 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cpark
Date: 2007-04-13 22:05
Here is what Greg Smith advertises on his website about his reed profiler/Shaper:
"Hand held clarinet reed profiler made to match the taper of the old MORRÉ German or French cut reed (the reed used and developed by Robert Marcellus of the Cleveland Orchestra)"
"Works especially well with Vandoren V-12 or Rico Grand Concert reeds"
I was lucky enough to get a box of french cut morres recently...the taper is exacly the same as a V12. Exactly.
If you were to use it with a V12...what would even be the point?
I was thinking about trying it to make blanks...but my dilutis profiler already cuts to that same profile...
chris
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2007-04-14 00:18
Chris -
The V-12 has a "quicker" taper than either the French or German Morre reeds.
That was the reason behind the genesis of my own shaper. Now, one can take a V12 shaped taper and modify it to match the taper of the Morre in either the commercially manufactured V12 form or with a blank prepared from scratch.
You may want to read:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=103831&t=103756
BTW, as indicated by my posts in that thread, the Morre was under constant modification and development as per Marcellus' instructions. In accordance with my posts, I've found differing degrees of taper depending on the vintage of the Morre specimen. I eventually chose the taper that worked best for Marcellus as relayed to me during my personal advisement with him. (Marcellus played the German cut 12,5 or 12.6 tip width.)
Gregory Smith
http://www.gregory-smith.com
Post Edited (2007-04-14 00:38)
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2007-04-14 03:12
Gregory,
In your opinion, what mouthpiece numbers/configuration works best with that exact morre reed?
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2007-04-14 04:37
RR -
My first inclination would be toward the Kaspar mouthpiece since that is the mouthpiece for which it was developed. The Cheds of that day didn't have the tonal flexibility, color, or amplitude of vibration to exploit the wonderful, shapely sound that the Kaspar/Morre/Bonade/Buffet/Moennig set up allowed one to produce.
However, the modern day Chedeville style being made in newer incarnations are prime candidates for a Morre "style" reed - hence the overwhelming popularity of the V12 since it came out immediately after Karl Firstl destroyed his machines so that no one would discover his secrets.
One has to keep in mind that reeds and mouthpieces, etc, are all undergoing a constant evolution so that they meet modern day needs insofar as tonal concepts and power are concerned. Morre's were far ahead of their time and as mentioned in one of the posts in the provided link above, the V12 would never have been thought of until the demise of the Morre.
It's easy to forget the thin and wide, flat-looking, denser-caned reeds of yesteryear that did not provide the depth or tonal weight that the thicker blank/softer cane reeds do today. It's also easy to forget that the very notion that there was a "golden era" for mouthpieces is true insofar as it goes. The fascination with duplication to the nth degree of mouthpieces of the past does not fully take into account the demands of clarinetistry as it has evolved since the first half of the 20th century.
I speak with top orchestral wind instrumentalists everyday whether it be in the Chicago Symphony or with my friends and colleagues in other top orchestras around the world. This principle is practically universal to all of the wind instruments. And clarinet equipment is no exception.
Gregory Smith
http://www.gregory-smith.com
Post Edited (2007-04-14 04:48)
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-04-15 12:40
Gregory,
I cannot help but be curious about this.....
Do you know if the profile of the Legere Quebec (thick cut) reed is anywhere close to that of a Morre?
Please understand I'm not suggesting that a comparision can be made in tonal quality. I'm simply curious about the physical measurements.
Thank you very much, Roger
Post Edited (2007-04-15 17:13)
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2007-04-15 17:14
Roger -
Since I have not measured the two side by side, I am unable to give a definite answer to your question.
Gregory Smith
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