Klarinet Archive - Posting 000223.txt from 2003/06

From: "Resurgere Jones" <resurgereweb@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] clarinet vs sax mouthpieces
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2003 19:17:57 -0400

As someone who plays both, I find that I'm just more neurotic about these
kind of things when I play clarinet. No, seriously, I think a clarinet
design that featured a big metal lip of several thousands of an inch inside
the bore *might* well sound different. But since all saxes have this
feature, it's part of the characteristic sound of a saxophone.

And furthermore, I've never heard this huge change in tone or response that
is supposedly introduced when a gap emerges in the bore. At various times
for various reasons I have experimented with pulling out slightly each and
every joint on the instrument (once, all of them at once, to try to get
through a rehearsal with an unbearably flat piano). While it has the obvious
(and desired) effect of modifying the scale of the instrument, its effect on
tone quality, stuffiness, etc. is non-existent. Anyone who says different is
trying to sell you tuning rings.

Sometimes I think all clarinetists should be required to read "Zen and the
art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

>From: William Edinger <wde2@-----.com>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: klarinet <klarinet@-----.org>
>Subject: [kl] clarinet vs sax mouthpieces
>Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2003 10:27:51 -0700
>
>The mouthpiece experts all point out that on the clarinet (at least the
>shorter ones), subtle differences in bore dimensions, the chamber shape,
>and even the gap between a mouthpiece and barrel can make big differences
>in its effectiveness, and I am sure this is correct. However, just looking
>at a saxophone and the way the mouthpiece connects - there's always a huge
>bore change between it and the neck, markedly altered as you adjust
>intonation - makes me wonder if the same principles apply. Or is the
>saxophone such a crude, neolithic monstrosity that it is not subject to any
>forms of subtlety? (Personally, I find the alto sax irresistably
>beautiful.) I'd like to hear what the experts say about this obvious and
>gross disparity between the way the two kinds of mouthpieces attach to
>their respective instruments.
>
>Bill Edinger
>
>***************
>Music and wine are one.
>
>Ralph Waldo Emerson
>
>
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