Klarinet Archive - Posting 000427.txt from 2000/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Mouthpiece stuff
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 15:26:41 -0400

Roger Garrett says:

<<The 1.02 of a Greg Smith's terrific mouthpieces and the same facing in a Hawkins equally terrific mouthpiece are virtually unplayable for me - but
that is just my approach to the instrument. They sound great, but down low I can't push the envelope in the volume (especially down low) as I would
like. Why? The more closed tip with the dip in the table that simulates a more open tip (approximately 1.10 according to Richard) creates an
instability in the reeds as I prepare them for a flat table mouthpiece.

Therefore, my description of the Trade-off: in whatever form we create resistance in blowing to create a particular quality tone, we affect in
terms of response.

Now that I have thoroughly confused you.......let's see Walter take a stab at the explanation - he struggles with the issue as well! >>

Gauntlet thrown down, huh?

Well, first of all, as we all know by now, words like dark, resistant, edgy, free-blowing, etc. all mean different things to different people. I therefore won't even try to use words like this.

What I can tell you, is that I have a "sound" in my ear, that I want to replicate, both in my playing and in the mouthpieces I make. The two are inseparable. I don't, for example, offer a "jazz" mouthpiece, or a "beginner" mouthpiece. I might later, I don't now.

What I am trying to do, is produce Bb/A, Eb, and Bass mouthpieces that produce the sound that I want to hear from a clarinet, in an orchestral, chamber environment, and do so in a way that is easy and comfortable to play, and also achieves a high level of response AND excellent tuning.

I will not use adjectives to describe this "sound". However, if you want to experience what I am trying for, go hear David Shifrin in concert.......

Now, here is the interesting part. Both Roger and I studied with Shifrin, and had I believe equally "musically significant" learning experiences with him. However, Roger and I appear to be going in opposite directions in our mouthpiece endeavors.

The mouthpiece he describes, as unplayable for him, is exactly what I am producing. My tip opening range from 1.00 to 1.05 mm. This is much closer than those mouthpieces that I played on for years and years!!!!!!!!!

I will also flatly state that I have been very much influenced by Richard Hawkins mouthpieces, and to a lesser extent, those of Greg Smith (I have had more exposure to Hawkins' mouthpieces).

Does this mean that I am on the right track and Roger is on the wrong track? Of course not! They are equally valid approaches. Much depends on your embouchure and your reed preparation.

I purchased one of Roger's mouthpieces a year ago, and could have played successfully on it the rest of my musical "career". However, my personal tastes, and physical set-up has pushed me in a totally different direction.

My quest, is therefore a personal one, and is totally integrated with my clarinet playing and my approach to the clarinet (as I imagine Roger's is as well).

We could talk high baffle, low baffle, scooped baffle, short facing, long facing, here, but it means nothing without the mouthpiece in front of you, The only thing to do is to experiment like crazy and push the ENVELOPE like mad!

Question answered?

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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