 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: DAVE
Date: 2008-06-05 03:12
Tonight I rehearsed Appalachian Spring and noticed something odd. The intonation would be fine and then suddenly I would find that I was WAY sharp or at times extremely flat. I had a thought that maybe with all the key signature changes that the strings, not the highest quality I might add, either went flat with the flat key signatures and sharp with the sharps. Does that make sense? So with the sudden change to D Flat, suddenly the pitch center dropped, leaving the winds still at the higher level thereby making us sound sharp. So at that point I pull out, and things are groovy again, and then suddenly I am flat again!
Is this a common thing amongst string ensembles? This sudden shift in intonation is driving me mad!
david
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2008-06-05 07:33
This shouldn't happen, it sounds like your string players are the root of the cause. Are you playing the original version? If so the fact that this has a piano helps in keeping the tuning stable. I've done this a few times and have never had problems. I can tell you it's not common for a sudden shift in intonation.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-05 15:22
Our former 2nd clarinetist, Gordon Miller, 52 years in the BSO, used to say that intonation is a musician’s decease. Real good string players will play a sharp a bit higher then a flat, so C# will be slightly higher then a Db but not so much in orchestra playing. Besides, that’s real high quality players. What you’re experiencing is different. It’s either that the strings a very inconsistent and the winds are not or the winds are getting sharp as you get warmer and the string are not, then you pull out to compensate and suddenly your throat tones are flat because the proportions of you instrument are out of whack and you’re not experienced enough to handle it. It could also be all the above. If ALL the winds are having the same problem than it’s not you fault, if it’s more you, be careful about how much you pull out and try to adjust by embouchure and voicing after finding the optimum place to pull out your barrel and middle joint, if necessary. Check with the tuner after playing 15-20 minutes to make sure your clarinet is not at fault. None of us are perfect, and no clarinet is either. If it’s the string you will just have to learn to adjust on the fly. Good luck, ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
