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 French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: SecondTry 
Date:   2024-08-18 18:05

I really like the French Legere. If nothing else, on those humid Summer days where several of my previously developed/nurtured cane reeds just don't seem to cut it, it's nice that there's a stable go to reed for me to turn to in this synthetic offering, even if its "92%" of my best cane. Unlike Legere predecessor products, I'm able to not play flat on this most recent Legere offering.

That said, notes like B6 [B6] and C7 [C7] are difficult for me to express on this synthetic using fingerings that I have better luck with hitting these notes when playing on cane. I was wondering if others had similar issues and what, if anything, the were able to do to address them. I tried various fingerings without it much helping me hit these notes, and doing the things I normally do to hit them with cane (e.g. taking in ever slightly more mouthpiece to hit these notes.)

Clearly, for all the times I need to hit these rare notes, this isn't a deal breaker of a problem, I was just wondering nevertheless if it's a problem experienced and/or addressed by others here.

TIA

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: lydian 
Date:   2024-08-18 22:59

Welcome to the club. This is one of the many reasons I have to play cane when it counts.

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: kilo 
Date:   2024-08-19 00:05

Quote:

I was just wondering nevertheless if it's a problem experienced and/or addressed by others here.


Not on bass. For me, anyway. But I've found altissimo much easier on the bigger mouthpiece.

EDIT: Using 3½ F.C. Tenor Saxophone reeds on both Grabner White Velvet and Fobes CF



Post Edited (2024-08-19 04:02)

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: donald 
Date:   2024-08-19 00:19

On Saxophone (cough cough) I find the Altissimo works brilliantly (and reliably) on Legere, but yes I agree the French cut isn't the best on that top octave (thumb C upward) for clarinet.
Some years back I needed to play the Ginastera Variations with ACO, I do this one swapping to C clarinet for the central section, meaning I need to do the run only up to altissimo B. Instead of swapping mouthpieces over I was leaving a mouthpiece/reed ON the C clarinet to use (so I could use a sharper mouthpiece, and play in tune on the cold clarinet).
Despite the disadvantage of a cane reed drying up, I ended up using cane on the C mouthpiece rather than Legere as even my B+ cane reeds could hit that high B better than the Legere...
As you say though, not really a deal breaker for most general use, and I find the French cut to have many nice qualities

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: bmcgar 2017
Date:   2024-08-19 00:56

I have had no problem up there with either the 3.5 or 3.75 strengths on my Saluzzi, Vandoren, and Grabner mouthpieces.

B.

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: Burt 
Date:   2024-08-29 00:33

Using Signature 3.5, I have no trouble reaching A, and can usually reach C. I can't get C# and above. Above A, it's easier to get good response with a "good" cane reed, especially when slurring from below A.

I've never had to perform anything with any notes above A. The only piece I've played around with that goes above A is the Artie Shaw concerto.

Ridenour Libertas
Vandoren M30

Burt

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: Tom H 
Date:   2024-08-29 01:16

Depends strictly on the reed for me. I use a Vandoren 2.5 wood and with a really good one I can reach G above C7. For whatever reason I don't know.

The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.

Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475

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 Re: French Legere Reeds and Super High Notes
Author: Jarmo Hyvakko 
Date:   2024-08-29 12:32

Interesting... I find it very easy to get the high B and C with Legere, both european and french than with cane, with which i have always found them very challenging. Also i find legeres working very well with Eb clarinet, a real game changer in altississimo range. I use #4 in Bb and A clarinet and #3,75 or #4 in Eb, depending on what kind of music i am playing.

Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland

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