Klarinet Archive - Posting 000320.txt from 2003/09

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] C clarinet intonation problems
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 09:54:01 -0400

Forest Aten wrote:

> Clarinets are machines....and can be quantified.
> It's the player that is difficult to put in a box.....
>
> Forest Aten
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ormondtoby Montoya" <ormondtoby@-----.net>
> To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 7:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [kl] C clarinet intonation problems
>
>
> Dan Leeson wrote:
>
> I find myself being unable to understand this assertion. Nancy says on
> one hand that the Selmer instruments are of good quality. But then she
> goes ahead to suggest that they don't play well for her. And as a
> consequence of this, she avoids purchasing one.
>
>
>
> ....but isn't this the standard advice, Dan? You must play the
> instrument before you buy, you must decide if you like the way it plays
> and feels, your decision should not be made on the basis of intellect
> alone.
>
> I don't see Nancy's statement as "unfounded bias" when she says "This
> isn't the one for me. It may have silver keys and undercut tone holes,
> and I can't point to a particular note and claim the intonation is
> bad.... BUT.... it just isn't the instrument for me."
>
> I bought my clarinet used. It really felt good to me, and when I asked
> the previous owner "Why are you selling this?", the answer was: "It
> doesn't have the 'magic' that this other one [I forget which brand]
> has."
>
> So far as I can tell, that's what Nancy is saying. She did not accuse
> Selmer of anything in particular, their instruments just don't work for
> her. Isn't this the proper and the only 100% satisfactory way to
> choose an instrument (mouthpiece, etc)? Just as music can't be
> quantitified, instruments can't either.... so long as we're not talking
> about absolute junkers such as WalMart specials.
>

On the contrary. You and I are interpreting her comments quite
differently. She did NOT say that she tried a number of instruments and
found them wanting. The context of her comments was entirely one that
implied her unwillingness to even try them. What she said was that she
can't play Selmer clarinets. And what that says to me is that she has
no recent contact with them, dismissing them out of hand without trying
them.

I am waiting to hear what Nancy says. It was her statement on which I
asked for an explanation. If she says that she tried them and didn't
like them, that's OK with me. But that is not what I think we will hear.

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

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