jdecarlo@mitre.ARPA (06/26/85)
From: jdecarlo@mitre.ARPA
I think this whole issue has gotten out of hand, so I'm
willing to put in by two cents worth to further muddy the
waters.
First, ever since this started, I have been racking my brains
trying to remember a quote in a literature class (Comedy and the Novel)
about the relationship between an author, a novel, and a reader.
I believe it went something like this. The author (composer?) writes
a novel (music work?) with an idea of how it should be read (performed?).
However, the reader (performer? violin? both?) reads (performs?) the
novel in his/her own way (depending on whether he/she is skilled, has
practiced, know the music well, etc.). The implication being that there
has to be work at both ends, writer and reader. How much work depends
on the type of work involved. Another implication is that some works of
music are written for a violin, and if you try to play it on a flute it
won't sound the same. (Any people know what it is I am fumbling about
here? If so, I would appreciate knowing who said it and the context
in which it was said. Thanks.)
John "Now what was that he said?" DeCarlo