Klarinet Archive - Posting 000689.txt from 1998/01

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: A vibrato experiment
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 19:36:58 -0500

Roger Garrett wrote:

>On Wed, 14 Jan 1998, Jonathan Cohler wrote:
>> I have done this experiment hundreds of times in masterclasses (where I ask
>> the entire audience), in lessons, and in casual demonstrations.
>>
>> In EVERY case, people have preferred the vibrato version. Without
>> exception. I do not remember a single instance in which someone said they
>> preferred the vibrato-less version.
>>
>> As you did, I do not tell them what is different up front. And in many
>> cases, as you point out, they do not recognize that it is, in fact, the use
>> of vibrato that makes the passage come alive.
>>
>> This would be a great topic for a master's thesis.
>
>I have had great success with this as well. However, there is a CD of
>Concertino - C.M. von Weber out with a MAJOR recording artist (who I will
>not name) whose vibrato was the exception in the demonstration. The
>audience did NOT prefer the performance.....even though in all other ways
>it was exceptional!

There are certainly bad vibrato's. Not all vibrato's are created equal.
For example, a vibrato that is ever-present and unchanging can be as
annoying as a constant non-vibrato tone. A vibrato that allows the tone to
go out of focus (in classical music) can be annoying. A vibrato that is
too wide or too fast for the context of the music can be annoying.

A good analogy for the non-vibrato / vibrato debate is black and white TV
versus color TV. Or black and white photography versus color photography.
The color version of each has infinitely more possibilities which can be
used and abused. When used well color is always preferred. (That's why
color advertising is so much more effective than black and white
advertising too.)

In my demonstrations, I play a passage twice. Once with straight tone and
once with vibrato (not necessarily in that order). Both times I try to
play it well, with all dynamics, articulation and other markings observed.
I believe that my vibrato is of a nice quality and used only to enhance and
bring forth the musical intentions of the composer while making the music
interesting for the audience to listen to. As I mentioned above the choice
is unanimous.

Therefore, the fact that one performer or other may have an objectionable
vibrato is not an argument against the use of vibrato. No more than a
photographer or painter's poor use of color is an argument against the use
of color in those art forms.

-----------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net