Re: vibrato

[allen watsky <awatsky...>]

Yes, too simple. Not that I have an axe to grind. This is a point of
interest not of pride. Having had a listen to Abe Schwartz his Rumanian
Doina may 1920 and may 1921 and Naftule Brandweine Roumainishe Doina sept
1922. All of these from Kurt Bjorling's Doina tape. I think its not a
question of vibrato in the classical sense but note motility (movement) The
slower episodes in the selections all have vibrato of various speeds mostly
a fast sort that is similar in all 3 of the players DT,AS andNB.In the AS
selections the only time that there is not vibrato or other
"ornamentation"is when there is a chord change at which time his tone is
definitely vibratoless, no doubt.It seems as though he were queuing the
musicians and leading them through his Doina. In the dance sections there is
less vibration and ornamentation,  krect, slur, shake or whatever but when
the instruments are soloing that is not playing in ensemble unison there is
always note motility of one sort or another. I have often heard the phrase
"don't use vibrato" in connection to this music, it may be that a more
helpful admonition may be " don't use a lush, classical, romantic period
vibrato"   Gotta go, Cordially, Al Watsky----- Original Message -----
From: <khupe (at) khupe(dot)de>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 5:09 AM
Subject: Re: vibrato


> Mike wrote:
> >More importantly is the movemnt in the bottom lip.  This is where the
real 'vibrato'
> comes from.  Not used traditionally in any type of music, I find it quite
unique in jew
> muz.<
>
> It's not unique, it's a normal way of producing vibrato on clarinet.
> What makes Tarras' vibrato unique is indeed the speed, and small
amplitude.
> His sound - very light reeds, thin tone, tending to constant vibrato - is
related to
> Greek/Epirot clarinet style.
>
> Allan wrote:
> >Playing without vibrato
> sounds kind of lifeless. The folks who play vibratoless are on the wrong
> track.<
> That's far too simple! Providing a mechanical, constant vibrato can be as
lifeless as
> playing without vibrato can be thrilling.
> Interesting playing depends on variety, modulation, invention. Laws like
'never vibrato'
> or 'always vibrato' can lead to total boredom. Jewish folk fiddling
traditionally uses
> very little vibrato. Is it less interesting than Operetta Gypsy style
playing?
>
> Christian Dawid
> (Budowitz)
>
>
>

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