Klarinet Archive - Posting 000627.txt from 1997/07

From: Ryan Lowe <ryan@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: Practice mute
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 19:45:51 -0400

Okay, now that I know these mutes exist, where can I find one? Does
anybody know of any company that still manufactures them (or if they are no
longer made, does anybody know where I could get an old one)? Thanks a lot:)

Ryan Lowe

At 01:23 PM 7/20/97 -0400, you wrote:
>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
>
>
>