Klarinet Archive - Posting 000511.txt from 2003/06

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] vibrato
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 17:20:00 -0400

Alexander Brash wrote:

"Anyone who's still against all vibrato in "legit" playing...pick any of
Charlie Neidich's or Jonathan Cohler's recordings. Listen to them, and then
tell me with a straight face that they sound heinous and that the vibrato is
horrible and is destroying the performance. Dismissing something out of
hand, without experimenting yourself, is silly. If you have a teacher that
says not to do it, challenge them on it, make them explain why it isn't
good, then (and they'll inevitably fail) experiment yourself anyway and
decide if YOU like it."

While I am not only sympathetic to what is said here, but have been a
proponent of vibrato for years, I make the suggestion that offering
something that one likes as evidence for its universal use, is not an
effective argument. Those who dislike vibrato will hate it in the
recordings that Brash offers to endear them to it.

Trying to prove that something is good or bad by asking someone to
listen to what you think is good or bad, has a small chance of working.
Its too subjective an appoach and too easily dismissed. Typical: "Well I
listened to those recording and I think they stink." It's an argument
that is easy to make and impossible to counter. "You think it stinks?
Well I think you stink. And your mother wears army boots!!"

And so it goes. Arguments need to be far more objective to get anywhere.

--
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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