Klarinet Archive - Posting 000070.txt from 1994/11

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re the possible contention (for Cary Karp et al)
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 17:25:13 -0500

Cary, it is very straightforward but may have gotten ballooned up over
time. Someone said that national sounds were unique. I said that I did
not think so. That party said it was obvious, could I not hear the
differences. I said no. The party suggested that they could always do
so. I challenged. The party never responded.

In jumped Jim Freeman. He thinks he can detect regional/national sound
differences. I don't think he can.

This is no pivotal moment of history. Just a minor disagreement as to
an assertion that sound characteristics of clarinet players is so related
to geography that it can be identified accurately.

(Actually, it is not really geography, but without a lot more words to
pin it down, that will have to do.)

Despite your own observations and experiences, as well as those of many
others on the board, I remain unconvinced. That is either stupidity on
my part or a tin ear or a real absence of identifiable differences. We
shall see in Jim Freeman's case how successful one person is at ringing
the bell.

We may not have reached any concensus here (that's an understatement!),
but people are thinking about the matter and the notion of national
characteristics of sound is getting poked at and prodded. No matter
what happens, that is a good thing; i.e., to visit and revisit the same
issue to make sure that it remains nailed down.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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