Klarinet Archive - Posting 000794.txt from 1996/03

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: Vibrato & Eb
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 14:38:17 -0500

Jacqueline,
I've played alot of Eb in wind Ens, band, and orchestra and I've
never used vibrato. On Bb that's different - I add a very small touch
sometimes (very small) and bass I don't use it. One lesson I did with Bil
Jackson, I used some on some orch excerpt (something slow - can't
remember). Did he wake up. Bil's a very devoted Marcellus follower and
vibrato isn't part of the picture. I judge my use on who I'm playing with
or for. It's a nice touch in moderation.
Speaking of Eb. I have a R-13 Buffet and I've developed a nice
trick to help tune the left hand 2nd register (A,Bb,B,C). I play them
without the register key! You have to hold the pitch with a steady air
flow. I can play runs and take off or put on the register key in the
passage. An interesting story - I was at the OK clarinet conf a couple of
years ago and a guy was trying some D clarinets. He bought one so I
started talking to him. His name escapes me but he was the Eb for either
Dallas or Houston. I mentioned this idea and he tried it, couldn't believe
it, and thanked me. I've used this in the slow duets in the Rite of
Spring, along with trill fingerings for some of the 3rd register notes and
never had trouble with the tuning. Has anyone else discovered this trick?
I did get the ultimate Eb compliment from a band director in
Toronto when Ohio State band was on tour. He said that "When the Eb wasn't
needed, I couldn't hear it, and when it was needed, it was right there".
Most of the time I try to blend and balance in the band. The correct
balance is 1 Eb to 1 full band. I feel that I have so much power when I'm
on Eb and it takes a great amount of self control not to crank the thing.

Dan

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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us

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