Klarinet Archive - Posting 000232.txt from 2008/11

From: Laurence Edward Young <klarinette@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Johann Strauss Waltzes & Rite of Spring
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:07:37 -0500


-----Original Message-----
>From: Bear Woodson <bearwoodson@-----.net>
>Sent: Nov 17, 2008 4:39 AM
>To: Klarinet List <klarinet@-----.org>
>Subject: [kl] Johann Strauss Waltzes & Rite of Spring=20
>
>> Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:55:26 -0000
>> From: "Matthew Lloyd"
>> <matthew@-----.uk>
>>=20
>> Tacky? Juvenile? No. Perfection - the Blue Danube is
>> nothing less than perfect.
>>=20
>> Matthew
>
>Mr. LLoyd,=20
>
> you are more than free to enjoy ANY style of music that
>you choose, but you Obviously have NOT spent a lot of time
>in Music Theory Classrooms!

And you sir have obviously not spent any time in a concert of live music (p=
erhaps other than your own).

Frankly, I don't trust people who can't find enjoyment in the Strauss famil=
y compositions.

Seems to me, that a previous Austrian immigrant (ironically also with the g=
iven name Arnold) to Southern California, who just happened to teach theory=
and composition at UCLA, liked Johann Strauss Jr. enough to make transcrip=
tions of some of his (Strauss') waltzes for a chamber ensemble. Now, I wond=
er who that was...

I guess it really should come as no surprise as this Arnold was a great adm=
irer of Johannes Brahms who also happened to have an affinity for J. Straus=
s Jr. I remember the story that Brahms once signed a letter with the theme =
to the Blue Danube and added, "Sadly not by Johannes Brahms."

And lest we not forget, Richard Strauss felt such an indebtedness to the St=
rauss name (for which he held no relation to the Austrian family) that he c=
omposed an opera in tribute, rich with Schertort und Schlagober.

I don't know Bear, I think I'm better off as a Music Theory Illiterate than=
simply an illiterate...

Laurence E. Young
-Santa Barbara, California

PS Bear, the reference to the SEXTET (a word I'm sure makes you titter ever=
y time you hear it) 'Ml=C3=A1d=C3=AD' is a wonderful composition by Leo=C5=
=A1 Jan=C3=A1=C4=8Dek (Leos Janacek if the diacritics don't work). Give tha=
t a listen and tell me it's popular music trash.

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