 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-03-23 06:00
Hi all! The other day while playing through a solo piece in rehearsal I was told that I sounded just like Marcellus. Due to so many oppinions on "sound," I asked if this was good or bad. The individual who made the comment said that if one were to close their eyes while I was playing, they would say that Mr. Marcellus was 'back in town' and left it at that.
Now, in an effort to learn a little more than I know about Robert Marcellus, I've learned that due to his bout with Diabetes it was as though he had to rediscover his embouchure everytime he played. I couldn't imagine!
All of you 'seasoned' clarinetists out there possibly having know Mr. Marcellus far better than I would, how would you take this comment? I'm still not sure if this was a compliment or not. (I took it that way, I think.) : )
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2003-03-23 15:17
PJ,
If you did a search of this bboard or the Klarinet remailer (using just his name) , you'd probably have more reading material on the subject than you would be able to digest in an entire month of Sundays.
Happy reading!
Gregory Smith
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-03-23 15:29
Surprising that you got to sound like him without ever hearing about him.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-03-23 17:32
It is best to work at your own individual sound. Although it is a nice compliment--- don't let this you missle you...work towards your own tonal objectives. sounding like your someone ealse does not mean so great a thing if you want to have your own musical identity......
David Dow
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-03-23 22:31
yeah, well someone once told me I sound like Pee Wee Russell. I didn't know how to take that. So long as they don't say you sound like Acker Bilk you are doing OK.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-03-23 22:47
I once had someone tell me I sounded like Marcellus Wallace. Is that bad?
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-03-23 23:00
.........or was that Wynton Marcellus (sic)
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-03-23 23:00
Oh I've heard him plenty of times on his recording of the Mozart Concerto and other recordings, I just don't know much about him as a person. However, I know a couple of people who didn't like his sound at all (older clarinetists). I've never tried to sound like him, it just happened. Personally I don't think I do. Just curious to see how each of you would have taken the comment. Considering he was more famous than I've ever been, I was flattered to say the least.
Gregory Smith, thanks for the tip on the reading material! When I've got some extra time on my hands, I'll go through the threads.
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2003-03-24 05:40
Both Marcellus and Wright had what was the ideal sound for their time, i think it was the legacy of Bonade, very resonant and pure, some would characterize it as glassy (i.e., the sort of strong resonance you get when you rub the edge of a good wine glass). They had wonderful pitch sensitivity and hardly ever hit a note that didn't sound absolutely perfect. While standards of pitch are as high as ever among the top pros, I sense that the tide has changed and the ideal is shifting to a tone that has a different sound. Perhaps I could call if more woody or something with more of an acerbic or plangent edge to it, but then I would be exposing myself to a lot of abuse, so I will just say I like Larry Combs sound a lot.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-03-24 12:20
In my book, Marcellus and Wright still have the ideal sounds. Each has a slightly different character, but wonderful in their own way. I have yet to find anyone I would prefer to hear or emulate.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-03-24 17:16
The Atlanta Clarinet Association just had a master class with Arthur Campbell, a prize student of Marcellus and noted soloist, teacher, and Yamaha artist (thanks to Yamaha for sponsoring the event). He gave us a full day of his own anecdotes on Marcellus and the Marcellus method of teaching. A favorite - Marcellus overhearing his students critique his playing of K622 with all chiming in when he was noticed - "but excellent". Arthur indicated that Marcellus encouraged his students to develop their own "tone" once they mastered his techniques of developing the embouchure, conformation of the oral cavity, and keeping a constant air column while playing. Marcellus was teaching students even after retiring from performance and losing his sight. He had a codified list of elements that he expected his students to address during their study with him but all in all he was a flexible and compassionate teacher (r.e. Campbell). Arthur said that he could diagnose problems with embouchure just from the sound made by the student without his sight - a truly amazing feat. Marcellus even conducted orchestras after listening to the individual parts of each instrument and with a reader interpreting the written score.
The Doctor
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-03-24 19:17
Art Campbell and I played in the NB Youth Orchestra many years ago......(14 years ago that is) He ended up a solist and I an orchestral clarinetist....one thing is for sure he is a brilliant player!!!
David Dow
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