Klarinet Archive - Posting 000058.txt from 1997/01

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.com>
Subj: E-flat responses -- partial summary
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 15:15:26 -0500

It's great to have so many concerned friends in klarinet-land. I've been
overwhelmed by the interest in my week-old posting about my "new" e-flat
clarinet. In addition to the postings to the mailing list, I've received
quite a few sent directly to me. This is a summary of a few of them.

=====

Lorne Buick recommended Peter Hadcock's orchestral studies book. I'm
going to order it.

=====

Nancy Buckman sent me a very uplifting message about her Eb experiences,
ending with "AND HAVE FUN WITH IT!!! It's a great little instrument."
I believe that; I am having fun.

=====

Larry Liberson (AKA hardreed), who gets paid to play eefer for the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra, wrote "I would advise prayer." I had already figured
out that prayer helps whenever reeds are involved. But the combination of
my eefer mouthpiece and my amateur chops seems to work better with a
softer (medium strength) reed.

=====

Anne Bell shared her dilemma about whom to play in tune with (the flutes
or clarinets) when playing the E-flat. She also shared information about
her grandfather who probably played in THE Navy Band during the same
period that my "new" clarinet was used there.

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Ed Lacy recommended the age-old solution of soaking the Eb clarinet reed
reed in "fine wine" -- and then simply drinking the wine. Hmm, I've tried
this approach with cheap wine and B-flat clarinet reeds during musical
shows; I've also tried it with cheap scotch and alto sax reeds during
dance jobs. Maybe you're onto something, Ed, the better the booze the
better I'll *think* I'm playing. How do I soak my flute and piccolo?

=====

Fred Jacobowitz sent extensive advice and emphasized that I should buy an
instrument that plays in tune. Hmm, but I already bought this one, Fred!
(sigh) Seriously, I'm convinced that with the proper practice and
attention to intonation, I can make this one work. (Another comment about
Fred in a subsequent post. Do you ever use the eefer in your Klezmer
Band, Fred?)

=====

Kenneth Chin suggested that "The Opuses have really nice intonation..."
Hmm, but I already bought this one, Kenneth.

=====

And so it goes. Thanks to the people I cited above and to everyone else
who sent a response during the past week.

Happy New Year,
Mitch Bassman
mbassman@-----.com