Klarinet Archive - Posting 000146.txt from 2006/09

From: "Bryan Crumpler" <crumpletox@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] RE: Clarinet concerti and the concerto generally
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:01:36 -0400

>Nick Phillips wrote:
>
>IMHO the Mozart is one of the great concertos, hence its popularity. Others
>will obviously disagree.

I, for one, disagree... but not on the fact that is is "one of" the great
concertos, but on why its popular. In my own "honest opinion" I think
Mozart's Clarinet concerto is popular because 1) it's easy for most any
orchestra of any level to put together and play (unlike Copland, Corigliano,
Hindemith or even Finzi for that matter), so it's easy to program and easy
to rehearse (if you can avoid boring the violas and second violins). 2) it's
easy for most any clarinetist to play (unlike Nielsen, Francaix, Carter or
Tower), so everybody and their baby's cousin's daddy's momma plays it (just
look at YouTube for example). And 3) everybody from Joe Blow in Boondock
County prison to expert Dan Leeson knows the name Mozart... so it sells
concert tickets, hence everybody plays it... but not because it's just a
"great concerto". With a suave little grin, I can say "yeah, it's got
potential".

I tend to get bored with the fact that nearly every concert with a clarinet
solist is 8 times out of 10 another rehashing of Mozart here... Mozart
there, while the other two are probably some rendition of a Weber. And its a
shame more works are NOT programmed outside of the pillar concerti and
standard solo works (Webertino, Rossini Scales and Arpeggios, etc) -- and
no... none of them really stack up to most any piano or violin concerto. The
only thing I find remotely fascinating about Mozart's concerto is the whole
"how low... can you go" phenomenon with the Basset Clarinets of the last
decade or so. That's about the only element of surprise that CAN be added to
any performance these days. The piece has just been rehashed and rehashed
and rehashed and rehashed and rehashed and and rehashed and rehashed and
rehashed and rehashed and rehashed and rehashed and rehashed and rehashed
and rehashed and rehashed and rehashed and rehashed and... well... you get
the picture.

I have to give it up to Scott McAllister, though, and his "X" concerto...
which, despite its highly chaotic and contemporary nature, still has hints
to Mozart that stand out like the north star. Not to say that "X" is my
kinda music, but it at least catches my attention with its abstract
references to Mozart - unlike when it's pure Mozart. I at least have to
thank the rehashings for that.

Mozart to me is just like any pop artist -- overcommercialized for the sake
of some orchestra making a buck (or back in the day, for the sake of big
papa Leopold making a buck), and we somehow convince ourselves into thinking
that it's "great" just because we hear about it all the time. We, in
essence, succomb to popular culture, yet claim to not due to the fact that
we're into "classical music". Furthermore, we try, as artists, to be so
different - yet we end up being all the same - or are encouraged to be. Emma
Johnson just recorded a Mozart CD within the past year or so. How long has
she been recording??? Martin Frost did too (Didn't see that coming.... oh
noooo... not at all). Sharon Kam just did a DVD. Who's next? Julian Bliss on
his cocobolo and gold keys?????? So, it's like... in order to prove we're
different, we all do the same thing... yet do nothing new! What kinda sense
does that make???

My 2 cents... and outcry for new concerti... apologizes if anyone is
offended (I apparently tend to provoke that spirit in emails. No harm
intended).

Bryan

www.whosthatguy.com

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