 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2006-03-17 13:56
I once played in a community band that had a principal clarinet player who played in a normal way during rehearsals, but at public performances she would take on a new, outrageous personality. She would play her clarinet side-saddle, with her right elbow WAY behind her and the clarinet pointed far to the right and back....like she was playing a tenor sax. Not only that, but she would put on the most exaggerated "smiley" embouchure. Then she would sway side to side in such a way that the 2nd player (me) would have to sit so far from the music stand that the music would be unreadable. Oh, and her eyebrows would move in the most amazing fashion when the music was going on. So, she changed from someone who played OK during rehearsals, but quacked like a duck in performances.
She said she wanted people to see how happy she was when she played clarinet. To make things worse, people in the audience thought she was wonderful, and an inspiration to younger players.
I moved out of town. What would you have done?
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-03-17 14:27
.
The cliche bar is now open:
![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
She is selling the "sizzle" not the steak.
A triumph of style over function.
It's not the drink, its the little parasol on top
(Does she wear Bling Bling when she does her thing thing?)
Some movement can indeed be effective, and there have been studies cited here that show changes in the sound by moving in a figure-8 pattern (doppler effect or change in airflow?).
I do not object to motion (disclaimer....I am not a pro nor expert) and one local pro does a good bit of moving, but it is tasteful and seems almost involuntary. What you describe here is a bit over the top.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2006-03-17 16:26)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-03-17 14:58
I think moving out of town was a good thing.
What did the director think of her showboating?
Bob Phillips
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Author: corks&pads
Date: 2006-03-17 15:08
Too bad for her that Lawrence Welk isn't still on the air. She would have been a good novelty act for his show. Shakey's Pizza would have been another good venue for her.
I think it depends upon the style of music and the general approach agreed upon by the group. Showmanship has its place...it just needs to be in the right place. Obviously, some audience members appreciated it!
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2006-03-17 15:16
When I used to study with the late, great Leon Russianoff, he would literally stand behind me and put his hands on my shoulder to make sure that I did not move at all! His concept was that the more you move, the greater chance there is to place your fingers sloppily or move your embouchure. Many of the great symphony clarinetists don't move much at all. However, in a concerto you do see quite a bit of movement for the "effect".
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-17 18:07
The tenor player in a sax 4tet I ONCE played in used to jump around when playing large intervals - eg. if going from low C to G.
I got fed up with him (as well as the fact he couldn't play low notes quietly without subtoning them - not the sort of thing a sax 4tet playing 'straight' music needs) and said 'it's only your fingers that should be moving'.
And he was also my former employer so there wasn't much love lost there.
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Author: Neil
Date: 2006-03-17 18:23
"I moved out of town. What would you have done?"
You didn't say what town it was. Lahaina, Maui, I woulda stayed. Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, I woulda left.
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Author: Mary Jo
Date: 2006-03-18 17:51
I would have plotted a "dueling clarinets" segment at one the public performances, just for fun and to see what the band director thought about two primadonna clarinet players in his woodwind section.
That's just me, however, the poorest excuse of a clarinet player in Officer Trainee Jessup's Officer Training School Band in 1980. Clarinet playing is not like riding a bike, though much easier to fake.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-03-19 09:36
Good move, John. But I hear she's moving to your town.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-03-19 17:10
I'm always reminded of my flautist friend who came across a piece marked (in Italian),
'To be played without raising the eyebrows'
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2006-03-20 18:59
Who cares as long as it's a good performance? I'm an old rock and roll drummer.....and belive me...despite the stiffness of 'CLASSICAL" folks...you have to "stand out"......GO FOR IT.
JG
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