Klarinet Archive - Posting 000069.txt from 1997/03

From: simon aldrich <simona@-----.ORG>
Subj: Eb/D clarinets
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 01:00:27 -0500

Someone asked "Proportionally the dimensions would need to change from
instrument to instrument, bore diameter to bore diameter, but wouldn't
there be a point where the same mouthpieces would work between clarinets
a half step apart? What about E-flat and D clarinets. . .is it possible
to play the same mouthpiece for both while keeping some semblance of
intonation which everyone around you can tolerate."

Eb and D clarinet bores are very different. A and Bb are close. If you
put your pinky in the top joint of a Bb clarinet it will go in essentially
as far as in an A clarinet. As I write this I've got my right pinky in my
R13 Eb and my left pinky in my RC Prestige D clarinet. The bore of the D
is pronouncedly bigger.
This is to say that the larger bore of the D causes a lot of problems,
especially in the high register. Anyone who has had any experience playing
D clarinet can attest to the fact that the high register just doesn't play
(with an Eb mouthpiece). I have played most of the Molter D clarinet
concerti and a lot of orchestral and chamber works on D and to
successfully get the high notes you have to use overblown throat tones.
Once you are used to them these notes are in tune and easy to get. Of
course this is personal experience but I have heard people crack high
notes on D in concerts because they insisted on using regular fingerings.
And of course I am talking about Buffets. I don't know about Leblanc or
Selmer D clarinet bore diameters.
It also obviously depends on your mouthpiece. On Eb I use a Chedeville
whose bore happens to be a wee bit smaller than my Kaspar, Pyne, Borbeck,
other Chedeville, Broadus and Vandorens. This will worsen the problem. One
solution might be to find the largest bore Eb mouthpiece if you intend to
do a lot of switching back and forth.

----------------------------------------------------------

Simon Aldrich

Principal Clarinet - l'Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
Principal Clarinet - l'Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
Quintet Pentaedre

(514) 843-7550
simona@-----.org