Klarinet Archive - Posting 000020.txt from 2011/06

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dniethamer@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Eb clarinet and biting ?
Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:42:33 -0400


On Jun 3, 2011, at 8:12 AM, Lee Ann Hansen wrote:

> 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.
>
Eb Mouthpieces by Fobes, Grabner, and older Hites will also do this well. I have a Fobes (my first choice) and an old Hite (great pitch, brighter sound for me) that both play to altissimo G without what I would characterize as "biting". I recently played a Grabner which was pretty "dark", but produced the entire range without undue excess effort.

> 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 once had a colleague suggest German Bb reeds shortened at the butt end. These reeds are 1.) thicker, so they have a bit more heart/pitch stability, 2.) narrower, so they fit on a modern Eb mpc better than cutting down a Vandoren Bb reed, and 3.) have a shorter scrape, so they match the window of an Eb mpc more accurately than a French style Bb reed. Worked well for the instance I needed it, but was not cheap!

> 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.
>
Find Peter Hadcock's Book of Eb clarinet excerpts. In the center of the book is four pages of fingerings specific to various pieces of orchestral repertoire. Lots of "alternative"fingerings for altissimo notes that are specific to Eb clarinet, and work really well. It also has a correctly transposed Eb clarinet part to "Till".

> 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

David B. Niethamer
dniethamer@-----.net
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html

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