Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-09-01 16:08
Ken Shaw wrote:
> Alexi -
>
> In every band I've played in (even including West Point),
> nearly everyone played as loud as possible. My motto is one I
> got in junior high: At ff, if you can't hear everyone else,
> you're too loud. At pp, if you can hear yourself, you're too
> loud.
>
> In ensembles, I always play one dynamic lower than marked, and
> if I'm near the brassholes, I use earplugs. I think about
> blending with the rest of the section. Even if I have a solo, I
> depend on resonance and center to be heard, not volume.
>
> Ken Shaw
That's awesome stuff Ken! I use the same concepts of ff and pp (especially for chamber music). But in the community orchestras I play in, they are filled with many folks who just aren't confident so a third clarinet section ff often consists of all of them playing probably a mf-f, while the brass in the band (also amateurs or people getting back into music) aren't shy of playing at blastissimo. So for THAT type of makeup in an ensemble, I prefer more thirds than seconds or firsts.
I think the hardest concepts to teach others and effectively learn about dynamics is that ff isn't "as loud as you can play". It's typically just "significantly louder than what just preceded it or will follow it". The concepts of not making all your fortes or fortissimos the same throughout a piece, and also being able to think and know when it's a "group" forte or "ensemble" forte is tough.
I just now that in most of the groups I've played in, the further from the first chair you go, the less confident the person has played, and the less the part has been heard or been filled in. So personally, I prefer at least one very strong second clarinet player and possibly even a STRONGER third clarinet player. (Personal opinion, based on very different playing abilities than what might be found at music schools/universities or other places that have a higher bar or audition requirement just to get into the group)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
