Klarinet Archive - Posting 000423.txt from 1997/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Multiple clarinets, multiple mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 12:15:41 -0500

Perhaps I misunderstand the general tone involved but it appears to me
that there is some universal and unstated assumption that having
a mouthpiece for each clarinet is an unwise practice. And I'd like
to explore that.

For precisely the reasons behind the current discussion of which
clarinet to use under which circumstances, I always kept each
clarinet with its own mouthpiece ready to go at all performances in
which I participated. And let me tell you the extremes to which I
went. I did this for Bass clarinet in B-flat and BAss clarinet in A.
I had each instrument and had a special mouthpiece made for each
instrument. Incidentally, this was done not because in several of
the Mahler symphonies there is insufficient time to get a bass clarinet
mouthpiece from one instrument to another. I don't know what Mahler
was thinking but that is what he did.

So when I played those Mahler symphonies that required 4 soprano
clarinets and two bass clarinets, I had them all lined up, each
with its own mouthpiece and I never had a problem switching from
one instrument to another.

Would someone tell me what the downside is for the use of multiple
mouthpieces?

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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