Klarinet Archive - Posting 000428.txt from 2005/01

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tempo of Schostakovitch's "Festive Overture",
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 05:50:55 -0500

At 11:06 PM 1/25/2005 -0800, Benjamin Maas wrote:
>Hunsberger said that his biggest mistake in publishing that arrangement was
>putting the tempo on it. Even the Eastman Wind Ensemble didn't play it that
>fast... I think we did it at about 136-140 or so.

And anything faster is pretty absurd for all but the most virtuostic
saxophone players (who, even at that tempo, all but have to double tongue
to play their parts as written).

But the Eastman Wind Ensemble can play all their parts *really* well. It is
thus a pleasure to listen to the piece played at 136-140. I can understand
why a band director of a lesser ensemble might up the speed if the parts
are sloppy. It is certainly less painful to the listener.

This, of course, does not mean I agree with such an artistic tradeoff.

-Adam

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