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Klarinet Archive - Posting 000006.txt from 2006/06

From: John Dablin <jdablin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] ebony and ivory
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:52:15 -0400

On Thursday 01 Jun 2006 22:12, Rien Stein wrote:
[ snip ]
> But I wondered suddenly about the Ebony and Ivory Duo. Does it mean
> this duo (clarinet and piano?) is made up from a white and a black
> man? And if so, why stress the difference in skin colour? I have many
> thoughts about it, but I would like to hear your explanation.

[ snip ]

My guess is this: ebony = black wood, i.e. clarinet (consider Stravinsky
"Ebony Concerto").
Ivory = piano, from the days when piano keys were made from ivory.
"Tickle the ivories" is slang for play the piano, usually implying a
jazz or swing idiom. Hence this is a clarinet and piano duo.

Am I right Fred?

John Dablin
Aylesbury UK

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