Klarinet Archive - Posting 000143.txt from 2011/01

From: Michael Whight <michaelwhight@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Philosophical ponderings
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:07:58 -0500

Dear Kathy

I think you answered Dan's question. Your YouTube videos are indeed a very useful resource to compare and contrast the way in which your performances are evolving. All any student needs to compare the music is a couple of scores however.

The way music affects you is unique to you and as you suggest may be a kind of therapy for yourself. For others the imagery that you describe will have no meaning at all. They will simply listen to music without anything attached to it.

So continue your work and I hope you get a lot out of it and there will be others that enjoy it too. The nature of putting yourself on the line is that you will get positives and negatives. Bravo for having the courage to do it!

Michael

Sent from my iPhone

On 17 Jan 2011, at 09:47, "Kathy Williams-DeVries" <kathleenwilliams76@-----.com> wrote:

> Learned friends
>
>
>
> Having spent the last week watching a great deal of my state and city rage
> past me in a devastating dirty brown torrent has led me to be pondering more
> in life than the difference between a BG and Vandoren Optimum ligature,
> those normally for me that would be a no brainer, Vandoren all the way. So
> I thought I would flex my literary and mental muscles just a tad.
>
>
>
> My first discourse is my slight disappointment in the response from Dan
> Leeson to a comment I made regarding contrasting and comparing the Mozart
> Concerto and Quintet. I quote
>
>
>
> Kathy, while I admired your playing of both the Mozart concerto and the
> clarinet quintet, I remain puzzled by your suggestion that your youtube
> piece would be a "useful resource to compare and contrast the two works."
>
>
>
> Please tell me what a comparison and contrast of the two works would
> achieve. A listener might say something about your performances, but that
> would a comment on you, not a comparison and contrast of the two works.
>
> Furthermore, I don't know how one would compare a concerto with a quintet
> other than to say something such as one work had three movements, the other
> four.
>
>
>
> The bottom line here is that I would not know where to begin in a comparison
> and a contrast of the two works. Is that really what you wanted from those
> who might hear your lovely performances?? Or is that you wanted comments on
> your performances but were afraid to ask for it.
>
>
>
> I'm not trying to be difficult, only trying to understand what your real
> expectations were.
>
>
>
> Disappointed as I hold Dan in high regard for his wide knowledge and
> intelligence about everything clarinet. Perhaps I could have elaborated on
> my point a little more, and I do apologise, it was a comment I saw somewhere
> on the internet. Perhaps Dan was inviting discussion, as I can't imagine, if
> you thought about it, that you couldn't compare and contrast two works of
> different instrumentation and structure. For example, would you be unable to
> compare the original Lullaby lied and the resulting Symphony by Brahms. By
> the original Trout lied and the quintet. Note, motif and key comparisons
> with the Hummel Trumpet Concerto and Weber's Second. Though perhaps it is
> like saying your friend looks like Ben Affleck. You can see characteristics
> of Ben Affleck's looks on your friend, but your friend probably won't. My
> husband is rubbish at recognising celebrities, whilst I, being an old black
> and white movie buff, can tell a Kirk Douglas or Bette Davis at 100 paces
> with or without beard or Elizabethan wig.
>
>
>
> So, my comparisons and contrasts between the Concerto and quintet are two
> fold, how they tug at my emotions, and certain thematic resemblances. The
> most obvious is the second movement, where the C, F, A motif, slightly
> displaced by rhythm and instrumentation tell an entirely different story for
> me emotionally. The falling A, G, F, E, D convey to me an incredible
> sadness, whereas the E, F, G, A, B flat, A, G in the quintet spell hope.
> While the Concerto Adagio makes me weep, the demi semi upward runs in the
> quintet I see as stair way to heaven.
>
>
>
> I could also elaborate on the first movement, again a very similar
> combination of notes, primarily the C, E, G triad with the odd appoggiatura
> in there. But I consider the first movement of the Concerto, while it starts
> quite upbeat, soon turns moody in the next motif, C, D, E flat, D, F, A
> flat. In the Quintet, the upward mobility of the C major with G major
> dominant triads spell much hope.
>
>
>
> Going further, one could also see similarities of motif in the Mozart Church
> sonatas, again, that C F A though a semi tone higher.
>
>
>
> Which brings me to my main point, that of YouTube netiquette. Listers would
> be aware I have the odd video on YouTube. OK, 1680 at last count. I'm not
> really looking to 'be discovered', a career in music is an impossibility, I
> really don't like and am really really really rubbish at teaching. Ask
> anyone with connections to the Leicestershire County Council about the crazy
> Australian that led to so many of her students quitting the clarinet and
