Klarinet Archive - Posting 000993.txt from 2000/01

From: "J. Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] RE: (kl) horn
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 21:06:43 -0500

First, as I mentioned in an earlier incarnation of this subject, most
conductors/directors use the term "horn" generically, to refer to
everybody's instrument. It's somewhat simplier than, "Get your piccolo,
flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, sax, ... etc. and move to the stage."

Second, the root of clarinet is clarion, which was an early type of
trumpet/horn that had (I'm told) a gratingly shrill tone.

Third, as with any profession, slang terms creep into the language. Most
people aren't sufficiently pedantic to insist on formal languange in casual
conversation. I would think that particularly applies to discussion on a
internet list devoted to the clarinet, dispite some of the bizzare side
subjects that pop up.) I've found that people who insist on that level of
formality are either slightly delusional or want people to think they're
much grander than they actually are.

Finally, it doesn't really matter. That's especially true when everyone
knows what you're talking about. In a community of clarinet players, it's
highly unlikely that if someone refers to his "horn," that he's talking
about his contrabassoon. It's the unusual that requires clarification; not
the usual.

(BTW, the same observations, in general, cover my opinion about the quibble
over the register/octave key. I've heard teachers, students, professional
clarinetists, and conductors refer to it as the octave key. As I said, it
doesn't really matter. We all know the "horn" overblows in 12ths. That's a
matter of physics. You can call it a French fry without changing that
function. It's best to not make mountains out of the cleanings from a lint
filter.)

Jim Hobby

--------------- ORIGINAL MESSAGE -------------

>From: "Rien Stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
>Subject: horn
>Message-ID: <000301bf69c6$6fd60000$c9846dc2@-----.nl>
>
>Why do you American guys always speak of a horn where obviously a clarinet
>is meant? To me a horn is such a round-wound brass instrument with valves.
>
>Would anybody on this list please be so kind, and tell me?
>
>TIA
>
>Rien

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