Klarinet Archive - Posting 000181.txt from 1993/11

From: "David L. Shea" <DSHEA@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Clareint sound
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1993 10:27:35 -0500

Bravo Dan for your response. I was intrigued because you caused me to
think about my comment on sound between two professional. (By the way,
the way in which I worded that comment was done badly. I did not mean
it to be as confrontational as it sounded and by no means do I think you
have a tin ear) I was rather amused because I thought of the two players
and how differently to me they play that I thought confusing their styles
would not be possible. Your response made me think about this even further.
I think I was confusing style and approach with sound. Sound of course is
an important part of the clarinet package, but if these two were to play
a scale or sustained tone where sound could be more isolated, I probably
couldn't tell the difference. There are a handful of clarinetists that
I can identify off the radio when I hear them play within the context of
the orchestra and the music. So I applaude the fact that you caught me being
sloppy with my argument and response to the question.

I still like the other comments on the perception of sound vs. sound but that
was intended to be a separate commentary. And I can't resist one other
question, since I confused sound with other aspects of clarinet playing,
can one even discuss sound without considering other aspects of one's playing
and musicianship? One can get the equipment and such so a perfect sound can
be produced, but in various instances throughout a piece, technique, fatigue
and air control all play a part in the production of tone. I promise, this is
the last of these strange comments on sound. It is the end of the semester
and I find my mind gets easily entertained by such bizaar and philosophical
diversions.

David L. Shea
Indiana University
dshea@-----.edu

P.S. No Dan, I never did get that message that you talked about. Thanks anyway.