Klarinet Archive - Posting 000709.txt from 1996/10

From: Mike Anderson <mander@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: glissandos
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 10:12:21 -0500

On 10/28/96 Franck Laloe wrote:

>. . . What technique is recommended to play, for instance, the first solo
>in >Rhapsody in Blue? Is is mostly fingers which progressively uncover the
>holes, >or a throat motion, or both? Is the glissando limited to the
>clarinet register, >or does it go accross the register change from the
>lowest up to the highest >note? . . .
>greetings Franck
>Franck Laloe, labo de physique de l'ENS, 24 rue Lhomond, F75005 Paris (France)
>tel 33 (1) 47 07 54 13, fax 45 35 00 76 -- laloe at physique.ens.fr

Dear Franck:

I'm not sure that it works the same way for everyone, but here are my
thoughts about the Rhapsody in Blue openig solo:

1. I use three techniques in the solo:
(A) sliding fingers - from clarion d to high c
(B) "throat motion" - throughout the gliss
*and*
(C) a very loose embouchure, especially at the opening until I get
over
the break to clarion d

2. I start the gliss with a very loose embouchure, and finger a chromatic
scale up to clarion d. I find if I use a really loose (really "bad")
embouchure, each tone of the chromatic scale glides into the next, sounding
like a siren.

3. Once I arrive at clarion d, I still have a loose embouchure and an
excessively open throat, and begin sliding the fingers of the right hand,
and then the left, until I glide up to the c. When I reach the c, I slowly
normalize the throat and embouchure until the pitch slides up to c.

In this manner, I can get a slide that begins in the lowest register, and
glides through the lower part of the clarion register.

If anyone has a different approach, I'd love to hear about it! I'm sure
there's more than one way to skin this cat. (apologies to animal lovers, I
mean "cat" in a jazzy sense . . .)

Let me know if this helps,

Mike

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Michael Anderson mander@-----.org
Principal Clarinet Eugene Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theater,
Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Mozart Players
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