Klarinet Archive - Posting 000876.txt from 1999/12

From: Keith <100012.1302@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] klarinet Digest 25 Dec 1999 21:15:00 -0000 Issue 1930
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 12:34:28 -0500

Message text written by INTERNET:klarinet@-----.org
>
David
Does the oral cavity's shape and size have anything to do with tone quali=
ty
-
in other words, a factor we cannot control?
Audrey
<

As others have said, absolutely, and control of the cavity is fundamental=

to tone
or even note production. You're doing it already.

Acoustically, this is a kind of impedance matching (like using the right
impedance
speakers on a sound system). The wrong cavity behind the mouthpiece will
"pull"
the resonance in the instrument, helping intonation control and slurring
and =

controlling tone quality. As you go up the scale you make the cavity
smaller (though
you have to flip large again when you go over the break, as you use
harmonics
inside as well as outside your mouth). A good and accurate rule is to
imagine =

yourself singing the pitch that you are playing. The resonance is then
automatically =

matched. It's also a good method to make you think about intonation on
every note.

Having said this, people do differ in available cavity size, just as we
have =

soprano/alto female voices and tenor/bass males. I play a bass quite easi=
ly
but
I know much better clarinettists who really can't get the resonance on th=
e
low notes.

Keith Bowen

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