Klarinet Archive - Posting 000002.txt from 1999/11

From: chi chan <lokshing@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bb Soprano to Bass Clarinet
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 03:04:41 -0500

For so many years the clarinet use the cork for the connection. Can anyone tell
me is there any substitution for those crazy cork?

Dodgshun family wrote:

> >> I play a LeBlanc bass (don't know the model, but it's a low C instrument
> :))
> >> with a Pomarico 2 crystal mouthpiece. As far as I know, very few people
> >> use crystals on bass. I like it because it allows me to project without
> >> losing my tone or having to blow 'til I see stars! But that's only my
> >> opinion - you may want to try some mouthpieces out.
> >
> > I started out last year on a Pomarico Crystal bass mouthpiece and while i
> > liked it for chamber music settings, it didn't have the *umph*
> > for band or orchestra or solo playing
>
> Could be that because I'm using slightly harder reeds (see below) that it
> works really well for me.
>
> >> I'm using standard Vandoren reeds, #3. My advice on reeds is to use a
> reed
> >>at least as hard as your Bb reeds, if not 1/2 a strength harder. Tenor
> sax
> >> reeds are also OK.
> >
> > How are you playing 3's on the Pomarico 2? I couldn't get anything harder
> > than 2.5 to play on that open of a mouthpiece.
>
> Could it be because I'm a baritone sax player?? I had a very open bari
> mouthpiece which I played anything up to a 3.5 on, and I think it's that my
> chops are fairly used to it! Anything softer than a 3 and my sound loses
> focus, anything harder and I start blacking out.
>
> >As for bass reeds relative
> > to Bb reeds, i think one should play 1 to .5 strength softer than what you
> > play on Bb, otherwise a 3.5 or 4 on bass is going to feel like playing on
> a
> > tree. Usully, if someone's comfortable on 4's on Bb, 3 is adequate on
> bass.
>
> I was playing 2.5s on bass, and the minute I switched to a 3, things
> improved. OK, if you're playing a 4 then yeah, it will be like playing a
> lump of 4x2! Maybe it's just that a 3 is the best bass reed for me and it
> doesn't really relate to my Bb reeds.
>
> > Not much to really say about the rest of the stuff. Though, you DO have
> to
> > think of the bass as being different from the soprano because it IS
> > different. If you try and play it like soprano, you'll be squawking and
> > squealing all over the place.
>
> To a certain extent. I find that if I think of it as a completely different
> beast I have problems. Certainly there are things which are different, but
> it doesn't pay to forget that they're pretty closely related!
>
> > One thing to remember is that the bass is more of a "warm air" instrument
> > like a saxophone. You also just have to experiment with horn angle and
> find
> > what works best for you.
>
> I should have mentioned this but I forgot. Angle is a personal thing - what
> works for you probably won't for others. Play around with it.
>
> > Never start low notes (around B down) with a tongue start. Start with air
> > and then start the vibration of the reed by articulating (my teacher uses
> > the sylable "shh-ta").
>
> Try playing the Villa Lobos "Bachianas Brasileras no. 4" like this. No way
> could I do this. I don't know whether having a low C bass makes a
> difference - it is very slightly slower to respond (as you'd expect) but if
> I don't tongue start a note, I find it very difficult.
>
> One other thing I forgot to mention was that the mechanism will go out of
> adjustment more easily than Bb mechanisms. Be careful with it, or else
> you'll find yourself running into problems. Because it's more complex,
> there's more to go wrong....
>
> While we're on basses, does anyone know why Elgar wrote Pomp & Circumstance
> no. 1 for bass clar in A? I had to write it out because it's just too fast
> and awkward to do at sight....
>
> Anna
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
> Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
> Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
> Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org