 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bartmann
Date: 2007-06-04 16:14
When I open my clarinet case I alway get this feeling of anticipation. I never know exactly how my clarinet will sound. How will my good reeds sound today? The smell of the wood and corkgrease remind me of all the years I've been playing.
I never get this when I open my flute case. Perhaps because set-up is so fast and it's over before I can reflect. Perhaps because sterling silver doesn't expand and contract and there are no reeds, there are no equipment related tone generation variables.
But I think because the whole clarinet setup is somewhat involved, it has become a ritual that must be done just so: in the right order at the right pace.
Bartmann
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-06-04 16:42
But isn't it a great feeling when it all falls into place JUST right? That time you open your clarinet, put it together, and have the perfect reed and everything perfectly adjusted? SUCH a great feeling.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2007-06-04 23:18
I was at a gig once and opened my clarinet case. I had forgotten the mouthpiece at home. Yes, that was stark terror.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-06-04 23:33
> My feeling is more like stark terror, with equal amounts of revulsion.......
When a clarinet "makes it" past mail customs, and there's no search warrant accompanying it, I know I'm safe. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: leonardA
Date: 2007-06-05 03:53
My feeling is usually one not of stark terror but more apprehension. Thinking what will not work today--the reed, the embouchure, finger position. But it's such a rush when to my surprise sometimes everything works.
Leonard
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-06-05 04:31
Thank you, bartmann; I hadn't recognized the change wrought by digging into my horn box. It's like getting my bike ready for a ride. My heart rate picks up, my pores open, by brain starts noticing its connection to my muscles.
Most of my playing is practice, so my mind anticipates my warm up scales and skips over to the "whatever" I'm working on for repertoire or for the next performance. I worry just a bit about safely engaging the bridge mechanism and check to see if its time to wipe down the keys and renew cork grease on any of the joints.
My body relaxing into the routine, and my brain anticipating the session's work.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Klarinet
Date: 2007-06-05 07:19
I also played the flute (as a 2nd instrument) and until last year practicing the the flute was much more fun to me, because it always 'worked' from the moment I began to play. But now I can play the clarinet much better (all depends on the teacher, whatever they say) and although I still have that feeling Bartmann has when opening his clarinet case, I know you can do so much with this instrument. I can make the sound I like now and somehow a flute always sounds more or less the same.
So, don't give up and keep practicing and maybe someday you don't mind those reeds any more because it's important just to play and enjoy.
Greetings,
Goele
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2007-06-05 10:57
When I first started taking lessons in '39 the cork grease came in little "quarter size" tins (micro brand I think) and had a distinctive smell. That's the smell I can still imagine when I open my case. If only Doc could make his smell that way!
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bartmann
Date: 2007-06-05 14:30
Goele,
Yes it's the unpredictable combination of sound generating parts: reed, mouthpiece, and barrel, that makes the clarinet so wonderful. After spending so many years practicing clarinet I will never stop playing. It certainly is organic sounding.
And your observations about the flute are very true: its sound is very unchanging. But I love that aspect because any tone variation comes almost completely from the embouchure. So if you have a beautiful sound, it comes completely from the player. With the flute, one must always strive to keep the beauty of the tone foremost in one's mind. In contrast, with the clarinet, good equipment will get you 80% there towards generating beautiful sound.
uw vriend,
Bartmann
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-06-05 15:00
That micro tin grease smell always reminded me of cod liver oil.
Yuck
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2007-06-05 22:13
You're too young to remember the "good stuff",Alan. It was after "the war" they replaced the essence of gardenia with cod liver oil.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-06-06 01:03
I'm always waiting in anticipation to play my clarinet(s). I really like my Leblanc LL especially with a new mpc I found. I don't get a chance to play my clarinets much but I play plenty of other ones (repairs and such) !!
I have a couple of those Micro brand tins laying around. Not that I can remember them I also have a couple of those plastic screw lid 'tins' that you put those old Selmer expandable ligs on.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
