Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site Cascade.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!CSL-Vax!Cascade!asente From: asente@Cascade.ARPA Newsgroups: net.music.classical Subject: Re: Is Richard Strauss Empty? Message-ID: <1183@Cascade.ARPA> Date: Thu, 8-Nov-84 14:40:33 EST Article-I.D.: Cascade.1183 Posted: Thu Nov 8 14:40:33 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 10-Nov-84 05:11:56 EST References: <13192@mgweed.UUCP> <242@olivej.UUCP> <1229@eosp1.UUCP> Organization: Stanford University Lines: 20 > The point of the commentators was that Strauss > used to conduct his own performances so simply that the opera sounded > startlingly like Mozart. People have lost the simplicity of his music > in trying to make it more than it is, and in doing so they have made it > less, by losing the beautiful construction that allowed his music to > sound clear and simple. Well, maybe some of it, but there are all sorts of interesting stories about his conducting of "Salome." In some cases he told the orchestra, "play louder, I can still hear the singers!" He described the effect he wanted as a "wall of sound." My favorite story concerned a clarinetist. Ricky (all his friends call him Ricky) told the clarinetist he was playing too loud. He played more softly. Still too loud. Finally he just mouthed the mouthpiece and fingered the keys without blowing at all. The response? "Just a little softer and it'll be perfect." -paul asente "Ich habe deine muss gekussen." (No spelling flames, please)