Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 1997/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Leeson's query on different sounds of Clarinets
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 19:29:59 -0400

On Wed, 8 Oct 1997, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

> Honest Roger, I have no intentions of perpetuating this discussion
> interminably but the fact that you "received several nice notes
> from professors at several universities, one stating, 'we all know
> there are characteristics to the Leblanc tone that are unique to
> Leblanc, so do not feel as though have to stop writing to the
> listserv on this issue'" is not a compelling argument.

Sure it is....the opinion of any professional is a compelling
arguement...just as your opinion is. Experience in performance and
information derived from such experience is compelling! Does the
student ask the private teacher for a footnoted report showing proof when
the teacher states an opinion about clarinets and clarinet performance?
Of course not..........that is not to say you personally have to accept
such information as truth or not......you can draw your own conclusions
without having to say that everyone should draw the same conclusion as you
do!

> I know. I know. They are not reliable with respect to this question,
> though you certainly quoted the marketing department of Leblanc on
> this issue as if their opinion on anything could be accepted as
> Sinaitic.

I did not quote Leblanc...where did I do that? Did I misrepresent myself?
I explained that a Leblanc Rep......a university professor who was a
superb clarinet artist/teacher, Robert Vagner, used to demonstrate the
differences in sounds......and you know....he preferred the Buffets! He
still recommended Leblancs.....but warned folks about the unique sounds
they produced.

> In an attempt to calm troubled waters, let me suggest that I am
> perfectly well prepared to state that what you say may very well
> be true. But I have not heard anything substantive that leads
> me in that direction.

And that is ok! Maybe you are not at a point in your playing or career
where you need to think about it much, nor maybe you don't care if it is
true or not. But......consider...when a high school student or college
student reads here that SOMEONE believes there is a unique Leblanc sound,
they might scrutinize more carefully, ask more questions when they visit
Leblanc....etc etc....that is precisely why we have a listserv...to help
stimulate thought...not necessarily to prove that what we say is the
absolute fact.

>All I hear is the big step that Lee Gibson took after he measured
> Buffet's polycylindrical bore and your suggestion that all the experts
> are telling you that every knows something to be the case.

Gosh....and I thought you were saying that you were testing me to see if I
had used my noggin before going to the keyboard....I must have misread
your last statement to the listserv!

> I would hope that technical truth requires a greater mandate
> than that to establish itself.
>
> Peace??

Of course peace.........remember....I still remember how you conducted the
Gran Partitta at Michigan in 1988!!! *wink* Thanks for the note......!

Roger Garrett