Klarinet Archive - Posting 000709.txt from 1996/02

From: "Gregory T. Wright" <103147.1471@-----.COM>
Subj: single reed multiple tongue
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 23:59:23 -0500

Kathleen & Klarinet,
I have mentioned this tongue technique before, without a great deal of
response. This tells me either a) It is fairly commonplace, b) it is known and
grudgingly accepted, c) it isn't worth writing in about, or d) you all enjoy
great humor in the idea that I write this stuff, and you want me to continue.
I'm hoping for "a)", but in any case please LET ME KNOW which option is
the truth!

QUOTE: I have a possible solution which I once thought scandalous,
because I made it up. Then I heard that I was not alone; others invented it
before me. It still may be scandalous at MSU (or Notre Dame, CS Mott Community
College... who knows?).
Regular double tongue-ing, takataka, does not sound as good on reed
instruments as it does on flute or brass, because on "ta", the reed is
physically stopped from vibrating (as it should be) until the moment of release,
while on "ka", the reed attack is spread out into a crescendo. "Ta" attacks are
clean, and "ka" attacks are not, comparatively.
The solution? What I call "Ta tha" tongueing. It is probably impossibl
e
to continue evenly for more than 3 notes in a row ("ta tha ta"), but the
advantage is that the tongue controls the reed at every attack. Let me try to
clarify:

After the normal "ta" attack (with the tip of the tongue), the tongue
flips up (microscopically) above the tip of the mouthpiece in the mouth. The
tongue is brought DOWN, in a "the" sort of manner, so that the tongue contacts
the tip of the mouthpiece (first) and reed (second), and is therefore in
position to be brought back UP for another "ta".
The tip of the tongue moves microscopically beyond the tip of the reed o
n
each stroke; as I said, it is probably not possible to continue for more than
three consecutive notes, for a reason similar to the problem of performing a
snare drum roll with one stick.

Will this make your clarinet teacher blanche, and wish computers (along
with metal ligatures) had never been invented? Maybe. I find it useful mostly
in marches.
:END QUOTE
(since then, I've discovered that 4 in a row, "ta tha ta tha" is possible.
Hmmmm...)
Gregory T.
Wright
103147.1471=c
om
puserve.com