Klarinet Archive - Posting 000427.txt from 1997/02

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Sax/Clar Doubling
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 10:04:36 -0500

On Wed, 12 Feb 1997, Adam Michlin wrote:

> It's an (unfortunately) widely held belief that saxophone and clarinet
> require a different embouchure. People often talk about a "tighter"
> clarinet embouchure and a "looser" saxophone embouchure. While this may
> work for some people, it's simply incorrect that this method is *required*.

We've been down this road before. I must again most respectfully
disagree with this assessment. I have been playing both clarinet and
saxophone, plus flute, oboe and bassoon, for 47 years. During that time,
I have known hundreds of other doublers. A few of them have used the
same embouchure, without modification, for both clarinet and saxophone.
These players invariably sound like either clarinet players trying to
play the saxophone, or saxophone players playing the clarinet.

As mentioned in a previous post in response to the question which started
this thread, the basic formation of the embouchure is similar, but there
is a distinct difference in the way that the lip contacts the reed. The
saxophone embouchure will have more of a "cushioning" effect.

Ed Lacy
*****************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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