Klarinet Archive - Posting 000067.txt from 2001/04

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] REsponse to Stewart
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 04:30:02 -0400

At 11:58 AM 4/4/01 -0800, you wrote:
>We have a responsibility to the music. I am confident that you feel that
>also. Those responsibilities force us into constant questioning about why
>and how we are doing things. A paid performer cannot take the position
>that "some people like asparagus and some don't," or at least I
>suggest that the paid performer should not do that with respect to how
>s/he plays.

This is more philosophical than it is helpful in terms of vibrato. But -
to be fair - where in any of the Mozart scores does it suggest the use of
vibrato? Just to be wild about it - let's include everything he ever
wrote.........

That should give us a starting point.

Now, let's add to that anything written down from that time period that
refers to vibrato being used on clarinet, basset clarinet, basset horn or
anything clarint-like and discuss that too...........

I guess I would ask Dan Leeson to respond to that especially - because of
the continued discussion of having a responsibility to the music for use of
vibrato on the clarinet.

>As an example, I mention Vladimir Horowitz, an extraordinary technician
>who could do anything on the piano, but one who, in my opinion, had no
>musical idea of what he was doing. And that is because, whenever he
>approached a piano, all he had was 7 tons of technique and no
>understanding of the music he was about to perform.

Could I ask what you thought of Toscanini? Afterall, Horowitz married his
daughter - and Toscanini, considered a superb musician and judge of
musicians by many, used Horowitz frequently.

>But I suggest that before anyone uses or refuses to use vibrato on a
>clarinet, there is a great deal of personal baggage that has to be thrown
>away, and a serious investigation made of the purpose, use, and character
>of the technique.

This is wonderful advice. But it really has nothing to do with if someone
enjoys listening to vibrato in a performance of a work - or even more
specifically, if they don't like the WAY vibrato is used - not just the use
of vibrato.

>See, no acrimony. Two nice people expressing their views on something.

Yup.

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett - the non-guilty feeling, modern basset horn user

Roger Garrett
Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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