 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Elise
Date: 2000-03-02 05:41
Having read several previous posts on the subject, I'm still a little confused.
Please correct me if I am wrong... Is the Bflat clarinet normally Bflat440, and the tuning of A440 a half step lower than the "normal"? If so, will the B45-13 (specifically geared for A440)still work for me in playing with accompaniment that is not tuned to A440? I am afraid I may have purchased the wrong mouthpiece. I sound flat when playing my new mouthpiece, and I am not sure what to do next.
I know you have all made suggestions on previous versions of this post, but I am still not sure I understand. Your help will be appreciated!
My instrument is a Selmer 1401, by the way.
Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-03-02 08:52
The B-flat clarinet in America is tuned so that the note written C comes out as B flat. The note writte B comes out as A. The A produced is 440 cycles per second (Hz).
In Europe, the A used to tune orchestras appears to be 442 Hz, so the clarinet is tuned a tiny bit higher. The note written as C is still B flat and is still a semitone higher than A, but the A is 442 Hz, so all the notes are that tiny bit higher too.
These two pitches 440 and 442 are so close that manufacturers just make two different sizes of barrel and leave the rest of the instrument the same.
Early music orchestras generally tune to a much lower pitch. It is still the note A that is used to define the pitch.
I hope this makes it slightly clearer.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-02 12:41
Elise wrote:
-------------------------------
Having read several previous posts on the subject, I'm still a little confused.
Please correct me if I am wrong... Is the Bflat clarinet normally Bflat440, and the tuning of A440 a half step lower than the "normal"? If so, will the B45-13 (specifically geared for A440)still work for me in playing with accompaniment that is not tuned to A440? I am afraid I may have purchased the wrong mouthpiece. I sound flat when playing my new mouthpiece, and I am not sure what to do next.
I know you have all made suggestions on previous versions of this post, but I am still not sure I understand. Your help will be appreciated!
My instrument is a Selmer 1401, by the way.
Thanks!
-------------------------------
The international standard is supposed to be concert A=440 hertz. Now the Bb clarinet is a transposing instrument. When we finger C, we get a concert Bb (this is a whole step not a half by the way). To get a concert A, we must finger what is called B natural on our clarinet.
Now clarinets are normally built a little sharp anyway to allow for tuning under the normal range of circumstances. So normally you should be able to accommodate a group that has a little different tuning.
When a person switches mouthpieces some adjusment time is required as each plays a bit differently. Some student mouthpieces are built deliberately sharp (the Selmer Bundy comes to mind here) so that students, who haven't yet developed their embouchure and breath support, will not be horrendously flat. However when switching to a mouthpiece with more standard tuning, the person tries to play with the breath and embouchure support they used on the student mouthpiece so end up flat. They have to work on getting accustomed to the needs of the new mouthpiece.
The bottom line is that your mouthpiece ought to be fine. If you haven't had it very long, just have some patience and work on pitch. If you've been playing it several months, perhaps you as an individual may need something else. Not everyone is the same. Perhaps a shorter barrel might be the answer instead.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-03-02 14:31
Well said, Eoin and Dee. Elise, we have been having quite a discussion [below on this BBoard] under Intonation ----, which, because it involves "temperaments" which is, or should be, taught in music-school theory classes, may just add confusion to our early clarinet tuning efforts. In what reviewing I've done of this complex subject, to study it to an understanding, I suggest and recommend 3 books, "Horns Strings and Harmony" by Arthur Benade, "Intonation Training for Cl'ists" by Larry Guy and "Clarinet Acoustics" by Lee Gibson. I believe all of these may be obtained [in paperbacks] from Gary Van Cott, a Sneezy sponsor, at reasonable cost. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: beejay
Date: 2000-03-04 00:16
Am I right in thinking that the 13 on Van Doren mouthpieces refers specifically to models sold in the United States? They don't seem to exist here in France.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Elise
Date: 2000-03-04 19:09
Hi everyone. I want to thank you all and really this whole board, for all your good advice and guidance. Now, in answer to beejay's question, in reading the Vandoren brochure, it says they developed the 13 series for American clarinetists using A440 pitch, which, by what I have read on these boards, would include certain specifics makes of clarinets. When I bought the mouthpiece,the seller didn't know what the 13 meant and I sort of wish I had done more research first, but I think it is going to work out good for me in the long run.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
