Comments on: B5- Take the repeat! http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/ Music, opinion, life as a performing musician Thu, 24 May 2012 07:43:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kenneth Woods http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/comment-page-1/#comment-39024 Kenneth Woods Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:36:20 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/#comment-39024 Hi Michael- Thanks, as always, for the comment. Not sure I agree with you that the link with the finale invalidates comparisons with the other symphonies, as the 6th has a direct attacca from the 3rd to 4th to 5th movement (and the two are like mirror images of each other- the consecutive op numbers simply remind us that the two very different pieces are deeply related). As you pointed out, this version makes the transformation of the A section more dramatic because we've gone farther towards establiching a norm through repetition. Still, I'm trying to tread lightly and see how I feel after the performance. Hi also to Foster- that's interesting about Victor. Ken Hi Michael-

Thanks, as always, for the comment. Not sure I agree with you that the link with the finale invalidates comparisons with the other symphonies, as the 6th has a direct attacca from the 3rd to 4th to 5th movement (and the two are like mirror images of each other- the consecutive op numbers simply remind us that the two very different pieces are deeply related). As you pointed out, this version makes the transformation of the A section more dramatic because we’ve gone farther towards establiching a norm through repetition.

Still, I’m trying to tread lightly and see how I feel after the performance.

Hi also to Foster- that’s interesting about Victor.

Ken

]]> By: Foster Beyers http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/comment-page-1/#comment-39008 Foster Beyers Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:34:01 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/#comment-39008 My teacher, Victor Yampolsky, at Northwestern University, absolutly agrees with you on this issue! My teacher, Victor Yampolsky, at Northwestern University, absolutly agrees with you on this issue!

]]> By: Michael Monroe http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/comment-page-1/#comment-38997 Michael Monroe Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:08:48 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2008/03/14/b5-take-the-repeat/#comment-38997 Pretty interesting. I agree that "the return of the Scherzo in the Finale invalidates comaprisons with the norms in the other symphonies." Even before that, the direct link to the Finale does the same thing. At any rate, I see no reason why we should want or expect the 3rd movement to be equal in weight to the other three. This is a problem I often have with classical forms, the tendency for movements to string along just to fulfill their quota - but then I've got 21st-century ADD issues. Still, I've always assumed that, given the other unifying features of this symphony, Beethoven wanted to tighten up the form and avoid the quota business. Nevertheless, it sounds like a worthwhile experiment, even if only to let audiences hear this in a new way. Of course, one potential advantage would be to give the audience a chance to hear the normal Scherzo twice so that it's transformation is more apparent, although a work this familiar needs that sort of double exposure less than most. Pretty interesting. I agree that “the return of the Scherzo in the Finale invalidates comaprisons with the norms in the other symphonies.” Even before that, the direct link to the Finale does the same thing. At any rate, I see no reason why we should want or expect the 3rd movement to be equal in weight to the other three. This is a problem I often have with classical forms, the tendency for movements to string along just to fulfill their quota – but then I’ve got 21st-century ADD issues. Still, I’ve always assumed that, given the other unifying features of this symphony, Beethoven wanted to tighten up the form and avoid the quota business.

Nevertheless, it sounds like a worthwhile experiment, even if only to let audiences hear this in a new way. Of course, one potential advantage would be to give the audience a chance to hear the normal Scherzo twice so that it’s transformation is more apparent, although a work this familiar needs that sort of double exposure less than most.

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