Klarinet Archive - Posting 000845.txt from 2002/03

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] on the subject of a player's sound...
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 00:59:02 -0500

Dan Leeson posted:

<<<My perception is that the only role the clarinet itself plays in the
character of sound achieved is that what it produces sounds like a clarinet,
as contrasted with say a bugle.>>>

I couldn't agree more. If the mouthpiece is the same, the clarinet matters
not a whit. With this in mind, I duct-taped an aluminum foil tube extension
to an old Vito alto clarinet last night. It now plays (approximately) in
the key of F.

Dan - because sound is the same from horn to horn, I will gladly exchange my
"new" alto clarinet in F for your Fox rosewood basset horn. Straight up!

Absurdities aside, Dan's arguments ring true. A wise teacher once observed
that "the farther you get from your brain, the less important it is." 'Tis
true, I think. The embouchure is much more important than the mouthpiece
or reed, which counts more than the barrel etc. By far the most important
piece of equipment that you can bring to the gig is your brain. If you can't
hear it in your head first, you can't make it come out of the instrument.

With that said, particular equipment may help or hinder what it is that you
want to do. I happen to find it easier to play in tune on my new Yamaha CEs
than the Buffet R-13s they replaced - the scale is a little closer to even
temperment, the sound a tad bit more consistent from pitch to pitch. Others
have commented on the sound (which means, I suppose, that I sucked before?)
Doesn't mean that playing on a Buffet dooms you to mediocrity; zillions of
fantastic clarinet players use them every day as the weapon of choice.

There are very few absolutes in playing the clarinet. (I can only think of
one - unless you're using it as a percussion instrument, the pointy end goes
in your mouth.) For every mouthpiece, reed, ligature and clarinet ever
marketed, there's someone out there who made it sing.

. . . so I buy them all, of course.

kjf

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