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how to growl

Author: bahamutofskycon
Date: 2007-06-22 06:23

I'm playing the Reed V book (cl, bass cl and bari sax) book for "Evita" in the Shenandoah Summer Music Theater pit this season and it calls for "growling" for about two measures on soprano clarinet.

I've never "growled" before - what is the technique/process to achieve this sound?

Advice is much appreciated,
Steve Ballas

P.S. I asked the trumpet players how they do it but I wasn't sure if it was the same on clarinet. When I tried their technique I couldn't get anything out.

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Re: how to growl

Author: ned
Date: 2007-06-22 06:53

This subject has a thread previously, however to emulate a growl, you must learn to ''move'' the uvula which is at the back of the throat.

Start saying ''grrrrrr'' and gradually tighten the back of the throat and or tense the muscles under the tongue, until the uvula starts to vibrate.

It's like gargling with mouthwash, without the liquid, of course.

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Re: how to growl

Author: CEC
Date: 2007-06-22 08:34

Hi Steve,

This doesn't answer your question, but I'm curious, is Tom Albert or Jim Laster the musical director for this show?

Thanks,

Chris

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Re: how to growl

Author: redwine
Date: 2007-06-22 11:49

Hello,

Some people find it difficult to growl. I believe that any effect (growl, or flutter tongue) you can master will please the conductor.

I'm not an expert on growling, but believe that you do get the back of your throat to vibrate, as Ned suggests.

Some people also sing while they play. I don't do this either, but I believe that they sing different pitches than what they are playing.

I do flutter tongue quite a lot in jazz. I think it's an interesting effect. Audiences seem to love it. Let me try to explain what you do:

I drop my tongue a bit from the normal playing position. Then, redirect my air from the normal position to slightly lower. This facilitates the tip of my tongue vibrating quickly. It's similar to rolling r's in speech, but different because the tongue is in a lower position. Higher notes are more difficult than lower ones.

Good luck.

Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com

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Re: how to growl

Author: Bartmann
Date: 2007-06-22 13:32

Bahamuto,

Klezmer technique involves voicing "ka" in the back of the troat instead of the regular "ta". So instead of saying "ta" to initiate a note, by saying "ka" you get a throatier/more throatish/more throatful/a fiendishly more throatulent sound.

So perhaps you can use an exaggerated "kraaah", similar to the sound of clearing your throat of phlegm.

Good luck in your search for the growl.

Bartmann

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Re: how to growl

Author: bahamutofskycon
Date: 2007-06-22 14:07

Thanks for all the advice - I'll start working on that and seeing what I come up with.

Chris - Tom Albert is the music director for the first and third shows ("Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Evita") and Karen Keating is the music director for the other two ("Little Me" and "Bye Bye Birdie"). Jim Laster hasn't been music director at least since I've been involved (last summer was my first season). But Laster was involved last season - he played Oz in "The Wizard of Oz" and was absolutely perfect in the role.

And I mispoke - the growl is in "Little Me." It gets confusing when you're performing one show, rehearsing for the second and practicing the music for the third all at the same time.

Thanks,
Steve Ballas

Post Edited (2007-06-22 14:07)

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Re: how to growl

Author: William
Date: 2007-06-22 14:30

"It gets confusing when you're performing one show, rehearsing for the second and practicing the music for the third all at the same time."

But ain't it nice to be play'n..............:>)

BTW, I used to do a lot of "growling" on rock solos with my tenor, but find it more difficult on clarinet. Like described above, for this effect, I use the back of my tongue. You might try practicing first without any instrument and starting the "action" with an H sound. After that, it's sort of a breathy, rumbling bunch of GA's........

(enjoy)

Post Edited (2007-06-22 14:36)

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