Klarinet Archive - Posting 000283.txt from 1998/01

From: "reedy" <mwhight@-----.uk>
Subj: RE The Darkside
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 08:19:27 -0500

Dear NYSAP
Interesting that someone complained that your sound was too dark and that
you should be aiming for more eeeeeeee. Over here in the UK we are trying
for a focused ahh!

Perhaps this is a linguistic thing (two nations divided by a single language
and all that!).

In my experience the performer always hears more top end when he/she is
playing and if you listen to playbacks the sound is either too "tubby" or a
little flat - flat tones always sound darker.

Personally I find the problem with the eeeeeeee approach is that you can
find only
one sound because the sound is generally squeezed out.If you are looking for
tonal variety for me this approach is an absolute no no.

Sounds to me that you should ignore the advice coming at you!

Also this subject goes back to something I was saying earlier about global
sounds. I bet most people are encouraged to play on mostly the same kind of
set-up-Buffet clarinet with either a French or US mp.

I also bet if there were more toerance more people would choose other
possibilities;

Schmidt clarinets
Hammerschmidt clarinets
E.J.Albert Clarinets
Peter Eaton Clarinets
Wurlitzers
Boosey & Hawkes

and many others

In this way playing styles would become more individual as they once were
before industry standards became necessary. This is no more apparent that
with the advent of the Steinway Grand as the predominant concert piano
sound. It has virtually killed off the memory of other piano sounds and only
now that people are playing fortepianos and early pianofortes are memories
being reawakened.

With a bit of luck cultural diversity and tolerance will come to the fore
again in the clarinet world. By the way, what types of clarinet were used in
the States before Buffet moved in?

I should add that I have nothing against Buffet clarinets and that I play on
them myself although I am trying to find something a little different.

I've tried

Buffet
selmer
Leblanc
Yamaha
Wurlitzer
Albert
B&H
Hammershmidt
Howarth
Peter Eaton

but so far no luck so any other suggestions would be welcome.

Michael Whight