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Vibrato question.

Author: Chris Ondaatje
Date: 2001-03-15 08:57

I was looking through the Klarinet Archives the other day, fasinating reading but there seems to be a fair degree of ego-based angst among some of the writers. I came across an article written by Jonathon Cohler. He seems to be well informed and very confident in the validity of his assersions. He mentioned the anecdotal evidence of Mulfeld playing with vibrato for the works of Brahms(mentioned in the Jack Brymer Book). He also claimed the Charles Neidlich had some evidence that vibrato(I assume they were talking about on the Clarinet) was used at the time of Mozart. The ubiquitous but interesting Dan Leeson turned up and claimed we should be improvising, ornamenting and playing with vibrato.
This confused me a little as friends who have studied early music, singers and string players, say they try to use less vibrato then when they perform Romantic period music.
For the record I don't use vibrato myself (except for Rhapsody in Blue etc..) but I do enjoy the playing of some players who do.
Does anyone have any evidence of the use of vibrato in Classical and Romantic period playing.
Thanks Chris.

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RE: Vibrato question.

Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-03-17 02:15

Chris:

Check out the recordings by Reginald Kell. He was (?) a top performer in England and he used vibrato on nearly everything he did, AND with great taste. There is a time and place for vibrato in which it can enhance the appearance of almost any composition. The secret is not to make it too obvious AND do it with GREAT style. Try it, you might get to like it.

Check with "Amazon.com" for some recordinga by Kell. They are tstill around. One of my favorites isthe Mozart Clarinet Concerto.

Bob Curtis

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RE: Vibrato question.

Author: Chris Ondaatje
Date: 2001-03-17 08:09

Hi Bob,
I have heard the recordings of Kell from the 1950's, to be honest I find it very hard to appreciate the sound and the massive use of rubato in his playing. But then again I am hearing his playing with a modern mind set, at the time it was probably considered tasteful.
What I am tring to find out is if there is any mention of Clarinet vibrato in texts of the 18th Century. I realise some modern players do use vibrato, what I am tring to find out is does this effect have any stylistic validity.
Chris.

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