Klarinet Archive - Posting 000654.txt from 1999/10

From: "Ed Maurey" <edsshop@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] Legere reeds - a report
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 18:32:29 -0400

I, too, am a happy user of Legere reeds. I've used them as my sole reeds
for nearly nine months. They have allowed me to spend my limited practice
time practicing. I simply don't waste my time monkeying with reeds! It's
like being a flutist. Before a concert I don't fret about which reed to
use. They never crap out in the middle of a performance. I sound like
I've got a good reed all the time...because I do.

They do have one have one peculiar quality. They like to be [literally]
warmed up. I put them in my mouth two minutes before playing. Otherwise,
they are a bit too stiff for at least five minutes.

Ed Maurey
-----Original Message-----
From: David B. Niethamer <dnietham@-----.edu>
Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 12:05 AM
Subject: [kl] Legere reeds - a report

>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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