Klarinet Archive - Posting 000957.txt from 2002/06

From: w7wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] New Thing
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 15:32:46 -0400

<><> Dan Leeson wrote:
Joe is quite correct and one could spend considerable time writing about
compositions in which color differences are exploited.

There are two separate issues, and much of the 'argument' is caused by
confusing the two of them. I hear both issues in the current
discussion: (1) Does sound character (color) make a difference? (2)
Do different instruments in the same family actually have different
characters?

When I think about (1), I ask myself: "Would I like this composition on
an accordion or trombone or violin?"

When I think about (2), I think about differences between two
instruments of the same pitch, as well as about instruments of different
pitches. Examples: Bb clarinet with large bore vs. small bore, or a
modern 'nominal C" instrument vs. a period instrument.

I wonder if you could find a period C instrument somewhere whose sound
character (color) came closer to my modern Howarth S2 Bb than (say) an
R-13 Bb does? Probably some performer somewhere has said: "Yes, this
was written for <whatever #1>, but I can come closer with my <whatever
#2> than the <whatever #1>'s that are available now.

????

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=

What is the purpose of a language? =A0 To be beautiful or wise or
pleasurable in itself? Or to describe many different things ---
beautiful or not --- to other people? This is why the question of
whether music is a 'language' is relevant.

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