Klarinet Archive - Posting 001080.txt from 2002/11

From: "Forest E. Aten Jr." <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tonguing --- Jack Brymer and Keith Stein
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 09:15:12 -0500

Bill,

I read and interpret both to be saying the same things. I do have the
benefit of knowing and performing with some of Stein's students.

Regards,

Forest

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Wright" <Bi6W@-----.net>
Subject: [kl] Tonguing --- Jack Brymer and Keith Stein

> Just to show that this question (should the breath stop flowing?) does
> not have a undisputed answer:
>
> Here are two quotes --- one from Jack Brymer "Clarinet" and the other
> from Keith Stein "The Art of Clarinet Playing", both of whom are
> respected clarinetists:
>
> ===========
>
> Brymer, while discussing the tonguing method that he prefers (he
> describes several), pgs. 64-77:
>
> [.... in this method, the tongue] is resilient and flexible, with the
> result that while part of it is engaged in pushing the reed towards the
> mouthpiece facing, another part, slightly further from its tip, is
> folding itself across the tip of the reed and the narrow slot which is
> the sole entry of air into the mouthpiece [....] Taken to its
> logical conclusion, this would indicate that the best attack upon a reed
> is not upon the reed itself, but upon the slot which separates it from
> the mouthpiece facing.
>
> ===========
>
> Stein, italics are shown by **, and ( ) are Stein's, pgs. 23-28:
>
> The most important lesson that can be learned regarding attack and
> articulation is that the process which is ordinarily called "tonguing"
> is actually a by-product of two other factors --- the **continuously
> moving breath** and the **active but quietly poised lips** [....]
> breath flow is continuous before, during, and after, the tongue stroke
> [....] One of the secrets of successful tonguing is the maintaining of
> a **continual breath flow**(and breath support) between tongued tones
> [....] It is contrary to human nature to keep active when little or
> nothing is transpiring; however, **learning to blow in the silences**
> pays great dividends.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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