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RE: Debussy Rhapsodie

Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2002-10-10 06:59

Dear Morrigan,

I'm actually quite pleased to hear that someone's comparison of my playing of the Debussy Rhapsodie to that of Emma Johnson's and Jack Brymer's interpretations (both deservedly famous British clarinetists) is viewed as "boring". Both of these performers recordings of this work show little respect for the composer's explicit instructions in regards to just about every aspect of both's highly, shall we say charitabily, "personal" interpretations.

I am keenly aware of a school of thought more and more in vogue presently, that prizes putting performer whims ahead of the composer's explicit instructions. Overt flamboyancy at the expense of the composer's explicit instructions violates a sacred trust between composer and performer that is strongly frowned upon - at least in the professional circles that I travel.

Most of our waking hours are committed, as scrupulous professional musicians, investing ourselves in exploring just how to interpret a composers work (most especially in the case of a work by a composer like Debussy) with the upmost fidelity to the composer in mind - and not as a means of self-indulgency.

This is not to say that there is not artistic liscence that one uses to deviate from the composer's "blueprint" that's in front of a performer at any given time. All great performers that I know of or have heard of use this "blueprint" as a point of departure to then add their personal artistic expression or spontaneity to enhance (not undo) what the composer has laid out for them.

Perhaps the "boring" aspect that you mention is only out of contrast to the performances that you mention - just the simple result of scupulously adhereing to the composer Debussy's specific detailed musical instructions.

More isn't always more. Sometimes less is more. And in the case of the music of Debussy, stylistically speaking, the latter is usually the case.

Sincerely,

Gregory Smith

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