Klarinet Archive - Posting 000325.txt from 1996/08

From: Don Gross <DGross1226@-----.COM>
Subj: Bass Clarinets: Unique Instruments? (was: Neckstraps)
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 1996 22:35:04 -0400

In a message dated 96-08-09 16:47:50 EDT, the Hat noted:

>May I suggest that there is NOT an accepted "correct" angle at which to play
>the bass clarinet...It is closer to absolutely straight than anything else.
Mike has >always played this way, and let me tell you, it sure works for him!

After playing bass, and both contra alto and contra bass, almost exclusively
for almost 10 years now, I would submit that the bass clarinet family
should, as a minimum, be considered a unique subset of the clarinet family
and "rules" that apply to soprano clarinets might not apply.

Case in point; several years ago I was playing in the pit with Connie Josias
performing Camelot at Caltech. The second reed book is flute, Eb, Bb, and
bass clarinets. At one point there's a quick horn change is from Eb to bass.
After trying to keep my Selmer Eb with a long barrel in tune, I had to
switch horns and pick up a wonderfully free blowing borrowed Leblanc bass (to
Eb) and guess what happened...nada, zip, zero... I had an absolute and total
closure of the mouthpiece because in the heat of battle, my embouchure was
conditioned to crack walnuts and not play bass clarinet.

For me, especially when playing contra, my mouth is almost straight to the
mouthpiece which gives a much more relaxed embouchure (really relaxed lower
lip) and allows that monstrous reed to vibrate properly. I'm sure baritone
(and bass) sax players are in the same boat. The only reason I could see for
angling a mouthpiece to match the soprano clarinet angle is (1) for
infrequent doublers who use No. 4 or 5 bass clarinet reeds because that's the
strength they're use to with with their Bb and A horns. (If no one will
tell, after trying virtually all brands of bass clarinet -- and tenor sax --
reeds on my 1950 Selmer Paris low Eb horn, give me a good old Rico 2-1/2
every time) or (2) when playing altissimo notes (I do angle slightly to
comfortably and safely reach those infrequently written notes).

Does this make sense?

Don Gross
La Canada, CA