Klarinet Archive - Posting 001108.txt from 1998/04

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: What is a "darker" clarinet tone?
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 15:20:56 -0400

Gene asked quite a question.

Defining a "dark" tone.....hmmmm.......that would be like defining Blue or
Red to a blind person!

However, it might be helpful to list adjectives that seem to go along with
what a perception of a dark tone includes......One that comes to mind for
me is:

Full bodieness......that is, ok to have edge, but backed up by resonance
or fullness that rounds out the edge. The comparison might be the
difference between a full bodied cabrinet or a medium bodied cabrenet.
Further, the difference becomes more glaring when comparing a Merlot to a
Cabrinet.......

The stridency Gene mentioned is viewed (heard!) by many as the core of the
tone without the resonance surrounding it.

Size of sound does not seem to affect "dark" or "bright" - and what I used
to hear as dark (Leister) now seems more of a small tone or narrow tone
(same player).....maybe even "hollow"....but I'm not sure how to describe
it beyond that.

That's a tough one Gene.........

Roger Garrett
IWU