Klarinet Archive - Posting 000079.txt from 2004/11

From: <duffyl@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] Balance
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 12:28:26 -0500

I feel very strongly that some people don't understand the concept of
balance
also retains the ideal of whether or not some parts predominate or not.
Once again
there is a very simple element...a conductor in most cases is the person
responsible
for what should and should not be prominate....

Strauss serenades and performance style of these works does not answer one
iota
the point that the question poses...what is a proper balance for a given
group...etc.
In fact, does this mean if 32 trumpets play high C ForteForte a clarinet can
be heard
on his high C...

the answer is no...

A group of wind instruments must be balanced and when melodic parts emerge
they must
of course be heard. There are all kinds of instances where groups of
certain instrumentation
can play with proper balance, but performers with no control or little
technique on Brass
play loudly.

Conductors like John Elliot Gardiner(who I played under) look for a certain
type of sound
and it not always the same from one piece to another. What I am posing is a
performer on clarinet
(which is not a loud instrument) will naturally want to hear himself
play...when one has an improper
blaring Brass section which plays non-melodic material too loudly natually
they will be
unhappy.

I also know that expecting an open discussion may be too difficult for some
and resorting
to silly insults about grammatical skills a common reflex of the over driven
egoism of some.

David Dow
Ensemble of Clarinetists tired of Academic Snobbery

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