Klarinet Archive - Posting 000435.txt from 2002/11

From: "Alan J. Nussbaum" <ajn8@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] My problem with legere reeds. A general one?
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 23:54:24 -0500

Dear Franco and others,

I too have found that Legere reeds (at least 3.5, 3.75, and 4) play
extremely flat on a number of chalumeau and throat notes (the worst
on my R-13 being middle C, which is horrendous with these reeds). To
make matters worse, the problem persists over a whole range of
mouthpieces (including, but not limited to, my Fobes 4L, my Blayman
R, and my Gregory Smith Chedeville 1+--all terrific mouthpieces with
cane reeds [at least for me]). And since I don't consider it
reasonable to buy yet another mouthpiece for no other reason than
that it might allow me to play on a plastic reed (as convenient as
that might be), I have simply concluded that these reeds are just not
for me--and that's without even considering the fact that in my
experience the Legeres have a tendency to warp (!) badly, bending
away from the facing so markedly that the teeter-totter along the
length of the table can actually be felt manually. Maybe I'm doing
something wrong--and, if so, I would very much appreciate the advice
of those who have had success with these reeds. But that's my two
cents' worth on what I've experienced up to now.

Alan Nussbaum

>Hi everybody,
>I have been browsing the klarinet archives looking for
>an e-mail dealing with my problem with legere reeds.
>Unfortunately I found none.
>
>The problem I have when playing with my legere reed is the following one:
>the notes in the low register and the "throat notes"
>are far flatter, with respect to the other registers, than
>they usually are when using cane reeds.
>Is this a general problem with legere reeds or is it me
>making something wrong?
>In case it is a general problem, is there any trick to avoid it?
>A particular sort of mouthpiece to use, better ligatures?
>I would not like to give up my legere reed,
>but this morning playing a Bach transcription with my
>lagere gave me a strong wish of committing suicide... :-)
>
>Thank you
>
>cordially
>Franco Barbanera

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