Author: msloss
Date: 2005-04-13 03:52
Looking forward to the notes! Actually Ken, I didn't know he made any comments about Backun at the symposium (I was rehearsing with Nuccio during that part of the session), but I do know his opinion regarding the bells in particular. When you cut through the posturing, the essence of what Guy asserts is that the amount of improvement you get from the Backun barrels and bells is out of proportion to the price paid. Who knows, Mr. Backun might have the same thing to say about Guy's clarinets.
In the end, I think Guy's message is pretty much the same as most other professionals, which is don't look at these toys as a cure-all for what ails your playing. The only thing that will get you there is good technique and good practice. If the toys help carry you a little bit further after you invest the effort, terrific. We've all heard classic recordings of (or studied with) Marcellus, Gigliotti, Bonade, Cahuzac, etc., and they have absolutely gorgeous tones and stunning technique, and they did it with what today would be considered pretty basic equipment.
David, they all have agendas, which would be to promote their products and services. None of these guys would come out and give of their time and expertise if they didn't have an axe to grind or something to gain from the exercise. At Selmer day they had a whole panel basically explaining one by one why Buffet clarinets were limiting them as musicians and how Selmer freed the beast, so to speak. I've heard several artists knock the Tosca now by saying "Wow, Buffet finally succeeded in making a Selmer". 'Tis the nature of the business. The competition and conflict is healthy and ends up improving the resources we have available to us.
Let us all bask in the diversity of instruments and toys available to us. It strips away every last excuse a player has and leaves him or her with the basics -- fundamentals, practice, listen, practice, study, practice, practice, practice, practice.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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