Klarinet Archive - Posting 000519.txt from 1996/07

From: Everett Austin <austine@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Embouchre
Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 01:23:30 -0400

Relating to Jack Dannenberg's comments below, in Langenus' Method, he
discusses various possible clarinet embouchures and mentions that the
double lip requires (or allows?) the use of a softer reed compared to
the single lip. Amongst clarinet players there are certainly reputable
players that play on medium strength reeds. For example, Eduard Brunner
is said to play a Vandoren 5RV with Glotin #3 reeds. Louis Cahuzac, who
played the same mouthpiece type, is said by Alan Hacker (quoted in Pamela
Weston's book) to have had a very responsive set up, so one would assume
also used a reed that was not hard. The Vandoren
brochure from several years ago gives suggested reed strengths ranging
from 3 to 5 for the 5RV
mouthpiece. For a given facing, a stiffer reed will require more jaw or
lip pressure to produce a sound, although the character of the airstream
is also a factor. Each mouthpiece facing will tolerate or be playable
with a range of reed strengths, which a player can choose depending on his
or her preferences and physical characteristics. An extreme choice,
however, can give the player fatigue, tone or intonation problems which
are not necessary to put up with. (I have had the same kind of curiosity
about saxophone players who claim to play #12 facings with #5 reeds!) Of
course, many people start with a hard reed and essentially use it as a
reed blank, working it down to their satisfaction for actual playing, so
that the final product is softer and balanced.

Everett Austin
Fairfax, California

.On Fri, 26 Jul 1996, Jack
Dannenberg wrote:

> I have noticed many people mentioning reed and mouthpiece
> combinations. I have several mouthpieces and many of the
> ones that people mention. I also do not use as hard of reeds
> as most people say they use. I have also read about the
> difficulty (and sometimes pain) of using a double lip
> embouchre. I have no problem playing double lip and no pain
> either. (No problem playing, I do find it hard to support
> the instrument so it goes on my knee.) Because I seem to have
> different experiences than most I am beginning to wonder
> about embouchre pressure as compared to other players.
> Of course I would bring up a topic that is probably going
> to be measured in subjective terms. My embouchre is very
> relaxed and it is easy to move the clarinet around in my mouth.
> My first instructor (no pain, no gain Don, if you are out there)
> believed that your lower lip should be calloused from your
> teeth. With that approach I could play #4 Van Doren reeds on a
> Van Doren B44 mouthpiece. Somewhere along the line I found that
> I like the sound better with less lip pressure. Now I use a #3
> Van Doren V12 reed on a Clark Fobes mouthpiece but I have tried
> using a Van Doren B45 and 5RV and still use the same reed.
> Although I don't have plans on changing I am curious as to how
> much pressure others use. I am especially interested in those of
> you who use #4 reeds or harder. I have tried close tip, long lay
> mouthpieces but I still could not use as hard of reeds that I
> hear mentioned here. So my question to the group who uses hard
> reeds is do you use lots of lip pressure or do you have some
> incredible breath support?
> Thanks All,
>
> --
> Jack Dannenberg
> music@-----.com
>

   
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