Klarinet Archive - Posting 001315.txt from 1998/07

From: "Matt C. Palasik" <mattp169@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart and the right clarinet
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 18:47:21 -0400

Bill Hausmann wrote:
>

> >
> Where this argument loses me is that, if we assume he is paying that much
> attention to one individual CLARINET player and his particular sound, we
> must also assume he chose particular keys, even particular notes, to suit
> the tone qualities of each oboist, flutist, trumpeter, horn player,
> bassoonist, even string player, in the WHOLE orchestra, in EACH piece he
> wrote. If so, no wonder he died at 35. The strain killed him!
>
ok well maybe imstretchinh this but if my memory of music history class
serves me corect that even back in Mozarts time ther clarinet was still
a budding instrument it was not as predominant as oboe or flute. I
fthis is the case then the argument still holds water. Because even
today we say everyone has their own unique tone on their particular
instrumentbut there are some general characteristics we all have. For
clarinet players some of us have a darker tone or a more mellow tone but
depending on the situation we can adjust our tone. For example simple
by using a different reed or barrel. I have heard many peoplke state
that if they are platying jazz they will use one setup but if they are
playing in a symphony they will use a different. But if the clarinet
was still a young instrument at the time perhaps the playerso of that
time were unable to adapt their tones as easily as other instrument
players who have been playing instruments that have been around for a
longer time and many more people have studied this instruments in much
more detailed then the c larinet and there fore the players would be
able to adjust their tone for different situations.
In short if at the time the clarinet players available were not as
skilled in controlling their tone as say trumpet players because their
craft had been around longer and therefor could be more refined then
that of the clarinet, then Mozart may have taken that into account and
not felt it neccesary to take each player's tone into consideration.
Because for other instruments the tone had been practiced enough to be
more controlled then thast of a clarinet.

But if my memory has failed and the clarinet had been around longer then
I think at that time. Then my argument doesnt hold ater and I concede.

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