Klarinet Archive - Posting 000492.txt from 1996/03

From: "Edna L. Humbert" <Clarinelh@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Equipment Question or Adaptability? (Kinda long)
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 13:19:50 -0500

Hi! This is not really on equipment for beginners, but it may prove
interesting for others who have been playing long enough to know what to
expect out of their horns.

I haven't (I don't think?) introduced myself to this list. I have more than
four lists that I have subscribed to, and I can't remember on which ones I am
still a 'Lurker'. I am not a professional. I do play clarinet. Because of
short fingers, I cannot { :( } play bass clarinet. I have never had the
opportunity to play any of the other clarinets. I would love to try any of
them, except the big stuff! I not only play clarinet, but I also play French
horn and trumpet, so I am on those lists as well. On the horn list, the
subject of equipment has been brought up. The question is, basically, how
much of the sound produced is the equipment, and how much of it is really the
player's ability to produce his/her particular 'horn' sound? Examples were
given as to certain pro horn players having accidentally switched their horns
during a concert, then playing quite a long time before finding out they
weren't playing on their own horns. They were really surprised by how long
it took them to realize what they had done. They played beautifully on
entirely different setups.

Lydia Hales said this in response:

>> My personal opinion is not that the horn changes for the player, but
the player changes for the horn. The sound may be very similar, or even
the same from horn to horn, but how the player accomplishes the sound is
adapted. The differences can be very subtle, and not detected. I used
to have to switch betwwen a Conn8D for concerts, and a Holton for
marching. I know how I played the two horns was different.
<sig snipping>

I tend to agree with her on this. Has anyone else had this kind of
experience? Wouldn't this be an indicator of each individual having his/her
own sound concept? When I went to buy a new clarinet from a friend for
really cheap, I didn't like the stuffy sound, but since I did like not having
to pull out so much, I went ahead and bought it. I found that I adapted to
it and still produced 'my' sound.

Now, since I have taken up so much space, I might as well throw in this story
I heard. I'll make it short. During an auction, the auctioneer was trying
to auction off a really scruffy-looking violin (we could use clarinet?). It
was intact, but didn't look worth anything. Nobody wanted to bid on it. The
auctioneer was going to say something, when this man got up and came forward.
Without saying anything, he proceeded to tune the violin. When he got it in
tune, he played the most beautiful pieces of music on it. After playing
awhile, he put the violin back down and walked away. You guessed it, the
violin's value picked up quite a bit, and everyone wanted it.

So, is it the equipment or the musician? Can a true master produce a great
sound on a piece of junk? or Is it really up to what you use (intact and at
least playable <g>)?

You can email me, but I am a little behind on reading it, and I'm trying to
decide which list to can. I can tell you Klarinet will _not_be one of them!!
So, please, bear with me if I don't respond right away.

Thanks for your patience. I hope this hasn't bored you by being something
you've seen before.

Loretta

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Loretta Humbert
Clarinelh@-----.com ||||||||Music is from the
heart.||||||||
Charleston Community Band
Charleston, SC
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