Klarinet Archive - Posting 000707.txt from 2002/06

From: "James Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Vibrato REDUX
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 00:08:29 -0400

Daniel Lesson -- I think. This thread has gotten a bit confusing. I think
you took Jeremy to task for my message.

(Part of my original message:)

>Stoltzman, I can do without very well. I have never liked his sound. I
>have a personal aversion to vibrato in classical clarinet performance. I
>won't buy his recordings. He played in Nashville with the NSO a couple of
>years ago. A friend who teaches middle school band took his clarinet
>section to the concert, and said he regreted it; hoping that they wouldn't
>try to copy Stoltzman's sound.

Then, you said, in part:

> But unless someone
> is prepared to be more specific, objective, and rational, expressions
> about "not liking xxx's vibrato" just don't represent either anything
> more than a particular personal opinion or a statement about clarinet
> sound orthodoxy.

A "particular personal opinion" is all I ever intended it to be. I said _I_
have never _LIKED_ his sound. I said that _I_ have a _PERSONAL AVERSION_ to
vibrato in classical clarinet performance. It has nothing to do with his
playing double lip. I don't care if he uses three lips. _I_ do not
_PERSONALLY_ find his sound pleasant. Listening to him play reminds me of a
quote from a movie: You can get a manicure by scratching your nails down a
blackboard, but it's not something I recommend.

If his sound annoys me, then my best bet is not to buy what he records,
especially when I can find recordings by people who have a tone that I
enjoy. I don't want to always be "specific, objective, and rational." It
is simply a "particular personal opinion," and to me everything doesn't have
to be tied to a reasonable degree of musical certainty, based on the value
on a tempered scale at 70 degrees F, or any other terribly grandiose
academic survey. I don't understand why, but it seems to upset some people
on the list if you can't state scientific support for every statement made.
It tends to take the "pleasure" out of music. (I have no problem with
vibrato in jazz or big band performance, btw. This is a no more
inconsistent position than the fact that I like cheese on macaroni but not
on a potato.)

Again, that's my "particular personal opinion."

Jim Hobby

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