Klarinet Archive - Posting 000187.txt from 1995/04

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Piotr Michalowski's bass clarinet strap question
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 10:35:37 -0400

I am still blushing from the detailed anatomical responses to my
Farinelli question, so I am grateful that Piotr changed the subject.

Let me comment on bass clarinet straps. Rosario Mazzeo, who at close
to 90, lives nearby and is still going strong, always yells at me whenever
I come to coach and play my b.c. without a neckstrap. He suggests that
the high C in particular, will always be questionable (will it sound,
won't it sound?) without the neckstrap. (Parenthetically, Rosario is
a superior and magnificent coach. And he will spice his comments with
how Stravinksy conducted this or that, and Munch did this or that, and
Leinsdorf did it this way, but Koussevitsky did it that way, and the
way all of the first desk clarinet players in the BSO played their
solos from the 1930s to the 1960s. It is a lesson in history to work
with him.)

On the other hand (and when Rosario makes a point, there is often no
other hand), I find that the angle made by the strap as it travels from
my neck to the strap hook on the b.c. is such that it constantly
gets in the way of my left hand. I don't want anything to touch my
left hand when I am playing, either my body, my shirt, or the strap,
particularly the strap. This problem may be caused by the fact that I
am short, but I don't think so.

So I do not use a strap. I use only a peg and this provides me with
the stability I need on both the low C bass (which can practically
be played without a strap or a peg by a short person, so long is it),
or the low E-flat bass (which is the A bass clarinet) and requires
not only a long peg, but a stiff one since the instrument is a good
12 inches off the ground, and a flexible peg would drive one crazy!

If one has a bass clarinet without a peg, get a peg attached. That is
my advice to Piotr. Play without a neckstrap (I hope Rosario is not
listening!). In some cases, one must play without a neckstrap. If one
doubles B-flat and bass clarinet on a gig, the changeover time is often
very short and it is tough enough to grab the bass and play it in time,
much less have to concern oneself with the additional complication of
affixing the neckstrap.

Down with neckstraps. Up with Farinelli!!! (metaphorically speaking, of
course).

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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