 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Erika
Date: 2000-11-19 23:07
I was wondering how clarinetists felt about vibrato. When do you use it, and when is it tacky?
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Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2000-11-20 00:32
Erika, for the most part, I leave vibrato mostly to jazz and klezmer. In classical music, it can be used, but carefully and sparingly. If in doubt, don't use it. -- Nate Zeien
PS - As a side note, when I was playing in an small pit orchestra this last summer, the other clarinetist was a wonderful old jazz musician. He was really an excellent player, but his idea of tuning was to throw a little vibrato in. This made a couple people less than pleased. On the other hand, playing in the the jazz numbers with him was an absolute blast! Even though he would be a pain to be around at times, I just ignored that and learnt what I could from him. He almost jumped out of his chair when the bassoon was playing flat. On one hand, I can't really blame him. The bassoon was flat to the point of being in the key of B! Bassoons are NOT meant to be left in cold cars, I guess.
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Author: MRidgeP
Date: 2000-11-20 02:35
A study was done on the use of vibrato and who used it a while ago. The results showed that younger clarinetists trying to establish themselves in the orchestral world did not use vibrato. The clarinetists who had already established themselves in secure orchestral jobs were more readily willing and using vibrato. Just a little interesting fact.
Matt Ridge
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Author: Jim
Date: 2000-11-20 04:04
I never used it until this spring, our community band director insisted on it for both "Danny Boy" and the Miller "Moonlight Serenade." It felt forced (it was!) and against what i've been trying to do all these years - produce a pure sound. We all did it, the director loved it, and it seemed the audience did too.
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Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2000-11-20 04:17
Hmm... In my opinion, vibrato is best if not forced too much, it has too be come at least partially naturally, at least for that classic Benny Goodman type sound. The trick is to control it, yet let it flow naturally. -- Nate Zeien
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-11-20 12:45
If you can get hold of Jack Brymer's book on the clarinet, there is an interesting discussion of vibrato in that. Some British clarinetists use it. Most French and German clarinetists do not. I've heard it used in Russian orchestras. I think the answer is that used sparingly and in the right place, it can be very beautiful.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2000-11-20 14:18
Flipping through the channels this weekend, I ran into Henry Cuesta playing a solo on Lawrence Welk. I noted that he used vibrato, but did it sparingly and subtlely and it seemed appropriate. (This is in line with Nate's comment.) I've also heard it used excessively by others and was totally turned off by it.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-11-20 21:56
Now if we could get opera singers to use it more sparingly and not as a excuse for being unable to sing in tune. And how about those violins????????? Flutes???? Oboes???????????
Good (in tune) clarineting. (and if it sounds good, USE IT)
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeeszer
Date: 2000-11-21 00:35
Mozart liked when Stadler used vibrato.. It's probably his improvisator side that like that (yes.. indeed, Mozart was the first jazzman on earth)...
I tend to use a tiny bit of vibrato on a couple long notes to make them more interesting...
But my symphony orchestra conductor would fire me if I played vibrato in a concert...
In jazz.. OH YEAH.... it's fun.... we all like making special effects to show off in front of our collegues.. Vibrato.. definatly (but with moderation)...
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-11-21 03:15
I think it is fun to stretch the boundaries a bit when playing for fun and fooling around. Suit and tie music requires suit and tie clarinet playing, and when wearing a Hawaiian shirt you can bend notes, shriek, and tear things up. It is good to do. Occasionally, you can wear a Hawaiian shirt beneath your tux--like when playing Rhapsody in Blue.
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Author: Keil
Date: 2000-11-21 20:15
OH Vibrato Vibrato Vibrato... oh how we hide when we hear your name!!
As far as i'm concerned Vibrato is beautiful... Harold Wright used vibrato and it only enhanced the beauty of the clarinet tone. I myself, being but a high school student, use vibrato on slow melodic passages only as a taper when it suites the music. I'm very particular about when and where i use it as should all clarinetist. On Bolero i play both the Bb and Eb solos and the vibrato i use for the Eb part is more pronouced than that on the Bb part. I think vibrato should be a tool in every clarinetist arsenal however because our tone is so solid, unlike that of the flute, oboe, and bassoon who's tones are made up on weak partials, no offense, vibrato should be used at a minimum unless of course you're jazzing, then in that case... go ahead and vibrate!!!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-11-21 22:19
A fine discussion that has well covered all of the pro/con's. My experience is that vibrato [light or wide] has its time/place/music-character factors for the player to decide. I find that in what I now play I seldom use any vib or lip-slurring [schmearandos , coining a new word?] unless for sentimental {Kenny G] or Dixie playing. Don
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Author: The Jester
Date: 2000-11-23 04:38
When it comes to brasswind instruments, it seems like no matter what the music, vibrato just makes it better. As far as clarinet is concerned, I like to use it in any slower piece and in jazz numbers. Just make sure you're the only one doing it! One vibrato clarinet in a section can make a beautiful waiver in the tone, but more than one tend to grind.
Sincerely,
The Jester
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