| Guys,
Please don't think I'm doubting these accounts but I still can't buy it. Now, mind you, I having except visceral reaction... no real text to support myself. It's more theory and experience with Hindemth's orchestral works and the markings that i've seen in his stuff.
The first thing is the "closer to 116" reference... 116! Think about for a sec. 116 is the marking for Ravel's G major concerto. Let's go for 104 even. People play Petrushka at that tempo. I'm trying to imagine the first movement at that tempo. The pianist would shoot you! It's just about impossible unless you have a pianist of much greater ability than the trumpeter would be.
Look at something else: Mit Kraft.. with power, strength, whatever you want but you understand the idea. How can you bring that off at half equals 96?! Go grab an accurate metronome and sing the first few bars at half equals 96 and tell me that you can bring that sentiment off at that tempo. Better yet let's hear the piano part at half = 96. If you can, my hat's off to you.
No... I just can't accept it, intuitively. I can accept that people's accounts of stories (even the ones that have happened to them) can get mutated over the years. I remember things Vacchiano used to say that I KNEW weren't wholly true but I also knew that that was the way he remembered it so I didn't argue. There really wouldn't have been any point other than for me to show him up and back in the old days, you just didn't do that out of respect. If you knew what was correct you went with it and that was that. No big deal.
So, bottom line? Even with the reminiscences of both of those highly respected gentlemen, I can't buy the notion of the First movement of the Hindemith being faster than quarter =116 at the fastest. I don't think the piano part would sound characteristic nor would the "Mit Kraft" marking get its due.
For my part, I'll continue at quarter equals 100.
ML |