 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Morrigan
Date: 2006-11-27 03:20
Hi everyone,
I'm in an interesting situation which I have never been in before. You see, for the past 2 or so years I have been going between Gonzalez and Vandoren reeds, usually for about 2 or 3 months at a time. I then try the other brand 'just to see' and love it and switch back. I've spent the majority of this year happily on V12s but just got some more Gonzalez in the mail and, of course, love them.
My sound is quite different with them. On Gonzalez I have a very bright, compact sound and the articulation is very crisp. On Vandoren, I sound 'normal', meaning, I sound like every other clarinet sounds.
To factor in even more variables, I play on a mixed pair - an R13 Bb and Leblanc Concerto A. Listening to a recording of a recital recently has drawn my attention to the fact that they are quite different.
Given the situation, what is the best way to pick which reed works best, which sound is going to get me the fartherst? What would you do? Has anyone ever been in a similar situation?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Detru Cofidin
Date: 2006-11-27 03:47
the sound that you feel is the best. Too many times I've found "the right sound" and then gone out driving and turned on the radio and heard this clarinet and it's like, "WOW, I wish I could sound like that!.
A clarinets sound different than Bb. Gonzalez's sound different than V12's. I would just go with what you've got and if you're not happy with it, change back. I think most clarinetists play this jumping-back-and-forth game.
Nicholas Arend
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 2E
Date: 2006-11-27 08:13
Absolutely right, although your concept of tone and what you want to sound like changes over time, sound is everything. We're musicians so what's most important is the music. If you aint got sound, you aint got nothing. Stick with what you think sounds best but remember theres nothing wrong with having 2 ideal sounds for classical/jazz, Bb/A etc.
2E
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-11-27 09:30
Why do you want to standardise on one sound?
In an orchestral section, you probably want to sound like the other players. As a soloist, maybe you want to sound different. And, as a soloist, the right sound for Brahms may not be the right sound for Nielsen.
I don't play at anything like your level, but I regularly use two types of reed: Gonzalez FoF (which for me make a darker sound) and Rico Evolution (which are brighter but easier to play). I don't see the need to settle on one or the other.
-----------
If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
