Klarinet Archive - Posting 001313.txt from 1998/04

From: "Brian Catchlove" <bcatch@-----.au>
Subj: Re: Concert etiquette (of performers)
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 19:28:35 -0400

>On Tue, 21 Apr 1998, Todd and Lynnette Staley wrote:
>
>> This is certain to get me in deep, but here goes. Do you think that it
is
>> good conduct during a performance to blow water out of your holes as
>> loudly as you possibly can? I know that this is something that needs to
>> be done for tone clarity, however, I wondered what the opinions of others
>> would be. I did see this done recently and had a very strong opinion
>> about the practice. Has anyone else had experience with this in any
>> groups that they have been in? Just food for thought...
>> --
>> Todd & Lynnette Staley
>> email: nette@-----.net
>>
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to play the 1st part of Pines of
Rome for the first time(I am normally 2nd cl. - Queensland Symphony
Orchestra). In the concert I started the solo in the 3rd mvt and what should
happen but a throat "A" with water!!( Panic time). There are 3 beats rest
at the end of the 1st phrase. So what do you do? There is no time to swab or
use cig. papers. A good throat A is critical for the large leaps. My mind
went through a million options in mere seconds. The only feasible option
that came to mind was to blow the water out but try to be discreet. This
proved ineffectual anyway.
Whether this was good or bad conduct was not a consideration at the time.
Playing the music was the major consideration and a little noise seemed like
a small sacrifice to make.
It was quite an experience.
Brian Catchlove