Klarinet Archive - Posting 000645.txt from 1998/02

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: THE MOUTHPIECE AND THE LAY by ALEANDRE SELMER (part 2)
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 22:29:00 -0500

The Mouthpiece and the Lay
by Alexandre Selmer, from INSTRUCTIVE TALKS TO CLARINETISTS

For those who have been used to playing the longer lay and desire to
adopt the French short lay, it may be necessary to place the mouthpiece
a little farther in the mouth, as it seems the shorter the facing used
the farther the mouthpiece must be placed in the mouth.

In playing a long facing, one is merely compelled to use that much more
lip pressure, as the reed does not vibrate nor the tone start until the
reed is pressed up to a certain distance of the tip of the mouthpiece.
Instead of placing this burden on the lips, why not use a shorter lay
and save this unnecessary exertion and fatigue in playing?

In former days many thought that the long, open lay was indispensable,
but now with the short French lay,- not too close at the tip of the reed
or it will choke, and not too open or it will produce a rough tone and
be hard to control,- is the standard facing of the majority of the best
players.
I have yet to hear of one clarinetist that really tried hard to become
familiar with the short French lay who was not successful and did not
improve his playing.

For the material of the mouthpiece, I leave that largely to the player's
taste.
The lay, method of placing the lips, and the blowing are the principal
points.
I have used one crystal mouthpiece for about 35 years and it has proved
to be very satisfactory owing to the positive immunity of the crystal
lay from wear and tear.
At this time I can recall a number of friends who have been using the
same crystal mouthpiece for more than 25 years.
The crystal has a soft quality of tone and produces as flexible a tone
as anyother material.
The hard rubber mouthpiece also has its excellent points as regards
tonal production.
However, with the finest rubber, it has been impossible to make a
mouthpiece with a lay that will not warp and wear by use.
Upon the quality of the rubber depends the durability of the facing.
American hard rubber rod has proven the best material for mouthpieces.

Avrahm Galper
THE UPBEAT BAERMANN MELODIC SCALES
http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html