> music forever. There is no chance of a professional career in Australia
> because, even if I was good enough, there aren't the jobs and my health is
> not up to it. I have spent the best part of two months off work with stress
> having performed too many recitals and a Master's exam recital. The normal
> cycle of bipolar disorder means that though I have periods of normality
> perhaps a little elevated, I have a lot of periods where for days on end I
> cannot prise myself out of the foetal position and try to ride it out
> without taking ever pill in the house to numb the emotional pain. This is
> where my music helps, but I digress.
>
>
>
> My point is about YouTube comments. Whilst most are extremely positive,
> there are certain types of comments I want to highlight. Yes I am
> overweight, but there is no need to say I need two chairs to sit in. My
> comeback to that was savage to say the least and drew on my very best
> Shakespearean insults. One attitude is that one should not post a youtube
> video unless it is the very best one can do. Why? Does a footballer earn man
> of the match every week? Some painters have this attitude. They never sell
> anything until after their death. That is sad. My approach to posting a
> YouTube video is that is the very best I can do AT THAT TIME. Because my
> music is evolving, hopefully I will get better and subsequent re-recordings
> will show this. At the end of this post I will put links to the various
> incarnations of the Mozart Concerto.
>
>
>
> Closely linked to the attitude that one must only post 'perfect' videos,
> nevermind the billion other videos of genital mishaps and lancing boils, is
> the comment that unless one is Shifrin, Barenboim, Meyer etc, one does not
> 'deserve' to post. One of my Rose etudes was critiqued, ending with the
> remark that 'this isn't a very good representation of how to play this
> piece'. OK, a couple of wrong notes, longer breaths than normal, but it
> certainly wasn't hideous. Maybe it is just me being sensitive, but it felt
> like this video had no business being on YouTube. In fact, as far as I know,
> it is the only recording of this particular etude I can find on YouTube. My
> reaction to this criticism is, well, if this is not a good representation of
> this piece, then I encourage you to record it yourself so there is a better
> representation of the piece on YouTube. Actually, that is my main recourse
> to criticism, if you don't like it, if it can be played better, then you
> record it and send me the link. I also add that I am not a professional
> player , I have a day job in an office, clarinet playing is my hobby and I
> don't have to be recording these pieces. I myself very rarely comment on a
> YouTube video, although I give praise where well deserved.
>
>
>
> The point is we are all in different levels of playing. Every level has its
> place. The World Series or Superbowl is the highest level of that particular
> game, but is only played once a year. The rest of the year you watch the
> club games. While I thank Dan for his lovely comments about my playing, they
> are very much appreciated, I feel that I have to humble myself before the
> list, lest I come under attack for assuming a position above my status. But
> each level of music has its place. Sure, it is sublime to hear Meyer or
> Marriner, but is it that bad to hear a Masters student or clarinettist from
> a regional orchestra? Shouldn't Johnny be able to post his very first
> clarinet recital? I have been questioned why I post my practice sessions.
> Well, why on earth not? Surely it is a useful resource for the frustrated
> teacher to say, you hate practising your scales? Watch this person stick at
> it for an hour. Can't play four bars of a movement, watch this poor sap at
> it for 45 minutes. Struggling with a piece? Watch the metamorphosis day by
> day of this person.
>
>
>
> YouTube can be a wonderful resource, especially for the cash strapped
> student. What I like about YouTube is you not only hear the piece, you see
> somebody play it. You can see dozens of other people play it, different
> interpretations, speeds and levels of proficiency. There is nothing in it
> for me posting videos on YouTube. In fact, you can imagine the thousands of
> hours I pour into it. Not only playing, but editing and uploading the
> videos. No money, no fame, but a sense of accomplishment.
>
>
>
> Now here are my various renditions of the Mozart Concerto
>
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHlSYFTheNY
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_1WYWfJALw
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQzCXm6faRY
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v0Xtfg343o
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxY5-JXn-BM
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEa9zUzecw
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGFDoJhQ8g
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqprXMgc8CE
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYpcLSUH_g
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Kathy Williams-DeVries
>
> BMusPerf (Hons)
>
> Grad Dip Arts (Shakespeare Studies)
>
> ATCL, LTCL
>
> 0404946839
>
> www.kathywilliams76.com
>
>
>
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