Klarinet Archive - Posting 000283.txt from 1994/02

From: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Welcome Kory Vrieze (and vibrato)
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 1994 14:45:47 -0500

Quoting from Dan Leeson's communication:

> If you don't want to use vibrato in your playing because you,
> personally, by yourself, without being told what is right and wrong,
> have come to the independent conclusion that it adds nothing to your
> performances, then I think you would be foolish to use it. Clearly
> is would be in conflict with your artistic vision.
>
> If you don't want to use vibrato in your playing because you are
> being influenced by someone else's artistic vision, then I think
> you are not an independent and critical thinking machine. . . .
>
> But if I were reviewing a performance that you did of the Brahms
> f minor sonata, and I heard that work with no vibrato, I would
> suspect that you are not a warm, passionate player who is a
> secret romantic. Instead, I would say "... this person appears
> to play without the warmth, passion, and fire needed in music of
> this kind." So you do run a career risk if you are missing
> certain facilities when you play.

I'm confused. This is an admonishment to use vibrato, or not, in
accordance with "individual artistic vision". Anything else would
indicate the lack of ability for "independent and critical thinking".
On the other hand, it is a warning that not including vibrato on ones
pallet of expressive devices is a career level mistake. ?!?!?

Why should anyone prejudge a performance of the Brahm's sonata, or
anything else, on the basis of their own musical perceptions of the
piece? Surely it would be possible for something totally unexpected
to be musically convincing. How is the musical judgement and
independence of a student to develop if she or he cannot expect a
performance to be received by open-minded listeners and judged on the
basis of the clarity, conviction and ability with which the performer
manifests his or her own musical intentions?