Klarinet Archive - Posting 000344.txt from 2010/09
From: Tom Bassett <bassettt1@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Mozart Concerto
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:19:23 -0400
before I say anything. I am under 30 just so everyone is aware.
I wanted to share my experience with this concerto. I used to play alto sax, then I learned oboe and flute. My sister played clarinet when she was in high school so we had one so I decided to learn that as well. Alto sax and oboe were my primary instruments. For christmas, someone got me a CD of the mozart concerto/quintet. I have to say, it was probably the first real piece of music I ever heard. (aside from some of the well knowns like william tell overture etc..) Anyway, I became obsessed with this recording. I would listen to it daily and rewind certain spots. (I'm still like that with music I love) I tried so hard to figure out the notes but I was 14 at the time so I wasn't very good at aural skills (although that is probably what made me kind of good at it now). Then I finally started begging for the music and the day it came was one of the best days of my life. I did nothing but play that concerto. I skipped classes all the time just to go to the bandroom to keep playing then I would go home and not do any work so I could keep playing it. It went on for almost a full year. Needless to say, I got very good at clarinet very fast (that is to say for a 14/15 year old playing for one year) Something about clarinet just clicked with me. I had no problems getting a good sound, setting a good embouchure, and it was the easiest instrument for me to play quickly on. I beleive I owe it all to the mozart concerto/recording of it (benny goodman and now I think.... hmmm benny goodman not my first choice of classical recording but it got the job done!)
I dont want to attack or contradict anyone but my opinion is that it is a wonderful composition. (I primarily write music now so i REALLY appreciate it) (and I would like to add I also started writing when I was 14 and the mozart concerto was my largest influence)
I chose to analyze the first movement as part of my composition studies. It just amazes me how much of V I there is but it is all still masterfully placed and doesn't get redundant. My favorite part is how he modulated to the dominant key by going to C first for a little bit... of course I just thought it was him being creative, but my teacher showed me how c cuts A and E in half (obviously theres way more but I'm not going to analyze the whole thing when I'm sure several people know better than me what is in it) it was just pure genious.
As far as playing it, I gave up. I gave it one last try not long ago and it actually drove me to give up clarinet as my primary musical area of expertise ( I will always still play) It is just too hard. I hope no one takes it as, I'm an idiot that can't play 16th notes. There are too many entrances, notes to be tuned, phrasing to be done. I'm just not capable of doing it. ESPECIALLY the adagio. I got to the point where I refused to practice it. (not becuase i think its easy AT ALL) I was getting way too frustrated with small discrepencies in my playing that just cannot happen in that piece. But I STILL love the piece. I think the reason I love it the most is because I feel like to be a composer in that time really meant something. Now, I feel like anyone that can sneeze ink blots on a sheet of paper is a mastermind. (I already take that back, i DO NOT WISH TO StART AN ARGUMENT) I beleive they were really doing it. No internet and finale and whatever else. I always lump Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven together. They are my heros!!! I beleive they contributed more than I will know to music.
It was a little long, sorry,
Tom
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