 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2005-01-12 20:43
I hope that someone here can give me some advice. I'm currently working on Berio's 'Lied', which I'm going to be performing on two, or possibly three, occasions next month.
I'm doing quite well in general and am thoroughly enjoying working on it, but there is one problem which I feel could definitely spoil my performances. After a couple of minutes' playing the tone gets a little fuzzy, due to saliva/condensation between the reed and the mouthpiece.
Normally I would just 'suck back' during a rest as one does with recorders, and when playing an accompanied piece you can't hear that, but in this piece, which is unaccompanied and very atmospheric, it's all but impossible to do it soundlessly (for me, anyway).
I should say, by the way, that I'm not a 'slobbery' sort of player - my mouth usually tends to be too dry if anything!
Has anyone got any hints or tips? I'd be very grateful! 
Joanna Brown
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-01-12 21:18
Joanna -
Go ahead and suck out the saliva. Better that than playing the rest of the piece with a sizzle.
Try asking this also on the Klarinet board. I'm sure Tony Pay has played it, and probably a lot of the other people, too.
Ken Shaw
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-12 21:53
Isn't sucking on a lemon supposed to reduce saliva flow?
Bob Draznik
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-01-12 23:14
And avoid dairy products before the performance.
(Especially if you are sucking lemons at the same time!)
JDS
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-13 11:53
I don't think it matters if the sound of sucking is heard. Not doing that for this reson sounds a bit too strict to me.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-01-13 13:12
It's probably audible to you, rather than the audience.
I've heard several pros clearing their pipe during performance.
It just means that particular performance was "juicy".
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-01-14 00:32
Warm up for about 10 minutes before you play, then swab out the entire clarinet, including the mouthpiece (take the mouthpiece off when you swab it). I've had your same problem, and this seems to clear it up for 15-60 minutes of performance time, depending on lots of factors.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: FoxeyJ
Date: 2005-01-16 03:06
If you need to suck the spit out, go ahead. I can't imagine it bothering anyone who is listening. I guess just do it as quietly as possible, if it bothers you.
And to EEBaum - don't ever swab your mouthpiece out - if you do this enough it will slowly wear down the mouthpiece and change it. Clean your mouthpiece with warm water.
Ben
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-01-16 03:34
I'm aware of that, and try to keep my mouthpiece swabbing to a minimum. I find that some method of removing the moisture is often necessary, especially before a performance, though. The Doctor's swab pulls through very easily when necessary (stock buffet swabs and the less friendly silk swabs are murder); gross as it seems, sometimes I'll just put my finger into the mouthpiece instead to remove the moisture. The initial condensation plus saliva can utterly saturate my mouthpiece, but if I dry it up after that, with whatever method, it holds for a considerable amount of time.
I'm not saying it's a great thing to do, but it works. To clean the mouthpiece AFTER playing, warm water is, of course, the method of choice.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: ken
Date: 2005-01-16 14:53
Keeping it sounding clean can also mean playing on well-prepared, broken in reeds. Possibly a stretch, but could it be your reed(s) aren't fully broken in, getting water-logged and fuzzing out? That would explain the build up of spit on the vamp. How is your reed "breaking in" method and routine these days?
Post Edited (2005-01-16 14:56)
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2005-01-16 16:54
Thanks for all your help, everyone. I've just come back from a great weekend playing recorder consorts with friends - wonderful stuff!
I'll be trying out all your hints - thanks again
Joanna Brown
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