Klarinet Archive - Posting 000443.txt from 1994/10

From: Laura R Bornhoeft <lbornhoe@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Bad day...
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 1994 15:41:00 -0500

On Sat, 29 Oct 1994, NICK WINKLER wrote:

> To: E5305005@-----.MONTCLAIR
> Subject: Re: Bad day...
>
> E>At any time there can only be one "best" in the world.
>
> If that is true, we should see a consensus on this conference about who
> is the best clarinetist in the world right now. Everyone would likely
> be trying to emulate the playing style of that person. Why do you think
> we have not seen this consensus?
>
> -Nick-
>
>
>
I know why we haven't seen this consensus.
In order to choose a "best", we first have to define the word. If we
substituted "fastest" or "loudest", or something that could be measured,
then the selection could be made. The Olympic games are an example of an
attempt to identify the "best" athletes in the world. The competitions
are very carefully defined and conducted under highly controlled
circumstances (although not perfect, many would agree), and thus the
medals awarded have meaning.

One of the very earliest comments on the subject of "national schools"
was Dan Leeson's challenge for anyone to come up with some concrete,
measurable ways to describe each style. So far, I haven't discerned much
response to that particular detail, except some more vague terms as
"dark" or "bright". (Now, taking a scientific approach [which is what my
"other" life is all about], "bright" may be defined as a capacity to
emit [or maybe also reflect] photons, but that's not a very useful
definition for clarinet playing.)
This absence of response may perhaps be interpreted as support for Dan's
side of the argument. Jim Freeman's comment about recognizing his
fiancee's voice on the phone is also pertinent.

How about it, folks? Can you come up with any measurable (or at least
so universally understood that definitions are unnecessary) terms that
would enable someone to describe the difference between national sounds
to a neophyte?

Laura Bornhoeft lbornhoe@-----.edu