Klarinet Archive - Posting 001146.txt from 2003/06

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Electronic Acoustical Performance (Warning: Only
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 17:47:05 -0400

At 09:27 AM 6/29/2003 -0400, Karl Krelove wrote:
>Warning: the following rant is about music performance, not limited to
>clarinet.
>
>Bill,
>
>Your tag-line, which has been at the bottom of your posts for as long as I
>can remember, came to mind last month as I listened to our high school jazz
>band perform at its final concert of the school year. Thus, you've inspired
>the following ("If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO
>LOUD!"), although I am clearly not complaining to or about you in any way...

>...My bottom line is this question for anyone who cares to comment: Why should
>I go to (and pay for) a live performance of what should be (at one time WAS)
>acoustical music if all I am permitted to hear is an electronic effect that
>is simply a bigger, louder version of the stereo equipment I have in my
>living room? At least in my living room MY fingers are on the volume
>control.

This is, of course, EXACTLY my point! Trumpets are inherently loud
instruments, and the saxophone was invented primarily to provide a woodwind
voice that could match it. If you amplify BOTH of them, plus the trombones
and rhythm, it is very easy to overpower an audience, even in a
stadium-size environment. The hired sound engineers you usually wind up
with are:
1.) Used to the sound levels that seem to be thought necessary by the rock
music community, and
B.) Deaf from the sound levels they use for the rock music community, and
3.) Given the responsibility to balance music they do not
understand. They literally do not know what it is SUPPOSED to sound like!

The result seems to be, all too commonly, sax sections that disappear,
trumpets that blare at jet-engine volume, and earth-shaking, muddy bass
trying to drown everything else out.

Yes, with a qualified technician, it IS possible to improve the sound of a
band with a little judicious balancing, and solo spotlighting is nice. I
played a big-band gig recently at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in
Mt. Pleasant, MI. We had a professional sound man who worked the site
regularly (the same big room where the name entertainment plays, although
we were doing a private party). He did a nice job, and by providing us
with monitor speakers so we could hear ourselves better, made the job very
enjoyable to play. If only they could ALL be like that!

Still, for the most part, I think amplification is WAY overused in
music. We need to return to acoustic music. We need high school jazz band
UNPLUGGED!

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is supported by Woodwind.Org, http://www.woodwind.org/