Klarinet Archive - Posting 000112.txt from 1994/11

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re Ken Maltz' comments on national sounds
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 1994 08:31:06 -0500

Ken, I am not at all sure that we are not 180 degrees out of phase on this
one. In what way does ethos have to do with the matter of identification
of the sound of a player by national characteristics?

You used as an example, the Klezmer player. How would you distinguish the
nationality of an Afro-American Klezmer player with the Boston New England
Conservatory Klemzer band from that of a Klezmer player born, raised, and
trained in Romania ca. 1910 on the basis of sound alone?

Here is a case where Klezmer players attempt to eliminate any and all
personal national characteristics sounds (if they have any) to take on
the generic sound of a Klezmer player; i.e., one modeled after a now lost
and defunct period.

While you are correct that the discussion on national sound characteristics
has been limited to players in the classical arena (and we have not said
so as you noted), it is as you depart from that arena that whatever
national characteristics exist (and I am of the opinion that none or few do)
tend to be completely eliminated.

If I try to duplicate a Greek clarinet player doing his or her local
ethnic thing, all you could do would be to identify my playing as either
a good or bad Greek imitation or else a Greek playing ethnic Greek music.
You could not possibly tell that I was trained in America, Britain, France,
or Germany. Depending on my nationality, I might find it more or less
difficult to master the skill of Greek ethnic clarinet playing, but once I
mastered it, the only sound left is that of ethnic Greek, not ethnic Greek
with an American flavor.

In effect, the wrapping of the player in a non-classic national ethnic
tradition eliminates the very thing that you say can be used to identify
them. Sure I can tell a Klezmer player, but can I tell a Romanian
Klemzer player from a Hungarian Klezmer player, from an American Klezmer
player? I don't think so.

Did I misunderstand you? Perhaps I did. Try me again.

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