Klarinet Archive - Posting 000549.txt from 1999/10

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Legere reeds - a report
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 23:05:31 -0400

A few weeks ago, my colleague in the RSO brought me a Legere Reed to try
- she had ordered it and it was too hard. Before returning it, she wanted
me to try it. I liked it so much that I bought it on the spot, and played
it through that evening's Pops rehearsal.

The next night, when Marta came to rehearsal I was on stage warming up,
and she said something like "Gone back to the cane reed, I see", based on
how I sounded - she couldn't see what I was playing. She was mistaken.
None of my other colleagues could believe I was playing a plastic reed,
either.

I kept it for Pops concerts, where we're amplified to death, and good
tone is no object. In fact, in that situation, I often wonder what the
object is. But I digress. I also wanted a "no warmup 9 a.m. kiddie
concert" reed, and the Legere seemed ideal.

Tonight I decided to take the plunge, and play some real repertoire on
it. We did a concert that included the Strauss Wind Serenade, Op. 7, the
Tchaikovsky "Mozartiana", and the Haydn "Clock" Symphony. I had to play
Bb, A and C clarinets.

The tone quality of this reed is amazing - almost as good as my best cane
reeds (I make them on a ReeDuAl from tube cane) and better in many ways
than my usual Pops/Kiddie concert rejects. It tunes incredibly well, too
- often a problem for old reeds on their way through the Pops reed case
on the way to the kindling pile. If I have to say something negative
about this reed (I've only tried this one, so far), I'll say that it
doesn't have the resonance and big sound of a really good cane reed. But
then, how many of those have you had lately?!? The sound isn't brighter,
like most of the plastic reeds I've played in the past. It really has a
very characteristic tone quality. Even on the C clarinet, which is a
little brighter instrument by design, it doesn't get out of hand tonally.
I questioned colleagues who I trust about the sound, and they claim not
to hear a difference between Legere and regular cane.

I may expand the opportunities I have to use this reed. I'm really
impressed. If you haven't tried one, you should. Check your prejudices at
the door, please!

The usual disclaimer - I have no financial interest in this post - just a
satisfied (very!) user, who paid full price.

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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