Klarinet Archive - Posting 000163.txt from 2004/11

From: X-MailScanner-tom.henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] Balance
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 18:32:53 -0500

There is a very scientific explanation to an Eb being heard over the
trumpets.

Ernest Ferron explains in his book "The Clarinet Revealed" that the human
ear has a pass filter which favors sound in the frequency range from 500Hz
to 5,000Hz. The ear will tend to hear in this range and it will sound louder
to the listener than sound produced in a lower or higher sound frequency
even if the decibel level is the same. He specifically used this explanation
for the sound of the Piccolo and why it is so easy to hear it above an
orchestra. I would imagine that this would also apply to an Eb clarinet in
the upper register.

Tom Henson

<< Speaking of balance, my clarinet teacher played an awesome Eb clarinet.
He was also quite proud of the volume he could produce (but never louder
than lovely!). He told me about one time when the conductor of the
orchestra (a good professional orchestra) he played Principal Clarinet in
asked to him to play his Eb part a little softer because he was drowning out
the trumpets.

Ginny Scarfino >>

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