Klarinet Archive - Posting 001325.txt from 1997/08

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: ass clarinet reeds
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 18:26:16 -0400

> From: MX%"klarinet@-----.18
> Subj: Re: ass clarinet reeds

> Does anyone have any good suggestions for reeds for the bass clarinet? I
> currently use a Selmer HS ** mouthpiece with a Vandoren inverted bass
> clarinet ligature. Thanks.

Once, when I went to do some coaching with Mazzeo, he looked at my
box of reeds and said, "Why are you using bass clarinet reeds?"

I was surprised at the question and asked him, "What do you want me
to use on a bass clarinet?"

To which he responded, "Tenor sax reeds."

I switched and never went back to b.c. reeds. I also do not suggest
that this is a truism for everyone, but I was very satisfied with
several things: (1) I got more good reeds out of a box of tenor
sax reeds than I ever did for bass clarinet reeds; (2) the slightly
different physicality of the reeds enabled me to play more freely,
I think; mind you, I don't really know, but emotionally I wound
up preferring the t.s. reeds and never used a b.c. reed again;
(3) I could get t.s. reeds anywhere in America, but try and find
b.c. reeds in Missoula, MT (where I was once on tour and was
given a box of Syccone Symmertricut reeds because that was all they
had, and not a one of them was worth a tinker's damn.), or
Montezuma, GA (where I also needed some reeds).

Perhaps it was my respect for Mazzeo that caused me to come to that
conclusion, but for whatever reason was involved, I was satisfied
and, for a clarinet player, that is about as good as it is going
to get.

>
>
=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
Rosanne Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
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