Klarinet Archive - Posting 000018.txt from 2011/06

From: hns692@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Eb clarinet and biting ?
Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:12:26 -0400

I have a 1970s LeBlanc Eb with a Kalman Opperman mouthpiece purchased from
my clarinet coach probably 20 years ago. Opperman, in his 90s and still
teaching, passed away about a year ago, so unless you luck into a used
specialty mouthpiece made by him, another would have to do.

Regarding the upper register. I don't have a great deal of trouble with
high notes and do not have to bite. My jaw provides the needed pressure.
Never use a reed that is too hard or does not have enough moisture. If you
can't put a #4 reed on your mouthpiece and get good response, your
mouthpiece is probably too open and #3 reeds will have a tendency to collapse,
causing the need for lip repositioning and, I suppose, biting.

I'd check out Woodwind and Brasswind, the large California woodwind
suppliers (I can't recall the name[s]), or Weiner Music in New York. If you
aren't close to their facilities, check online or by phone for their policies
for trying multiple mouthpieces and try something different to see how it
compares to your setup. I appreciate specialty Eb mouthpiece makers and
would recommend trying those instead of high-line Selmer, Vandoren or LeBlanc.
The specialties are more expensive, but have generally been made to
address the idiosyncratic Eb.

You may be able to find some "fudge" keys, too. An online search for an
Eb fingering chart might turn up some extra fingerings that also will address
the problem, although I've stayed with the Klose chart for Bb and do not
know if there's an Eb chart available. It might be worth a try.

Also make sure that every time you play, your reed is in the exact position
that your mouthpiece requires reeds to be. Even a half mm off will cause
trouble. I do not have a problem with high range notes to G; after that, I
haven't run across a G# or A as I haven't played the orchestral excerpts
you note. Good luck!

Lee Ann Hansen
Eb/Bb Clarinet
First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band

In a message dated 6/3/2011 6:35:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
randolfkeller@-----.com writes:

A question to the Eb players on this list :

Not talking about the lower and middle registers - I have no issue with
biting in these areas.
But is it actually possible to play in the upper registers which are so
common for Eb clarinet in the more modern orchestra literature, without
biting ?
(and while trying to remain in tune...)

Let's say Shostakovich, 5th Symphony,

2nd mvt., passage from No. 69 or

4th mvt., from No. 100

or surely towards the end from No. 131.

Another passage is Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe, No. 94 onwards.

As much as I try to relax embouchure there, but in order to keep the
pitch, I do not really see a way other than "strenghten" the embouchure to an
extend that I would call "biting" with my Bb or A.

I would be interested to hear the experiences of other players with these
higher passages.

/Randolf
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