Klarinet Archive - Posting 000771.txt from 1997/08

From: elspeth4@-----.com
Subj: Re: doubling instruments, timbre, vibrato
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:08:55 -0400

I am inclined to believe that doubling is a personal thing. It is, as has
been noted on this list, very helpful for serious musicians, but I think
that it's for anyone who's interested in having a wide variety of musical
experiences. After all, that's how I ended up playing the clarinet. I
consider doubling to be time-consuming, but music is my only major
extra-curricular activity, so i manage to make time to practice both
flute and clarinet. I started doubling when I was in eighth grade and
had only been playing flute for three years, and I now play on a fairly
high level for both instruments.

Regarding the discussion over the word "timbre", I've never heard anyone
pronounce it "timber". I always believed it was pronouced "tamber". My
dictionary, however, indicates that "tamber" is preferred but "timber" is
also correct. So to put that subject at rest, we now have the correct
spelling and two correct pronunciations. (I live in Albuquerque, so the
country arguments don't apply.)

I understand why vibrato is constantly under discussion on this list, but
sometimes I wonder why everyone is so concerned about it. Personally, I
find a good "straight" clarinet sound so beautiful that I wouldn't want
to try to put vibrato in it.

Just my $.02

Alexis

"You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge
and come out completely dry. Most people do."
--The Phantom Tollbooth