Klarinet Archive - Posting 000000.txt from 1995/08

From: Andrea Spurdle <aspu01@-----.NZ>
Subj: Re: Multiple playered Clarinets
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 1995 00:17:00 -0400

Firstly, I hope this message reaches everyone successfully. I've been
reading the Klarinet list for a few weeks, but this is the first time I've
posted anything myself. It seems that it is customary to introduce oneself,
so here's the introduction:
I'm studying philosophy and computer science at university here in New
Zealand, but virtually all my spare time is devoted to the clarinet. I
mostly just play for myself, but I've recently started playing in the
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in those rare concerts when they do a work
that requires four clarinets. I also do a little bit of teaching, mostly
beginner students.

I've been surprised that during the discussion of multiple playered
clarinets and mouthpieces fitting into the bottom joint, no-one's mentioned
a trick that I learned a few years ago using two or more clarinets. You can
fit the barrel of one clarinet onto the bottom tenon of the top joint of
another clarinet, thus getting one-and-a-half clarinets with one
mouthpiece. Makes sense if you think about it - if the mouthpiece will fit
onto the lower joint, then the top of the barrel ought to fit onto the
bottom of the upper joint. The beauty of this is that it is infinitely
extendable - you can join up as many clarinets as you have into one
mega-clarinet (for want of a better word).

There are, of course, some practical problems when you're dealing with
different makes of clarinet. Some of the connections will be too tight, and
others too loose. But with careful juggling, I've managed to get an
instrument with four barrel/top joint combinations in a row. However, I
don't think I could get a sound from anything with more than three.

Whether anyone would seriously want to play music on an instrument like
this is an open question, but it's a good diversion for bored beginner
classes, and they learn something about breathing technique at the same
time - it isn't easy to get a sound from these long instruments! We managed
some pretty amazing 'scales' with three or four people standing either side
of the instrument, each playing 'their' section.

Something to try on a rainy day....

Andrea Spurdle
aspu01@-----.nz

   
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