concert band.

However, my point is one of numbers. Many school do have orchestras. But
ones that do are also likely to have large band programs and for the flute
and clarinet players (and often trumpets as well) it probably means that
only the very best wind players will ever get to play in the orchestra or
in youth orchestra, or honor group, etc.. Plus there are a number of band
instruments that aren't represented in the orchestra.

While transcriptions are less important in concert bands than they were
previously, they can still be fun to play. (Didn't Sousa's band play
them?) As long as the kids know they are playing a transcription, I say go
for it.

Gary
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Gary Van Cott - Van Cott Information Services, Inc.
+ Woodwind and Brass: Books, Music, CDs and More
+ http://www.vcisinc.com/ --> VISA MasterCard Discover AmExp <--
+ P.O. Box 9569, Las Vegas, NV 89191, USA
+ Phone: 702-438-2102 Fax: 801-650-1719 Email: Gary@-----.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
At 04:47 PM 10/30/04, you wrote:
>Adam Michlin wrote "I only add that if a student can get through 4 years
>of band and ever hear Mozart or Bach or Beethoven there is something
>serious wrong with all the
>above."
>
>Adam,
>
>I know I'm only an ignorant Limey, but bear with me.
>
>Mozart, Bach and Beethoven wrote NOTHING for what seems to be taken as a
>"band" which I assume - for clarity I think this ought to be stated - to
>be what I would call a Concert Band (or Military Band) and which would
>have the correct instrumentation for something such as a Sousa March or
>the Holst Suites for Band.
>
>They wrote for orchestras. [I'm obviously aware of wind music for larger
>ensembles, but none that meet my definition of "band" above.]
>
>Do American Schools not have orchestras? Is there no equivalent to our
>County Music Service Orchestras - taking the best students from the
>County (ours are larger than yours) and forming an orchestra. The one
>from my county, Bedfordshire, played annually at the Albert Hall.
>
>I cannot see how you can transcribe K622 for band. I am sure you'll
>disagree. But if you want to expose students to orchestral music, am I
>hopelessly naive suggesting that you do so by getting them to play in an
>orchestra?
>
>Matthew

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