Klarinet Archive - Posting 000206.txt from 2003/01

From: "Semple on MSN" <wsemple@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Update on the Legere
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:52:04 -0500

Awhile back, I talked about my earlier experience with the Legere after
having excellent results with a Van Doren V12 3.5 and a 5RV mouthpiece. I
have since been playing only the Legere, and moved from a 3.5 to a 3.75.

The reed still plays a tad soft (I will try the 4.0 next week), but as I get
used to the Legere, the more I like its consistency and playablity. My
complaint remains with the lower register: I am not getting as clear a
bell-like tone out of the chalumeau as I do with my cane reeds, and there is
a slight difference in timbre that I still like better with the cane. More
reedy, woody, harmonically viscuous. Tough to explain. DARK! There we go.

That said, however, it is a joy to just pick up the instrument and play.
With cane, I can't predict how even my best reeds will play from one day to
the next.

I plan to continue playing nothing but the Legere for the rest of the month,
and report on my progress then. Either my ear is changing or I am simply
adapting to the reed, but I am liking the Legere more as time goes by. The
big test will be at the end of the month, when I switch back to the Van
Dorens for a week or so.

---------------------------------------------------------------------