Klarinet Archive - Posting 000935.txt from 1995/10

From: Jacqueline G Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Basset Horns
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 12:58:03 -0400

Hi there! I'm still feeling the burn, but want to affirm that the basset
horn still has a warm place in my heart. In fact, if I ever win the
lottery, I'll be buying a pair of them for sure!! (That way, you don't
have to worry about finding a second!)

I have a related question for you, David. As a real bass clarinet
player, perhaps you have some advice for the "never-played
bass-before-but-offered-a-contract-to-play-one" clarinetist! This
happened to me last year and turned out to be a partial disaster (I still
have the contract, but they haven't needed me to double again,
fortunately!)

I bought a Selmer C* mouthpiece, which I was told was a very average,
easy choice, some regular Vandoren reeds (3's, I think) and also some
synthetic reeds. The horn I used was OKK -- not great but played, didn't
leak, etc. The biggest problem I had was with my jaw -- the
aforementioned TMJ which was brought on by basset horn abuse. I also
found that switching horns in the pit was near to impossible -- not
only is it dark, but you've got about 10 measures to make the switch,
both horn-wise and embouchure-wise. The synthetic reeds were at least
easy to moisten. Perhaps this wasn't the most auspicious occasion upon
which to commence a career as a doubler! I have played Eb for about 5
years now and never had the switching problems, but then again, in a
totally different environment. What is your take on this and what
suggestions do you have?

On Tue, 24 Oct 1995 bassethn@-----.ORG wrote:

> Jaqueline Eastwood wrote:
> Ie> They come with their own type of mouthpiece, but you can use
> Ie> ordinary alto clarinet reeds on them - no special set-up required.
>
> Hot tip from someone who is known as Canada's leading bassethorn player
> (just how many are there, anyway? one?)
>
> Try alto saxophone reeds with the Leblanc next time. Much better idea.
> And the special set up required is hours in front of a Korg tuner
> fopllowed by hours in psychotherapy.
>
> But the Mozart Requiem and K361 are worth it. We are playing them two
> weeks back-to-back here in Toronto in late January early February.
>
> =========================================
> David Bourque
> Bass Clarinet, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
> ** Note new address **
> Internet: bassethn@-----.com
> =========================================
>
>
> ---
> * Freddie 1.2.5 * The first full-featured QWK reader for the Mac.
>