Klarinet Archive - Posting 000080.txt from 2005/11

From: "Ted Casher" <tedcasher@-----.net>
Subj: Fw: [kl] saxophone question
Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2005 15:54:35 -0500

Ed---don't know much about the Optima mpce, but to me, the Selmer C* mpce is
nothing but a pea-shooter!

I double clarinet/tenor/fl. I used to do a lot w/lead alto, but---that was
then; this is now. I keep an old New York Meyer 6-M in my alto case, and it
serves me well in jazz and symphonic venues.

I use an Oleg metal wraparound ligature. It is pricey, but it works.
Better to buy one from Fred Weiner or Woodwind/Brasswind---you spend more
money if you buy it directly from Oleg!

The Oleg has all the advantages of a wraparound ligature without taking out
the high frequencies. I am a tenorplayer of the Hawk/Webster school, and my
air column and oral cavity are set up to blow the air in a dark manner.
Therefore, when I put the alto in my face, I need the highs, else it would
sound like an Eb tenor! As a bassoon player, you might have the same
problem!

Although, I find that there is a bigger issue of performance practice in the
articulation used by symphonic players when playing jazz. They rush beamed
eighth notes on beat 4, they do not play the first note long on the
eighth-quarter-eighth syncopation, and they don't stop staccato notes with
the tongue!

Last time I played the work in question, the maestro kept on saying "Shhh,
shhh!"

Anyway---good luck in your quest!
Ted Casher

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 5:29 PM
Subject: [kl] saxophone question

I know that there are several saxophonists on the list, so perhaps this
question can be excused.

My primary instrument is the bassoon, but I have been engaged next week
by a nearby symphony orchestra to play the alto saxophone part on
Bernstein's "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story." I have played this
part several times previously, but always debate with myself about which
mouthpiece and reed setup to use. Would you recommend using a
"classical" setup, or one more suited to jazz? Certainly the music is
jazz oriented, but then, it is a symphony orchestra.

My usual setup: For classical, an old, old Selmer C* mouthpiece, or a
newer Vandoren Optimum, with #3 reeds, usually Zonda, but sometimes
Vandoren. For jazz, either a Rousseau JDX8 or a Berg Larsen 90/0, with
Rico Royal reeds, #2.5. For both of these mouthpieces, I usually use a
Harrison gold ligature, but sometimes a Rovner or BG fabric-type
ligature.

I would be interested to hear if any others on the list have resolved
this question for themselves.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org