Klarinet Archive - Posting 000139.txt from 1994/11

From: Dick Williams <dwilliams@-----.EDU>
Subj: .. schools ..
Date: Tue, 8 Nov 1994 13:18:42 -0500

Well, I'm still very confused about all the discussion of national
schools. I have almost come to the conclusion that every one on the
net is correct!
I believe that when one plays the clarinet (or any other instrument)
one is trying to make a (individual)statement within the context and
limitations of prior training, education and experience this statement is
probably true of other artisitiv endeavors). To the extent
that individuals in a given geographic region or from given political
or social organization have common backgrounds (linguistic or whatever),
I would expect some commonality in performance. This is not to say that
they all play the same (all indians walk single file; at least the one I
saw was-- ;-) ). But their playing could certainly have common
characteristics (I never heard a poor clarinetist with a degree from
Curtis).
I believe Dan is asking us to identify common characteristics. It seems
to me that tonal attributes are very likely (and can be analized with
lab equipment). To a lesser extent we might consider articulations; I
thought at one time that I could tell Legal(sp?) students by their
marvelous staccato. Each teacher must choose which topics for
emphasis; this, it seems to me, should lead to common practices by the
students of that teacher.
Along the line of soaking the reeds in mayonnaise, have you heard about
the famous clarinetist who bought a pipe wrench on the way to an open
rehearsal? All the students in attendance took pipe wrenches to their
next rehearsal.
As you can see, I am still very confused; but, OTOH, I ramble.
Dick Williams