Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 2011/01

From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Philosophical ponderings
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:04:25 -0500

Kathy
As someone who normally finds more comfort in being somewhat in the
background on this list, I feel compelled to add 2 cents to this fire.
First, I give you a lot of credit to have the (as we Americans like to say),
balls to put as much material on Youtube, as you have.. Your desire to put
your perspective on the clarinet musical world is obviously high on your
list.

However I must add that I'm learning that you are also quite naive. Once
you put those pieces out there for global display, then ask a professional
clarinet blog for feedback, you have to expect both what you would like to
hear and you don't want to hear. The bad comments come with the good, and
unfortunately the bad comments are what either breaks or makes a musician.
If crawling under the rock every time you don't hit a homerun you'll be a
sorry mess. Judging by your comments about licking your wounds, sounds
precisely what has just happened.
Please remember that you, and you alone, are the one who made the push to
put your name and face on these pieces for public display. Once those
pieces are out there for review, you have to be realistic with all type of
comments you could possibly get. Thick skin is one of the lessons musicians
learn with digesting both the good with the bad reviews

I personally liked your detailed analogy of how you interpreted the
compositional aspects of the quintet and the concerto You made some good
points.
You've said all along that your goal was to help assist the developing young
clarinetist by way of demonstration. Keep your focus and continue on. Just
be realistic that your approach is not going to sit well with everyone.

Tom

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Williams-DeVries" <kathleenwilliams76@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.com>
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 4:47 AM
Subject: [kl] Philosophical ponderings

> 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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