BTW, though I don't think of it as "elitism" I sympathize with your observation (and Jim Williams's) about a certain degree of intolerance toward variant opinions. I have often held back from contributing to discussions on this list for that reason.
-Carl
--On Thursday, April 14, 2005 3:23 PM -0700 Ryan Beard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
A few here have said that the composer I work with shouldn't compose a piece for viola because he's not comfortable writing in the alto clef. How preposterous!
While I appreciate all opinions regarding notation and historical practice, I find that some opinions regarding composition and art in general are absolutely elitist (and not specifically from the few referred to above). Yes, a lot of us have years and years of experience along with the fancy paper from a degree-granting institution saying we're "qualified." But why can't an inexperienced composer without a pedigree write for any instrument he "hears" in his head? This is a matter of notation, not composition. Would you object to a score that isn't transposed (i.e. in C) for the inexperienced composer/orchestrator?
In my composer's case, he hasn't had much of an opportunity to write for viola. Now, his violist friends who have heard his other compositions want a viola sonata from him. He wrote in treble clef because it's faster for him to get his ideas down. He told me to put it in alto clef and change to treble where appropriate when I engrave it. What's wrong with that? Oh wait - apparently everything...
Ryan
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