Klarinet Archive - Posting 000228.txt from 1994/10

From: Tonya Trapp <TLT001@-----.EDU>
Subj: Leblanc Clarinets
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 1994 10:19:28 -0400

Hi! My name is Tonya Trapp. I've been lurking here for a couple of months now,
but I've waited until now to announce my presence. I'm a junior B.A. Music
(clarinet) and History major at Drake University. Tonight I attended a
masterclass given by Tom Riddenour (I'm not sure that's spelled correctly), a
Leblanc clinician and the designer of their new line of clarinets. I had
heard good things about their new clarinets (the OPUS, the CONCERTO, etc), but
I figured that it couldn't be all that much better than the Yamaha 72CS that
I play on or the old standard Buffet R-13. However, I was unaware of all the
thought that went into the design of the clarinet--the air resistence of the
tube has been equalized, so it feels the same to play a throat-tone A as it
does to play over the break (or anywhere else for that matter). OK, so I
thought it was interesting when he was talking about how it was so great and
playing for us, but he's an excellent player and could have made all the notes
sound the same on any clarinet. But, then they let us try the entire line
(including the A's) and they really played like he said!

I've heard that many players are switching to the Leblancs. I guess that my
question is--what's the catch? Has anyone tried these and switched? I guess
that I'm really curious about this "miracle" clarinet!

Tonya Trapp
TLT001@-----.edu

P.S. I'm sorry if this has already been discussed!

P.P.S. In regard to mouthpieces. . . .I play on a Mitchell Lurie Premium
mouthpiece and I really like the sound I have since I got it. I
found it interesting that no one else had even mentioned it as a
possibility. A lot of other players here use the Lurie mouthpiece,
also. I wouldn't recommend the reeds, but I love the mouthpiece!

   
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