Klarinet Archive - Posting 000483.txt from 1997/01

From: Laurence Liberson <hardreed@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: What's a matched pair
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 12:29:50 -0500

On Fri, 24 Jan 1997 07:06:47 EST, Dan Leeson wrote:

> The term "matched pair" is used as if everyone in the world knows
> what is being spoken of.
>
> All right. I'll volunteer. I don't know what this term means other
> than in the most general sense.
>
> What is a matched pair of instruments? (Careful. I have a weapon!)
>

Hey, Dan...I'll bite!

Actually, "matched pair" is pretty much a misnomer, isn't it?

There are some (not all, for sure) who might attempt to pick out an A
and Bb as a set, hoping to select a pair with somewhat similar
characteristics of sound, response, intonation, etc...much of what is
often a study in futility; the reason being (maybe?) that when "we"
play, "we" like to sound like somewhat the same person, not one with
multiple clarinet personalities.

Then again, it all depends on what you want to match.

Myself? If I really like a horn (and I have my own criteria, as I'm
sure you realize), it's because it plays the way that I (emphasis on
"I") want it to play (ahhh..which may be similar to my others, eh?).

Therefore, I suppose I have a few matched pairs of instruments...

...because they match the spaces in
my cases!

Larry Liberson
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
hardreed@-----.com