Klarinet Archive - Posting 000027.txt from 1994/11

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Vibrato
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 1994 16:06:58 -0500

On Wed, 2 Nov 1994, Timothy Tikker wrote:

> I once heard an historic recording of Joachim. His style used vibrato,
> but only as an ornament, for long-held notes and such - not as a
> constant. Even if Muhlfeld used it more than Joachim, it still may not
> have been as much as a modern string player.

Your statement about Joachim's minimal use of vibrato is
supported in a parenthetical comment by Brymer that followed the cited
passage. It read: "It will be recalled that Joachim played with little
or no vibrato."

The only adjective I have to go on from the quoted reminiscence
of the viola player who played with Muhlfeld was that it was a "big"
vibrato, comparable to that used by the cellist. As you imply, what
the term "big" means in terms of modern string-quartet playing style
is hard to say. I guess, if the quoted passage is to be believed, the
important message is that Muhlfeld played with enough vibrato to make its
use apparent to the listener.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California
josassoc@-----.com