Klarinet Archive - Posting 000970.txt from 2001/10
From: EClarinet@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Band vs orch eefer range
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 16:04:52 -0500
Hi Luby!
I am going to answer several of your questions, but I'm going to do it in
just ONE post---that way we won't drive everyone else on this list crazy
reading posts that only have one sentence. You probably sent 8 posts because
you kept thinking of things you wanted to ask after you had already sent a
post. Here's what I do to keep the number of posts down: open a reply
email, respond to one post, and then move that window out of the way; then I
read the other posts on Klarinetlist, and if I want to comment on them, I
just bring my reply window back and add to it. I do this until I have read
everybody's posts. Then I know I can hit 'send' and take care of all of my
thoughts in one post.
So, now to responses to your questions:
<<What does one mean about "voicing" those notes on eefer?>>
Voicing is controlling the shape and speed of your air column by where you
position the back and possibly middle of your tongue. You have to use
voicing to get the very highest registers of the clarinet. The syllable
preferred by most people on clarinet to get the best sound and response is
'eeee'.
<<<However, with all of that in mind I'm noticing a trend in public schools
now
where the eefer is being removed. This trend is also happening in academia
where the eefer is no longer a viable part of the ensemble.
Can anyone enlighten me on these trends?>>>
We already talked about this subject earlier this month---look in the
archives.
<<<There are some really nice eefer parts in the Pineapple Poll. I love to
play eefer on this piece because it doesn't stick out. Who else has played
this piece and would like to share about the eefer part?>>>
I think the eefer part does stick out, in the second movement, where it has
the melody and is VERY exposed. I really think the solo clarinet part to
Pineapple Poll is difficult, and there is an interesting byplay in the 3rd
mvt between solo and eefer.
I'm not sure what you mean saying you like this because it DOESN"T stick out,
because earlier you said you were playing eefer so you could hear yourself.
That seems a bit contradictory.
<<<So can you play super C on your eefer with ease?>>>
NO WAY? Where did you get that idea? I said that when you play a double C
on the Bb clarinet, the voicing used there is very small. I've never played
higher than A on eefer. I can play double C on my Bb fairly easily, though.
<<<It's interesting that we should talk about this because my lowest E on
eefer
is way sharp. I've noticed that I also get a grimy sound when playing the
low G as well.
Does this happen to everyone else's eefer?>>>
Not sure what you mean by 'grimy', but there are LOTS of out of tune places
on the Eb compared with the Bb. That is one of the reasons it takes a great
musician to play the instrument really well.
<<<Because you are so good on eefer, do you also teach your students on
eefer?>>
Hold on there! I never said I was 'good'--I am still trying to be what I
call 'decent'!! :-) When you have heard people like Pete Hadcock, John Bruce
Yeh, and that guy in the Marine Band play eefer, then you know what 'good'
sounds like! But to answer your question, I have one student right now who
is playing Eb in his wind ensemble, so when we work on his parts, I teach
with my eefer. I also had a student a couple of years ago who liked the Eb
better than Bb, so I would let her do solos for festival on eefer, and of
course I would use my Eb in her lessons. I also have students who play bass,
and I use my bass when working on their bass music. I do 99% of my teaching
on Bb. The Bb is the primary member of the clarinet family, and no matter
which one you play the most on, you have to have the most solid grounding on
Bb.
Hope this helps answer your questions, and gives you a good demonstration of
how to answer many posts all in one big post! :-)
Elise Curran
Orlando, FL
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