Clarinet Vibrato?

Hmm.... odd.... in jazz clarinet, I don't use much vibrato in the low register, but I use is like crazy in the upper register. Gets rather hard above high Eb for me, though....
In jazz, I treat the chalameau register as if it were a completely different instrument then the clarion.

That's a good point:
I suppose vibrato would be acceptable (to me.. of course) if used to cover up the instrument's duller registers.. would lend a good quality I think. The highest register, and some of the lowest register can grate sometimes.. But certainly the vast majority of the clarinet's range is characteristic, beautiful and NOT boring/grating.

Originally Posted by EnigmusJ4

Yes, but would you not agree that string players and vocalists are best known to overuse vibrato?

My opinion on vibrato stands somewhere near Daniels. The pure, straight tone of an instrument is beautiful, just not many can produce it, so they use vibrato to cover it up, thinking is it acceptable. And of course, this becomes second nature, and now professionals use it like mad. In my honest opinion, vibrato should NOT be used whatsoever in music, about, pre-1850's, or somewhere around that general time frame. That is my personal opinion, though. I also believe that vibrato should not be used by musicians participating as a member in an ensemble. For instance, I dislike vibrato used by each musician in say, the first violin section, or the 'cello section, or even vocal choir. I feel that it should only be used tastefully by designated soloists, such as in a concerto for instance.

My view for clarinet vibrato follows that, I feel is should not be used in a classical setting unless it is part of an extended solo, such as a concerto. As for short solos in orchestral works, I believe vibrato should not be used by any clarinet because the clarinet has a more distinctive tone without it, and so comes across as being more beautiful.

As for horn vibrato, I play horn and use it from time to time. It's just a natural instinct I picked up from playing trumpet. I'm sure this probably makes me sound like utter crap, though, because the nature and characteristics of the horn do not lend well to the use of a fluctuating tone, straight tone is the best way for the instrument to project, and it is more natural. Although in jazz horn, I differ. I love using a little vibrato here and there in jazz.

OK I agree with the vibrato overuse, but I find that the movements of performers can be just as or even more annoying, like if you've ever saw a violin soloist in a concerto always moving like he/she has ants in his pants than you would know what I mean...

You mean like Midori (sp?)? That's about the right description, but SHE commanded the four-by-four area of wood under her feet

It's fun to watch marimba soloists too, sometimes we have to jump from one end of the instrument to the other, and these things are a good 8 feet long, so it looks like we're diving over to catch a falling glass from the ceiling or something.

Originally Posted by EnigmusJ4

It's fun to watch marimba soloists too, sometimes we have to jump from one end of the instrument to the other, and these things are a good 8 feet long, so it looks like we're diving over to catch a falling glass from the ceiling or something.

*pictures EnigmusJ4 spinning plates to Khatchaturian's Sabre Dance*

Originally Posted by flint-wwrr

*pictures EnigmusJ4 spinning plates to Khatchaturian's Sabre Dance*

*remembers random clip on the internet of a guy playing a giant roll-up keyboard with juggling balls, and how funny it seemed to be, untill Alan remembers*

HA! It begins and ends with "remembers"!

Originally Posted by EnigmusJ4

It's fun to watch marimba soloists too, sometimes we have to jump from one end of the instrument to the other, and these things are a good 8 feet long, so it looks like we're diving over to catch a falling glass from the ceiling or something.

Lol

Originally Posted by EnigmusJ4

As for horn vibrato, I play horn and use it from time to time. It's just a natural instinct I picked up from playing trumpet. I'm sure this probably makes me sound like utter crap, though, because the nature and characteristics of the horn do not lend well to the use of a fluctuating tone, straight tone is the best way for the instrument to project, and it is more natural. Although in jazz horn, I differ. I love using a little vibrato here and there in jazz.

My former horn teacher plays the Alphorn with vibrato. That's some really weird combination

That IS odd...