Klarinet Archive - Posting 000747.txt from 2002/11

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Centred tone
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 23:59:35 -0500

In practical terms, it means a tone that is clear - i.e. not mixed with air
or "fuzz," gurgles, etc.. After that the definition, which in my experience
gets used interchangeably with "focused," gets murkier and closer to the
"dark/bright" problem. It metaphorically describes tone by comparing it to a
visual image. We all know what a blurred, unfocused image looks like - look
through a camera or a projected image with a variable focus and you can
bring the image in and out of focus with a turn of the lens. The metaphor is
meant to apply that sensation to sound.

The problem, when using it in an ad or on a forum aimed at a large,
disparate audience (like a newsgroup or listserve), is that we all think, or
at least hope, that we produce a clear, "centered," "focused" sound, at
least unless we "spread" it deliberately. An extreme example of a
deliberately "spread" sound is the tone that results from the throat changes
we make to execute the gliss in Rhapsody In Blue or any other long "smear."
But before it gets that obvious, lots of tone qualities are "spread" or not
"centered" by some players' definitions that are perfectly well "focused" by
others' standards.

Again, like "dark," it isn't necessarily that the term totally lacks
meaning, but that its meaning varies so widely that, once you've gotten an
idea in your ear of what it means to you, you still won't know what it means
to anyone else who uses the term - unless your discussion is taking place
within a group that has developed a common understanding. This tends mostly
to happen, by the way, at least in my experience, among groups of players
who have been influenced by a particular teacher or local orchestral style.
Players who've spent significant parts of their lives hearing (and learning
to admire) mostly the XYZ Orchestra wind section, for instance, have
understandings of "focused," "spread," "centered," and even "dark" that may
not be the same as those of players who have grown up or developed under a
very different influence.

When any of these terms pops up in an ad, all it can really convey is that
you should try the instrument/mouthpiece/reed for yourself and see whether
it makes it easy or difficult for you to achieve the sound you want.

...Ducking quickly again behind the parapet to avoid the barrage!

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Dablin [mailto:johnd@-----.com]
> Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 2:50 PM
>
> I must be feeling a little mischievous tonight, as this one might run and
> run, like d*** s***. However, I would like to know...
>
> I've seen lots of references on the list and in manufacturer's
> advertising
> about "centred tone", but I haven't a clue what it means. None of the
> (admittedly small) sample of clarinet players I know ever uses the term.
>
> Would anyone like to put their head above the parapet and risk a
> definition?
>
>
>

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