Klarinet Archive - Posting 000159.txt from 2007/03

From: Joseph Wakeling <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Stravinsky's "Three Pieces" (was: [kl] Kell)
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:19:31 -0500

Tony Pay wrote:
> The Mazzeo articles, at:
>
> http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/1996/03/000527.txt
>
> http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/1996/03/000529.txt
>
> ...give Stravinsky's take, according to Mazzeo, on 'sombrer le son', among
> other things.

... but seriously, I would add: I think the only reason anyone needs to
know "Stravinsky's take" on that particular instruction is if they don't
speak French and don't look it up. _In French_ it seems to me a pretty
clear and straightforward instruction (and if you have any doubt the
crescendo afterwards helps confirm it). Stravinsky's words to Mazzeo
seem to be an expansion on what he wrote, rather than an explanation.

The problem is that English speakers look at it and assume "sombrer"
corresponds to "sombre" ===> dark .... but it doesn't.

Confusingly, the French adjective "sombre" corresponds directly to its
English equivalent. But the verb sombrer ... doesn't. Actually you
would tend to use it to refer to the sinking of a ship. As in, "Le 15
avril 1912, le Titanic sombrait."

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