Klarinet Archive - Posting 000040.txt from 1994/06

From: Clark W Fobes <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Leesons tonal discussion
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 02:55:37 -0400

I am sorry not to include any of Dan Leeson's commentary about tone in
this reply, but i thought his discussion was too well worded to delete
any of it. Hopefully you have read it.

I knew I was getting into trouble when I said I do not like a "DARK"
sound without specifying what that means to me.

I think, however, that I was not imprecise in describing what I do like
in a sound. Evoking Harold Wright most likely conjures a sound that is
well documented and familiar to anyone that owns a playback device and a
set of ears.

The use of terms such as "bright" and "dark" probably should be dropped
from our musical vocabulary, but since from a practical standpoint they
are used very often perhaps I will make a simple statement that I think
applies to the most common usage of these terms. (In my experience ONLY
of having a rather large and growing number of clarinetist describing
what they perceive in tone, these terms apply as follows.)

"Bright" - a sound that has a predominance of upper overtones.

"Dark" - a sound that has an absence or minimum of upper overtones.

These two descriptions would be the extreme of each case. My objection to
the move toward a sound that has an absence of overtones is that the tone
becomes dull and without character. I have met several players that also
achieve this effect by playing a very heavy reed.

There are a few very notable and successful makers that have become major
proponents of this type of sound. Obviously, this does appeal to some
players, because these mouthpieces continue to sell and be used.

I am not saying that only one sound is right (Wright!). Thank GOD we do
all sound different. My small effort is based on what I believe and what
I hear. It may not be for everyone, but I am convinced that I am getting
very close to my ideal sound after years of experimenting and that is
exciting!

I will repeat myself on one very important point. If a mouthpiece does
what you want it to do, if it puts you in that place where you absolutely
BELIEVE in your sound, then "bright", "dark", "blue" or " mauve" have no
meaning what so ever and any discussion of same is irrelevant.

Clark W Fobes