Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 2005/04

From: "Dan Leeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Test results
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 14:19:46 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Lelia Loban [mailto:lelialoban@-----.net]
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 10:43 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] Test results

LELIA WRITES:

However, after seeing what was in the test, I don't think it could
accomplish the stated purpose, because there are way too many variables
*besides* the players' nationalities. The musicians play composers who
write in vastly different styles, who come from all over the globe, and who
live in different historical periods, too. Some of the players share their
composer's nationality; others don't. The size and type of the ensemble
varies. Moreover, as some people have mentioned on the list, volunteers
downloaded these files on miscellaneous computers with miscellaneous
software and then listened on miscellaneous good, bad and indifferent sound
systems.

AND NOW DAN WRITES:

Lelia, I see your comment as 20-20 hindsight. The argument that was under
examination was the a national sound existed. German players were capable
of being identified by the German national sound character, and it did not
matter what they played. da capo ad nauseam for American, French, and
English players.

Now you change the rules that you had no hand in setting up and that were
unambiguously specified. Of course the players play the music of composers
who wrote in vastly different styles.

Comments were made that the more astute listener could detect the
nationality of the player independent of what was being played. It sounds to
me that you suggest identification of a German player should be done by
having him play "Ach du lieber Augustine." No madame, it was suggested that
a German player could be identified by the character of his/her playing no
matter who the composer was.

Now you are welcome to believe whatever you wish, but the argument was about
sound character independent of composition style or type. It was alleged
that players in France sound differently from player, say, in America and it
was even seriously suggested that this was due to the way they spoke.

What I hear from you is the same thing I heard after the Shroud of Turin was
tested for age. When it failed the test, those who were not in agreement
with the answer suggested that the test was biased because it did not test
the right thing.

DNL

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