Klarinet Archive - Posting 001501.txt from 1998/04

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [klarinet] Re: sound, shape and material
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 06:10:36 -0400

On Sun, 26 Apr 1998, Roger Garrett wrote:
> I notice a difference in the resistance/feel of the instrument
> between a wooden instrument and an identical (in terms of
> specs/construction/bore/undercut/taper/ect.) instrument made out of
> something other than wood. The Greenline R-13 blows differently than it's
> wooden counterpart. I feel the difference as I play - and to date, I
> have tested 100's of both. Further, I assert that Cindy's comment earlier
> with regard to it "feeling different" had nothing to do with how she felt
> emotionally about the clarinet.....rather, it had to do with the phenomena
> that I am attempting to describe....the sensation one has in terms of the
> resistance/feel when one blows through an instrument. The materials are
> the only difference between these instruments, and I have concluded for
> myself that the materials, therefore, render an impact on the performance
> quality of the instrument.
>
> As far as the sound....if Bob Spring plays on a Greenline or a Wooden
> Buffet, I sure as hell can't tell the difference! He still sounds like
> Bob Spring!

Geez, it's pretty bad when you start to quote yourself and then respond to
it..........

I forgot to mention. When I travelled over to ISU last week and visited
my good friend Aris Chavez (Professor of Clarinet and former 2nd Clarinet
in the Sante Fe Opera - with one bit of trivia......who can name the
principal clarinetists in the early 70's of the same group who Aris was
2nd to?), I tried out all of his Kasper mouthpieces. While I worked real
hard to play test the mouthpieces, he told me that he could discern no
noticeable difference between the mouthpieces in the way they sounded.
However, I can tell you that they all felt very different.......to the
point of discomfort in some cases.

I have no problem with the argument for materials making no difference in
sound, but the definitely impact the way the horn blows, feels (with the
air....not the fingers...or tactile), reacts.

Roger Garrett
IWU

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org