Klarinet Archive - Posting 000172.txt from 2007/03

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Dark/bright sounds
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 16:25:23 -0400

In 1995, I wrote a piece for Stan Geidel, entitled "That Nice
Dark Sound." I tried to find it on the clarinet archives but I'm
not very proficient in doing that. I have a copy of the piece
but only in paper format.

With the article, I extracted just a few of the various uses of
"dark sound" on postings made on Klarinet, some as early as 1990.
For example, "The vamp contour [of Vandoren V-12 reeds]
contributes to a large, dark sound, just right for orchestral
playing." Another said, "I play on a Harris silver [ligature].
It is very good, generates a nice dark sound and is very
responsive." A third said, "I have been using the Rovner
[ligature] for 8 years now and I have always felt that it gave me
a dark sound."

It goes on and on, with a variety of often contradictory
statements about how this or that item allows players to have a
nice dark sound. Even manufacturers talked in this way as seen in
the advertsing literature of LeBlanc who said that the 350
contra-alto clarinet has a "deep, dark resonance and clear tone
quality."

I too am anxious to hear what Tony has to say on this matter. He
generally provides good and thoughtful input.

But if some has that piece calle "That Nice Dark Sound," I'd
appreciate it if they can post it, because it shows the breadth
of confusion that exists about the use of statements of that
nature.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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