Klarinet Archive - Posting 000913.txt from 2001/10

From: "Keith" <100012.1302@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] RE: klarinet Digest 30 Oct 2001 09:15:00 -0000 Issue 3423
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 11:26:17 -0500

I think this is a good description, Elise. I think that what is happening
technically, is "impedance matching". In an audio amplifier you match the
output impedance of the amp to the input impedance of the speaker. This is
so that you maximise the power transfer to the speakers. I think this is an
exact analogue; one's oral cavities are the output of the breath/support
stream, and these need to be matched to the vibrating system of the
clarinet. Practically, how one does it is as you describe, making ones mouth
smaller for the high notes (yes, eeeeek!). A way of thinking it is to think
of singing the note (yes I know we can't sing that high but the effect is
the same). I think this is separate from airstream considerations.

There are some refinements on this principle; for example, on a really bad
bass clarinet (without double register keys, you know the one I mean,
Bernie!) the voicing for the clarinet register is similar to that a twelfth
below. You can learn to get awkward notes by playing the chalumeau note and
then pushing the register key.

Flutists use this principle all the time, calling it "resonance", but mainly
for tone quality and volume, I believe.

Keith Bowen

---------------
<< by "voice them as small as you can", Elise, you mean making it softer by
means of breath support?

Cheers, Virginia>>

Virginia, not so much 'softer' as 'smaller'. The space I am making at the
back of my mouth where my tongue is raised is even smaller than usual. This
means that a smaller volume of air comes through, but it is even faster,
which is what I really need to get those high notes and get them in tune.

When I am describing this to my students, I tell them to use more "eeee" or
to make the note 'smaller'. It is exactly the same thing I do when I am
singing in my extreme altissimo range (we call it 'flute' voice). The note
feels like a tiny squeak to me, but it comes out nicely and there is no
trouble with projection. Think of the tiny little space you have to make to
get double high C---you cannot slam a lot of air through your
throat/mouth---you must "eeeek" it out, right?

When I first started doing all my eefer playing, I just kept trying to find
a
harder and harder reed, but this approach has its limits, and was not
reliable. My sister, who has done a lot more eefer playing than I,
suggested
that I make it work with my voicing. I objected at first, said it couldn't
be done, but she has turned to be correct!

Elise Curran
Orlando, FL

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