Klarinet Archive - Posting 000155.txt from 1994/02

From: "Jay Heiser, Product Manager, Govt Systems" <jayh@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: vibrato
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 10:35:35 -0500

You miss the whole point by attempting to tear my argument up
into little bits. Let me be as succinct as possible.

Assuming the validity of the Pino quote (that it is accurate
and not missing essential context), he said that vibrato
is innappropriate on the clarinet. Period. He provided an
acoustic explanation as to why vibrato on the clarinet was
different from other wind instruments.

I don't question either the validity or the utility of his
scientific explanation. I strongly condemn his conclusion.
The fact remains that many people feel that vibrato legitimately
enhances clarinet tone. Arguing that they are wrong on the
basis of acoustics is silly.

"You think that you are enjoying yourself, but I have
the results of a scientific study that shows you couldn't
possibly be having fun."

-->From sco.sco.com!vtbit.cc.vt.edu!vccscent.bitnet!klarinet Mon Feb 14 01:13:49
1994
-->Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 22:14:00 EST
-->Reply-To: Klarinet - Clarinettist's Network
<KLARINET%VCCSCENT.BITNET@-----.EDU>
-->Sender: Klarinet - Clarinettist's Network
<KLARINET%VCCSCENT.BITNET@-----.EDU>
-->From: Joshua Proschan <0004839378@-----.COM>
-->Subject: Re: vibrato
-->Comments: To: Klarinet-l <klarinet%VCCSCENT.BITNET@-----.edu>
-->To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
<KLARINET%VCCSCENT.BITNET@-----.EDU>
-->Message-ID: <9402132208.aa03475@-----.COM>
-->
-->re: vibrato
-->
-->Jay Heiser (Product Manager, Govt Systems" <jayh@-----.COM>
-->writes:
-->
-->
-->> This is great, you've explained why a tasteful vibrato is more
-->> difficult to achieve on the clarinet, but that doesn't address
-->> the issue of how well received it is.
-->
-->That is a matter of taste, traditional practice, fashion, ... Vibrato
-->on strings is the same. There were periods when no vibrato was used by
-->violinists.
-->
-->> Still, the fact remains that in many situations it enhances the
-->> sound of a clarinet.
-->
-->Again, a matter of taste. Even if you are right, in many others it
-->doesn't. Those who condemn a player for not using vibrato are as
-->misguided as those who condemn a player for using it.
-->
-->> For anyone to attempt to 'scientifically;
-->> prove that it doesn't, is vain and stupid.
-->
-->Why? That's how you discover new things.
-->
-->> If the quote from
-->> Pino was correct, I still maintain that he was being a bit
-->> dense about the whole issue.
-->
-->No. If the quote was accurate, he expressed an opinion that vibrato
-->is inconsistent with a "full, beautiful tone". He has as much right
-->to his opinion as you have to the opposite opinion.
-->
-->>
-->> Acoustics and aesthetics are not the same thing.
-->
-->True; but anyone musician who ignores acoustics in the pursuit of
-->aesthetics will not succeed. There was an interview with Picasso in
-->which he was asked about discussions of some aesthetic question by
-->artists. He replied that when artists get together, they discuss which
-->dealer sells the best canvas and which brand of turpentine works best.
-->If you do not have a sound technique you cannot reach the highest levels
-->of aesthetic expression; and acoustics is part of musical technique.
-->
-->
-->Joshua Proschan Internet: jproschan@-----.com
======================================
Garden Status:
Started pruning the grapes.
Getting the courage up to prune my
fruit trees (I'm a virgin)