Klarinet Archive - Posting 000622.txt from 1997/07

From: fpowers@-----.net
Subj: RE: Practice mute
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 19:45:46 -0400

I have a film short on laser disc that shows the 1941 Hal Kemp Orchestra, a
very superior dance band, with all the clarinets playing through large
throated megaphones which permitted not only the instrument but both bands to
penetrate. They are playing low register accompanyment for a male vocals on a
tune called "Tradewinds" where they do harmonized low register trills (similar
to Benny Goodman's recording of "As Long As I Live") with a rather "wind like"
effect. The brass plays another line with cup mutes.

My friend Joe Lukasik, a wonderful clarinetist, tells me that Buddy DeFranco
invented the device he used to paractice with in hotel rooms and that, on
another occasion, he actually experimented with building a sort of "Tee Pee"
in his room in which he practiced! Joe said he used to tell students to push
a small matress into a closet and blow into the closet to reduce practice
volume.

Frank Powers