Klarinet Archive - Posting 000775.txt from 1996/03

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Nate Burk and innocence
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 07:01:17 -0500

Nate writes "What I like about the clarinet so much is its clear,
innocent, warm sound. While vibrato can add character if used correctly,
more often than not it will take away from the innocence of the
clarinet sound that we all love so much."

Well, of course, Nate can hear in the sound of the clarinet anything
he wishes or any emotion that his taste finds as contained in the
character of the sound.

On the other hand, (and this is simply an expression of my own taste
and preference, not necessarily a statement of truth), I find the
clarinet's sound to be lusty, erotic, sensual, passionate, and
earthy, the very antithesis of innocent.

It is because I find the character of the sound so sexual, that I
find its passionate character is diminished when played without
vibrato.

The use of vibrato is likened to the tremors one might feel in
a sensual situation. I may be a lot older than I was when I first
felt sexual urges, but I would tremble with passion under certain
circumstances. That passion is not dissimilar to the feelings
I have when I would play the Brahms quintet (whose slow movement
is erotic conversation at its most lusty) and to play it without
physical trembling, simulated by vibrato, one would have to be made
out of concrete.

There is nothing innocent to my ears in the Mozart quintet, the
Schubert octet, the Reger quintet, the Hindemith concerto, the
Corigliano concerto, etc. These are hot, lusty, play-it-naked
pieces.

Innocent???? Hand me my whip!! Bring on the absinthe. No
thin-blooded, pursed-lipped innocents for me. I want to see
and feel the heat of passion in my music. I want to burn up
and smoke. Excuse me for being vulgar, but I don't think that
great clarinet playing (and music in general) comes from the
heart. It comes from the crotch!!

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