Klarinet Archive - Posting 000533.txt from 1999/06

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Larry combs
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 21:41:01 -0400

> From: MX%"klarinet@-----.88
> Subj: Re: [kl] Larry combs

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> Something that I noticed about Mr. Combs' playing is that his legato
> playing and backswing was consistent. Even in the most technical parts of
> the Debussy and Brahms pieces he never jarred the horn. I got a chance to
> talk to him and he was very nice. There is a summer workshop this summer at
> DePaul, I wish I could go but circumstances will not allow. I think that all
> those who will attend will find that it will be a great experience to work
> with him.
>
> About the clarinet, I know that it is the not the tool that makes you
> sound great all the time. I remember my teacher telling me that in a lesson
> with Mr. Robert Marcellus, Marcellus asked to play his horn. He was amazed
> that Marcellus sounded like himself although it was not his horn. Last
> night was the first time I heard an Opus LeBlanc. I notice some differences
> in the instrument like tone and intonation after hearing Buffet horns all my
> life. Yes I fully understand the Mr. Combs would sound amazing on anything
> even a Kazoo as Mr. Charette put it. But I think the horn was a factor as
> well. I have had my Bb Buffet for 5 years now and I would like to get a new
> horn before going to Graduate School in 2000. I am just going to look at
> other lines of clarinets, now that my Bias attitude has been destroyed.

I must ask questions here because I don't understand what you have
said. You say that you want to get a new horn before going to
graduate school.

Why? Exactly what is wrong with your 5 year old Buffet that causes you
to think you need a new one?

If you had said, "I'm unhappy with the intonation" or "The keywork is
clumsy" or "the instrument has a bad crack" I could understand your
attitude. But all you said was that you have had a Buffet for 5 years
and you want to get a new one.

This allows me to think that the main motivation you have has something
to do with a five year time limit; i.e, "after 5 years one must get a
new instrument because 5 years have passed."

If I am correct, your problem is one of social pressure, not your
5-year old Buffet. But I may have misunderstood you. Perhaps you
do have an objective reason for your decision. But, for the moment,
I'll bet against it. You may think that if you get another instrument,
you will play better, and that is yet to be established. The contrary
could happen. You might play worse.

>
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=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
=======================================

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