I am quite powerless when obliged to compose for an instrument I cannot bear.Mozart needs no introduction other than perhaps a notice that today is his birthday. One peculiarity about his was that while he wrote some splendid flute music, he positively detested the instrument. Perhaps it's a testament to his unmatched genius that he could make an instrument that he didn't like sound like this.
- Mozart, in a letter to his father
Bootnote: While he did say that in his letter, the idea that Mozart hated the flute is disputed.
4 comments:
Great music. That feller can sure play that flute. Very animated, too.
I believe the best flutes in the world are still made in the good old USA. Haynes as well as Powell make flutes the concert players use.
Sigh, I truly wish my hearing was better... And yes he IS animated!!! :-)
Lovely - great performance! Thank you!
Phyllis (N/W Jersey)
On the dispute whether Mozart hated the flute, I'd withhold judgment until I can read the rest of the letter, bearing in mind the potential for errors in translation. Off-hand, I'd say it's fully possible that his use of the phrase "an instrument I cannot bear" means "an instrument I cannot personally play" (or something similar), which certainly would make it more difficult (though not impossible) to write playable music for it.
As we should know, the English word "bear" has more than one meaning; "bear arms" does not typically mean "tolerate hugs". I'd explore the possibility that the word that translates to English as "bear" has a subtly different meaning in the original language. Translation is an art in itself.
Post a Comment