Klarinet Archive - Posting 000064.txt from 2010/05

From: <p_marcus@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bobbing and Mozart
Date: Fri, 07 May 2010 19:52:20 -0400

While it may seem a bit exaggerated on this view, I think it comes from the
natural result of playing the work as a chamber orchestra without conductor.
Since the group is larger than a string quartet or woodwind quintet, what
you think of as excess motion seen on close-up video may be needed for those
orchestra members behind the principals or at the back of the stage for
tempo and cues. If you don't watch the video, I think you'll find that they
are more than usually clean and precise as an ensemble. Despite their
movements or because of them? Who knows? To me, it would seem unnatural
for people to play chamber music without moving freely and looking at each
other, appreciating shared melody or cadences as they do in this clip.

When I go to hear St. Paul Chamber Orchestra live I actually enjoy the works
they play without conductor more, because they seem to take (even) greater
care with their attacks and releases than with a conductor. They play very
well with or without, but my favorite performances have consistently been
those works that have been without conductor. My friends in the group don't
necessarily hear it, but in from where I sit as an audience member it is
clear.

By the way, for years I watched Ozawa rehearse and perform with the BSO when
I worked at Symphony Hall in Boston. His method was completely the opposite
as you mention for Toscanini. In rehearsals he barely twitched a muscle,
and very clearly indicated what he wanted with minimal gesturing. It was
when they performed that he started moving all over the place and using the
"made for TV" choreography, whether it was recorded by WGBH or not.

Penny

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred" <vze2bsbs@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.com>
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 12:16 PM
Subject: [kl] Bobbing and Mozart

> Here is an interesting link I got from the Italian clarinet list:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbXnIBzxsEA
>
> The musicians are wonderful players, but so distracting with the
> ridiculous bobbing and looking at each other that I had to look
> away. Andre Rieu's group does the same thing and I hate it. It is
> disrespect for the music, or perhaps the feeling that the music
> cannot stand on its own and needs some sort of "entertaining"
> embellishment. Obviously aimed at the less sophisticated music
> listener. Wasn't it Toscanini that was very animated at his
> REHEARSALS to get his points across to the musicians, but at the
> actual performance he was very laid back, "to let the music speak for
> itself"? He was correct.
>
> On the other hand- I think this is the first time I saw the Mozart
> played on an ancient instrument- probably as Mozart would have heard
> it- I wonder what Mozart would have said if he heard it today on the
> modern clarinets. Maybe he would not have liked it. Who knows.
>
> Speaking about Mozart, I recently took a trip to Philadelphia to see
> the historic district (2 hour drive for me). I realized there that
> Mozart was alive at the same time as the birth of our country! Ben
> Franklin could have had lunch with him!!
>
> Don't know what brought this on- maybe I'm getting old :)
>
>
>
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