Klarinet Archive - Posting 000089.txt from 2002/07
From: "Braithwaite, Howard (NHS PMD1)" <Howard.Braithwaite@-----.uk>
Subj: RE: [kl] Clarinet Mouthpieces
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 08:14:53 -0400
As a UK player the tradition has been to opt for a slightly woody =
sound, in
the old B & H '10 -10' tradition, and I guess they used the mouthpieces =
that
came with the instrument. Nowadays we are a lot more picky, but =
generally
we seem to be heading in the direction of a brighter more projected =
sound,
possibly because modern orchestras tend to play louder and brighter. It
might also be linked to smaller bore clarinets and the preponderance of
French models (primarily Buffet R13/RCs). But undoubtedly mouthpieces =
also
have a part to play, along with the reed/ligature combination.=20
I tend to the view that a close tip/longer lay will give a darker =
sonority
(ie Vandoren 5RV and M13/M15) whereas a brighter sound will come from a
larger tip/shorter lay configuration such as the B45. However, the =
Optimum
ligature (longtitudinal plate) also seems to enhance projection.=20
Answers on a post card!
Howard Braithwaite
NHS Performance Management Division
National Assembly for Wales
Tel: 029 20823218
Fax: 029 20823907
e.mail: howard.braithwaite@-----.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: w7wright@-----.net]
Subject: Re: [kl] Clarinet Mouthpieces
<><> Bonney=A0Ennett wrote:
Can anyone suggest a mouthpiece that will really enhance the sound I am
already getting.
Bonney, look at it this way:
If the shape of a mouthpiece makes a difference, then the shape of
_your_ mouth and _your_ oral cavity make a difference also. Not to
mention the size & shape of _your_ tongue, the way that you use _your_
throat and diaphragm, and so forth.
Since no two individuals are identical in all these respects, the =
*ONLY*
advice that makes sense is:
Try a bunch of mouthpieces (including from different manufacturers) and
listen to the results. Which combination of your throat + your facial
geometry + your embouchure a mouthpiece and reed gives the best
results?
(We haven't even begun to discuss whether _your_ concept of 'best'
matches mine or anybody else's.)
It will cost you a few dollars in freight and service charges to test
different mouthpieces and to return the ones that don't please you, but
--- as someone posted here a few days ago --- "It's part of the gig."
Cheers,
Bill
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The original of this email has been scanned for viruses by the =
Government
Secure Intranet (GSI) virus scanning service supplied exclusively by =
Cable &
Wireless in partnership with MessageLabs.
GSI users - for further details, please contact the GSI Nerve Centre, =
or
browse GNC 003/2002 at http://www.gsi.gov.uk/main/new2002notices.htm
In case of problems, please call your organisations IT helpdesk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
