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Posted by Paul Serotsky on May 16, 2007, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: John Quinn's review of Debussy/Matthews disc" Dominy's comment put me in mind of Rimsky-Korsakov's opinion, that Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" was "untranslatable into any other medium". I can see RK's point, but I don't believe that his words - or, more likely, their translation! - convey it accurately. I would go so far as to suggest this: It isn't a question of possibility. Any piece of music, written for whatever forces, can be arranged for any other forces that you care to dream up (anyone prepared to have a bash at rendering Brian's "Gothic Symphony" for pan-pipes and double-bass?). The real question is, can it be done effectively and meaningfully?
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I heard one extract from Matthews's arrangements on the radio, and loved it - it so took me that I almost forgave Matthews for sabotaging the end of "The Planets"! Bolstered by John's glowing report, I wasted no time in ordering the CD.
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