Klarinet Archive - Posting 001035.txt from 1999/09

From: "Timothy Tinnirello" <timtin66@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cheese and clarinets
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 11:30:08 -0400

There are some clarinet players who probably sound a little "goat flavored"
Heck there are times I think I sound "goat flavored"

Tim T.

>From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: [kl] Cheese and clarinets
>Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 08:21:32 -0700
>
>I love cheese, particularly cheddar. I can make an entire meal out
>of a good Vermont or Canadian Black Diamond cheddar and a piece of
>bread. Unfortunately, due to the high fat content of cheddar
>cheeses coupled with the state of my arterial system, I rarely eat
>it any longer. Sadly, a bowl of mushy oatmeal with a spoon standing up
>in it does not make a satisfactory substitute.
>
>So what does this have to do with clarinet playing? Be patient.
>I'll get there. Besides, the older I get, the longer it takes me
>to get to the point. Just last week I fell asleep in the middle of
>one of my own stories, so not-to-the-point had it become.
>
>At least 4, perhaps 5 years ago, there was a lengthy discussion on
>this list about the character of clarinet sound. Like many
>enlightening discussions, there were viewpoints expressed that
>often demonstrated totally opposing views. That's good. That's
>positive. When we all start to think exactly alike, we're in
>trouble.
>
>The central issue was about the vocabulary used to describe the
>character of clarinet sound. I wrote a piece in which, using only
>the terminology taken from the LeBlanc clarinet catalog,
>clarinet sound was described as being "mature, rich, clear,
>youthful, flexible, deep, mellow, with definition, having
>roundness, having remarkable character and center, is full-bodied,
>full-throated, fat, flexible, responsive, warm, robust, dark,
>beautiful, and solid."
>
>Others felt with equal intensity that such a vocabulary could serve
>a useful purpose in dealing with a subject as ephemeral as clarinet
>sound character.
>
>End of story. And now, back to both cheese and the point (if I can
>remember what it was).
>
>Today's NY Times had an article about the nip of autumn coming to
>Vermont. That's a very romantic subject for those of us in the
>Western part of the U.S.; i.e., the trees turning colors, the maple
>syrup to begin in flow into buckets as soon as it turns really
>cold, the horse and sleigh Currier and Ives Christmas cards, skiing
>in Stowe, cuddling on a hay ride with your honey, etc.
>
>The reason behind the article was to point out how the nip of
>autumn affects the production of Vermont's great cheddar cheeses.
>I read the story a couple of times, tears coming to my eyes as I
>remember the pleasures of a Grafton Extra Sharp cheddar.
>
>And then I saw it: the vocabulary used to describe the character of
>Vermont's various cheddar cheeses. I thought I was reading a
>clarinet catalog: the cheeses are described as firm, creamy, round
>with a clear finish, robust, very sharp, strong, acidic, pleasant,
>and with great complexity. Only one description could not be
>applied to the character of clarinet sound: "goat flavored."
>
>The next time someone suggests that one should get clarinet X in
>order to obtain a robust, dark sound, I am going to recommend that
>they buy a Vermont cheddar cheese and, after making a mortise,
>stick a mouthpiece in and see how it sounds (or perhaps how it
>tastes or smells).
>
>So, "sounding like a goat" does not necessarily have to be a
>negative statement when applied to clarinet players. That could be
>the natural sound of a "Sugarbush Farm Goat Milk Cheddar."
>
>I think I have stated my point but I'm not really sure because I
>fell asleep 5 minutes ago.
>
>Zzzzzz.
>=======================================
>Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
>leeson@-----.edu
>=======================================
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
>Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
>Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
>Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org
>

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org