Klarinet Archive - Posting 000481.txt from 2002/11

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: Re: [kl] Tone Color -- For Dan
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 23:55:09 -0500

Alan Balter was a wonderful clarinetist and friend of mine in Oberlin,
though he graduated before me, I think back in 1966. He talked quite
often about preferring a "darker" tone than David Weber, who had been
his teacher in NYC way back when. The fact that he used that terminology
influenced me to believe that I personally preferred a "brighter" tone.
I don't care who uses what words. He went on to play Principal Clarinet
in the Atlanta Symphony, and my friend, Larry Guy, who graduated from
Oberlin in 1968, played 2nd clarinet with Alan for a short time. I think
Larry used the term "darker tone" a few times. I don't care. I have
heard many clarinetists play with air-leaks, buzzes and gurgling sounds
that repulsed me. I don't know if their tones were "dark" or "bright". I
have heard advocates of "buzzy", "gurgly" and "airy"tones say that they
were going for a "darker" tone. Good for them. Whatever makes anybody
happy. ANNIE

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