Download David Diamond on Wind Music - Whitwell

David Diamond on Wind Music
American composer David Diamond (1915-2005) was also a long time professor at the
Juilliard School of Music in New York.
David Diamond to David Whitwell
New York, NY, April 11, 1967
A whole evening of woodwind music is not “wearisome” – only the
programming can be. But that can be so at a symphony or string quartet concert.
Three Beethoven or three Bartok quartets are too many for me in one evening; and
yet the ideas are first-rate. So it is a matter of contrast in individual composers’
works for one medium that is important. In general the composers chosen for an
evening of woodwind music are third-raters.
Here is my idea of a not wearisome evening: A Hindemith woodwind quintet,
the Carter or Barber works for that medium, my woodwind Quintet. Or: Strauss,
Hindemith, Carter. Or: David Diamond Quintet, Reicha, Schonberg (very long) but
works well with mine and Reicha. Forget authorities of any kind who write on
“Chamber Music.” Just play good music programmed well.
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