Klarinet Archive - Posting 000156.txt from 1993/12

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Dark/light sound
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 23:13:05 -0500

This has been a wonderful discussion. I found it fascinating
to hear the various opinions on the notion of using color to
describe sound.

I am by no means won over but that does not minimize the
interest that I have to learn more nor does it reduce my
respect for any of the people who addressed the matter in a
way that completely contradicted my perspective. It is a
very subjective business, music.

I have nothing more to add on the matter so, unless something
unique pops up with respect to the subject, I'll just keep
poking at new things and stir the pot.

But I end with this story: as a kid, I studied on W48th Street
in NY. There was Manny's music store which had (and probably
still has) a marvellous selection of clarinets for sale. Great
instruments, great prices.

One day, a kid of about 16 shows up with his father and asks to
try an A clarinet with a dark sound. The salesperson says, "I
have exactly what you want. This clarinet's sound is so dark
that it is like black velvet, like outer space, like the grave."
(It was one hell of an analogy!)

The kid tried it and sounded like a strangled chicken. He asked
the price. It was $150. His father tried to get the price down
to $75 but they would not budge. The kid and his old man walk
out and go across the street to some other music store, never to
be seen by me again.

Ten minutes later, another kid comes in, this one about 19, no
father with him. He says, "I want to try a clarinet with a
bright, bright sound. I am playing the Weber Concerto and I
want to scream the audience into submission." (A little artistic
licence is taken with his comments. It was a long time ago.)

The salesman, who has not even put away the clarinet from the
kid who sounded like a strangled chicken, says, "I have just
the thing for you. This instrument is so bright, it is like
the sun, like a flashing diamond, like Yma Sumac's high G!"
(You have to know who Yma Sumac was to appreciate the contrast.)

And he gives this kid, the SAME CLARINET. The kid plays it like
he was born for that horn. He wails, he screams, he is all over
that horn like nobody's business. He pays the $150 and walks out
with it.

Damon Runyan would have made it into a terrific newspiece had he
been there. THE SAME BLOODY CLARINET!!! as dark as the grave and
as bright as Yma Sumac's high G.

A wonderful discussion!!

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================

   
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