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Re: Technical facility, musicality?

Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-09-29 13:21

Howard,

Yes, I am "guilty as charged" about the technicality-vs.-musicality issue.

From my early days as a clarinet player, I've focused on the "flying fingers" aspect of music-making, and not nearly so much on the interpretive nuance.

It is arguably easier to get by, in whatever group, with good technique alone, rather than with good musicianship alone. This may be especially true in a band (as opposed to orchestra) context. As long as you can play the notes, you're good. Unless you have a solo or a passage with the flutes, you're not going to be heard much over everyone else, anyway.

But where does this leave me? It leaves me very capable of playing the fast movements of many a concerto, but struggling mightily with the adagios, which come to life only with a great deal of tonal control and interpretive nuance. (So you can guess what I am working on in my lessons these days . . .)

I was deeply inspired by Gordon Hunt's ethereal rendition of the Albinoni Op. 9 No. 2 Adagio at the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla earlier this year. Just a heartbreakingly beautiful piece of work. So, I ordered the sheet music and had at. The fast movements set up well enough that I was able to use one of them on my recital program in August. The Adagio -- well, it's heartbreaking, alright. And when I can master it, I will know I have grown as a musician AND an oboist.

Still trying.

Susan

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