Klarinet Archive - Posting 000030.txt from 1994/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Andrea's comments on the Vito clarinet
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 1994 10:26:57 -0500

Andrea said that she is playing the Petroushka suite next year and,
on realizing it was a double, checked out a B-flat clarinet (from whoever
she checked it out from) and expressed disappointment with the
instrument.

Had Andrea said that her disppointment was based on the fact that the
instrument was poorly maintained, or out of tune, or some other mechanical
or musical matter, I would be knowledgeable about what caused her to
come to the conclusion that she expressed. But she gave the impression
that she was disappointed solely because it was a Vito clarinet and with
that attitude I must take exception.

Bottom line: there is nothing fundamentally wrong with a Vito clarinet
and I'll play one any time providing it meets basic musical and mechanical
needs. I don't feel that playing such an instrument is beneath me or
that I am compromising whatever artistic integrity I have by using it,
and (forgive me for preaching) neither should Andrea, the bass clarinetist
extraordinaire (who I remember with great affection from Prodigy -- Hi,
Andrea!!).

Now Andrea had to put up with this sort of nagging on Prodigy and she
would occasionally zing me for zinging her. But, now being on a
clarinet list, she may have many supporters for her view so I am
taking issue with it to bring agreers and/or dissenters out of the
woodwork, so to speak.

The only things a clarinet needs to meet all the standards of fully
professional performance is that it be in tune and in good mechanical
condition. It does not matter if it is a Vito, a Bundy, a Buffet, a
Frank Plo, or God knows what. It can be made of bamboo, cost $35 and
be manufactured in China. I assert that people holding a different
perspective on this issue are elitist and have swallowed the advertising
of Buffet, LeBlanc, Selmer, and others who try their very best to give
you the impression that anyone who plays something else is an ignorant
and insensitive performer. Horse hockey!!

OK, Andrea. Swing away!!

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