Music Arranged for Mechanical Instruments
By Jack Perron
Robbie, I was very interested to read your ideas about the peculiarities of music arranged for the music box. Having been involved in the making of music box arrangements for a awhile now, this is a subject near and dear to my heart.
One idea I might add: In addition to the unique capabilities (i.e., glissandi and tinkling) of the music box, there is another peculiarity: music boxes are often listened to by an audience of one, especially the smaller ones. It has occurred to me that this has an affect on the type of arrangement chosen. Musical ideas that work in a concert hall don't always seem appropriate in the salon or parlor.
A while back I sought to find examples in the works of the great masters of pieces composed for an audience of one. I never got very far, as inquires to musical authorities gave me the impression that no one has ever made a study (or collected examples) of "works for an audience of one".
Seems to me some bright young student ought to make a study of this topic.
Sincerely,
Jack Perron
Peterborough, NH
[ Editors note:
[
[ For audience of one: "How do I love thee--let me count the ways." ;-)
[
[ The Psalms (songs) of David might be in this category, too.
[
[ Tell us your thoughts, Jack; would an audience in a concert hall
[ react differently than an audience of one? If the arranger was
[ informed that his work would be performed in concert, what would
[ he do differently?
[
[ -- Robbie |
(Message sent Sun 16 Feb 1997, 20:44:31 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.) |
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