 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: flyingllama
Date: 2003-05-06 00:41
Hey y'all...another quick question.
I'm thinking of playing the first movement from the Brahms Sonata no.2 in Eb+ (opus 120) for my end of year recital (it's either that or the Vanhal Sonata in Bb+, probably 1st or 2nd mvmt...hence why I'm trying to find the MIDI (see my other post!)).
Only problem is, on the MIDI I have, the Brahms mvmt 1 is over 7 minutes long, and I have a 5 minute time limit, so....
I was wondering if anyone can give me suggestions of what bars/sections I could cut to make it fit the time.
Obviously, it have to be convincing - it can't just suddenly jump from one section to another, and it has to end on something that sounds like an ending (errr...yeah, a cadence...haha, I didn't take years of piano theory for nothing!
Thanks.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-05-06 02:35
My personal view of "shortening" someone's composition is that it is a form of mutilation. If a composer had wanted the piece shorter, he would have written it so. You are unlikely to achieve your objective without disrupting the composer's intended progression and development of themes, IMHO; a disservice to both yourself and the composer. Far better to find a shorter piece of music, or negotiate with the organiser for a 7 minute spot. Good luck whichever way you go.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-06 03:05
Although apocryphal, we all surely remember the scene in Amadeus where Emperor Joseph II criticized Mozart's new opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail as having "too many notes" and to "just cut a few and it will be perfect."
To which Mozart responded: "Which few did you have in mind, Majesty? There are exactly as many notes as there should be."
The point being, that the Eb Sonata by Brahms is a complete musical thought, written to its logical conclusion and resolution. Any cutting of developmental ideas would be an atrocity and an insult to the composer.
My suggestion, as was previously recommended, is to get a waiver on the time restriction, or choose a different piece..GBK
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-05-06 03:54
The only alternative to the suggestions above might be to play a continuous excerpt, and note it as such. However, playing less than a movement on a piece like the Brahms tends to lose the impact and flavor.
When's the end of the year in question? Enough time to learn something else?
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-05-06 05:34
In this evening's rehearsal of a Mozart selection, our Maestro announced that he wants allargando in the final measure. I do believe it sounds better that way, somewhat more majestic. Maybe even Wolfy would've liked it. On the othr hand, maybe he would have been incensed.
So, how about some discussion on this: What can a performer do to a piece without impugning the remembrance of the composer? What is too much? What does it take for editing to become mutilation? Does one have to turn the "Polovtsian Dances" into "Stranger in Paradise," or would some lesser butchering be worthy of condemnation?
Thanks and regards,
John
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-05-06 06:18
John, I would say that what you are describing is "interpretation" rather than excision of segments of a composition. Rewriting is a bit more drastic and should rarely, if ever, be undertaken by anyone other than the original composer. There are exceptions such as Mozart's Requiem, but these are pretty rare. I know that if I were capable of composing a well known piece of music, I would take a dim view of all and sundry having a go at altering it. What may seem like plastic surgery to one person may look like mutilation to another.IMHO.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-05-06 14:19
flyingllama -
As everyone else has said, you can't cut the Brahms.
On the other hand, the 5 minute time limit is there to keep people from playing 20 minutes, not 7. Go ahead and play the full movement. Nobody will notice or care. And even if they did, what could they do? Blow a horn? Drag you off the stage?
And if they tried, you could fly over and make a "deposit" on them :-;
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-05-06 21:33
I concur with GBK and Ken Shaw; play the movement as is maintaining composer integrity. If the panel says anything tell them your watch must've been running slow when you timed it or you consciously slowed down tempos for performance so you wouldn't rush. v/r Ken
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-05-07 03:22
Karel, thanks for your comment. Something that caused me to think of this was a recent question about unaccompanied Clarinet pieces. My suggestion was to play "some" of the Copland Concerto. I had in mind especially the opening Clarinet solo, as it is very lovely without the backup. A later John Moses comment to someone else was similar.
Well, the Copland Concerto can't be played unaccompanied throughout, at least not for an attentive audience, but some parts of it certainly could. Soooo, what's the feeling of The Jury about doing that? Is it an insult to Aaron? Or is it okay? How about even adding a bridge here and there to tie together the parts that can cook without the strings and harp? Is this good, bad, or just ugly?
Regards,
John
who enjoys "Pictures at an Exhibition" on the piano but prefers Ravel's orchestration,
and who remembers that Vladziu Liberace could play the Minute Waltz in 23 seconds flat
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-07 04:57
John...I think that the Copland would work as each of the 2 movements (separated by the cadenza) are quite different, stylistically.
As we all know, Copland composed the opening movement in 1947 while in Rio di Janeiro, and then used one of the popular tunes he heard (Copland added the walking bass) as a basis for the syncopated jazz feeling in the second movement. The cadenza, which both links and foreshadows the themes in the second movement was completed (along with the second movement) in 1948.
As the first movement of the Brahms Eb Sonata is a complete musical thought which is developed to completion and any cutting or abbreviation would disrupt the musical flow. The Copland Concerto is clearly two distinct sections (albeit written at different times) linked by a cadenza. Either section, in my opinion, can stand alone...GBK
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Author: Phat Cat
Date: 2003-05-07 23:42
Don't be too sure that you won't be cut off. Many years ago (shortly after the clarinet supplanted the chalumeau) while performing the final movement of the Weber 2nd in a State high school contest, I was cut off before the end due to time limit. A very jarring experience. To add insult to injury, I was dinged for not observing the time limit. And, no, I wasn't butchering the piece, since I got a good rating
Prudence suggests that you enquire in advance about how strict the schedule will be. If there is no flexibility and you are intent on playing the piece, you can resort to guerilla tactics. If your technique is up to it, you could act the virtuoso and increase the tempo so that it fits in 5 minutes…easy enough for your MIDI accompanist. Or more radically, you could delete 1 of every 3 notes randomly and present Brahms as might have been arranged by Cage. Of course, they might delete 1/3 of your grade.
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