Klarinet Archive - Posting 000017.txt from 2000/04

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece facings
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 17:20:55 -0500

At 07:43 AM 4/1/2000 +0200, Thomas Schaffner wrote:
>How about the human factor, i.e. fleshy vs. thin lips, position of teeth,
>control of lip pressure? Are there general rules as well? I prefer softer
>reeds and longer, more open facings. They give me better control of my
>sound. I suspect my preference is based essentially on embouchure which in
>turn depends on individual anatomic features.
>
Different playing situations can alter one's choice of setup, too. Right
now I am playing in a pit band doing "Crazy for You." I don't have an Eb
clarinet, but the part is double-written so you can play on Bb without
transposing. The downside is that it requires one to play up as high as
altissimo A. The only setup I have come up with that works up there, given
the equipment I have available to me, is an O'Brien OB* (quite closed) with
a Mitchell Lurie 4 1/2 reed. That's the stiffest thing I have EVER played,
yet it works for the situation. For concert band section work lately I
have been using that mouthpiece also, but with a 4. For big band and other
playing I use a much more open mouthpiece and an ML 3 or Vandoren 2 1/2!
The close facing is easier to control intonation on, but for jazz the
flexibility is a plus. Just another factor to complicate the choice!

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://homepages.go.com/~zoot14/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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