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 Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: GBK 
Date:   2006-06-19 15:15

The San Diego Arts review of Michael Collins' performance:

http://www.sandiego.com/critichome.jsp?x=000&id=0d18ed19-e855-47a9-bd13-e5039f503e2c

I especially liked:

"...Collins exhibited the usual clarinetist gestures--stepping into a note, swinging the bell one way or another as an affective device, lifting the bell high, swaying his body, and the knee bend..."


The "usual" clarinetist gestures?

...GBK



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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2006-06-19 15:51

"He [Mozart]wrote better concertos and operas and string quartets and symphonies than just about anyone else in Europe (Joseph Haydn was his only real equal or superior, at least in the realm of symphonies and string quartets).


Obviously this guy is a total hack, loser frustrated with his lack of talent and insight. He will die a miserable, lonely, bitter man.


..........Paul Aviles



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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: Gregory Smith 2017
Date:   2006-06-19 16:04

Usual? Perhaps not.

But more generally speaking -

The Doppler Effect and highly choreographed performances will always live on...some in service to classical music, but most not.

At least within the musical circles that I travel, and from what I read and hear of what is written and said by the greatest of performers, soloists, etc, the consensus is, almost without exception, that those musicians whom choreography is an integral and overt part of their performance practice are attempting to make up for what they are unable to express musically. Overdone, it serves as a distraction from the *aural* aspect of performance in terms of the art's most essential aspect...service to the *sound* in music.

Of course it goes without saying that movement of some kind is good up to a certain point (leaning forward while showing phrases moving forward, lifting where breaths are needed, etc.) These are completely natural and are completely necessary.

Every once in awhile an exception to the rule comes along though (in the clarinet world, Sabine Meyer is but one of a few examples that spring to mind).

Gregory Smith



Post Edited (2006-06-19 16:07)

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: crnichols 
Date:   2006-06-19 16:47

"He [Mozart]wrote better concertos and operas and string quartets and symphonies than just about anyone else in Europe (Joseph Haydn was his only real equal or superior, at least in the realm of symphonies and string quartets)."

In his book the classical style, Charles Rosen makes a similar observation...but as it relates to opera and the concerti only. Rosen contends that Mozart succeeded in the two genres that Haydn never really ran with.

I actually enjoyed the article, but who says we have "usual clarinetist gestures." I think perhaps these gestures exist because they are practical and natural. Are we supposed to do dance around flamboyantly or stand perfectly still or what? The video recordings I've seen of Michael Collins looked very natural, his movement doesn't seem contrived at all to me.

Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: BassetHorn 
Date:   2006-06-19 18:22

I have seen some pretty outrageous limb movements from pianists, violinist, and cellists. Pianist's fingers, violinist's and cellist's bowing arms are their expressive tools and no one seems to have a problem seeing them flinging about. Wind players, having to hold steady their arms relative to their body and embouchures, tend to move their torsos to complement their playing and express their musicality, because, what else have they got? They can't move their arms, shoulders, or manipulate their facial expressions......

As long as they are not kicking their heels a la Elaine Benes, no problems.

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: LarryBocaner 2017
Date:   2006-06-19 20:17

I didn't find the reviewer's remarks pejorative. On the contrary, I found the review to be witty, informed (if opinionated), and sympathetic. If I were a San Diego music consumer a review like this would whet my appetite to buy tickets to the next concert in the series!



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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: Gregory Smith 2017
Date:   2006-06-19 21:39

Knowing the concerts and videos of Michael Collins that I've heard and seen, they certainly did not seem overtly choreographed. I would surmise that the gestures that are mentioned in the review are of the "natural" type that I mentioned earlier.

But "usual"? I think that this was perhaps a case of an unfortunate choice of words. Sterotyping, in a word. (To clarify, my other comments were meant to be about choreography in general.)

Gregory Smith

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: diz 
Date:   2006-06-21 01:09

To the contrary, Haydn did write several highly effective operas ... the problem being he was "stuck" at Esterhazy and his operas were the exclusive domain of the Prince and were not allowed performance outside the Palace.

In my humble opinion, these are as good as Mozart's operas (though Figaro is a shining light that is unsurpassed in the classical output). If you've not heard Armida, or la Vera Constanza, or the l'Isola Disabitata (my spelling could be wayward) then you're in for a real treat.

As to concerti ... yes, I agree ... while Haydn wrote several, none seem to have survived long enough to regularly appear in the concert hall ... not even the trumpet one.

Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.

Post Edited (2006-06-21 01:11)

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2006-06-22 14:44

Yes, but how dry and academic it is to watch someone who just sits like a total bump on a log. And this can be reflected in the dull lifeless music that sometimes emerges from the "don't move" school.

However, Mr. Collins does not have one iota to worry abut in terms of musicality...he is far above the lack lustre quality of the day to day orchestral musician.

I tend to reserve judgement about movement and close my eyes and listen! So few musicians seem to do this these days...it has become a field filled with ego and ecentricity unlike any other.

as for Haydn his trumpet and cello concertos are splendid works..I have done the Cello concerto in D on the clarinet and it is a beauty...

David Dow

Post Edited (2006-06-22 14:47)

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: Mark Charette 
Date:   2006-06-22 15:06

> ...it
> has become a field filled with ego and ecentricity unlike any
> other.

Except for all science, mathematics, literature, politics, and every other field I can think of that has any sort of peer review ...

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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: LarryBocaner 2017
Date:   2006-06-22 19:08

"...lack lustre quality of the day to day orchestral musician"

Whoa now, David -- in the orchestra I played in I was constantly amazed, delighted, and inspired by the brilliance of the musicians around me!

Sounds to me like you are addressing issues quite remote from the subject of this thread.



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 Re: Michael Collins - Mozart Concerto - 6/17/06
Author: musiciandave 
Date:   2006-06-23 16:28

Moving a little bit is probably good, as being really stiff isn't appealing to the audience and possibly is limiting to the performer as well. I've seen Sabine Meyer perform live and to me it is too overdone. I wouldn't think that Collins would be as "over the top"with it all.


David C.

http://www.last.fm/music/David+Crower+Band



Post Edited (2006-06-23 16:31)

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