Klarinet Archive - Posting 000069.txt from 2010/09

From: Joseph Fasel <jhfasel@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bax Summer Music
Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:38:21 -0400

Hi Joseph,

In the case of this particular marking, you might convince me that
Barber is justified in writing a direction in English, but I think
not. Let me explain where I'm coming from.

Since at least as early as the fifteenth century, we have had a
tradition in western music of Italian directions, and furthermore, the
development of a standard musical vocabulary in that language. Since
the latter part of the nineteenth century, we've seen some abandonment
of that tradition, for no reason better than silly nationalism. So,
for example in Schumann and Brahms and later (maybe earlier, as
well--I'm not sure) we see directions like "m=E4=DFig bewegt". The first
time you see something like this, you wonder what it is; then the
light dawns: ah yes, "moderato con moto". This sort of thing is a
particularly egregious violation of a useful musical tradition, since
the German adds nothing except possible confusion. You can see the
standard Italian term hiding behind the German. Think of it, should,
say, a Mandarin speaker need to learn five or more European languages
in order to play western music?

I would say that composers ought whenever possible to confine
themselves to the common Italian musical vocabulary and when that is
lacking still to stick with Italian. Only a very strong expressive
purpose justifies the use of another language. Is Barbers "slow and
indolent" such a case? Perhaps, but I doubt it, since "indolent" is a
latinate word whose cognates in Italian and other romance languages
have the same meaning as in English. I doubt that the English word
carries a connotation that isn't present in Italian.

Cheers,
--Joe

On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 7:54 AM, Joseph Wakeling
<joseph.wakeling@-----.net> wrote:
> On 09/05/2010 04:08 AM, Joseph Fasel wrote:
>> Yes, it's just delicious, isn't it? =A0The only thing is that it should
>> be "lento e indolente". =A0Musical directions should be in Italian!
>
> Why?
>
> The language, as much as anything else, adds flavour and conveys to the
> performer the feel that is desired. =A0Can you imagine, for example, that
> Berg's "Langsames Walzer-tempo" would convey what Berg wanted so well if
> it was translated into Italian?
>
> "Lento", "adagio", "allegro" -- these don't just have a literal Italian
> meaning, they have a weight of cultural baggage on their shoulders.
> It's great if that's the feel you're looking for. =A0Not so great if it's
> not ...
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