 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-06-30 12:00
Hi folks!
This may be setting up for some (more) insults for the Eefer but it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. There seems to be several philosophies as to how the Eefer should sound and I'm not sure any of these schools of thought are exactly right.
One school says it should sound exactly like a Bb clarinet, only higher. Right now my most used setup of Fobes mouthpiece and barrel plus the Fobes extension makes for an Eefer that plays softer and blends in with the clarinet section and even the flutes and piccolo in the wind groups. The edge is gone. In the high range it sounds "like a mouse" rather than blaring. This may work as an ensemble instrument but I think it's a little bit like putting a mute on it.
The other school has a seemingly more raucous approach to the instrument. It acts like a clown or cheeky, almost a clarinet in parody. This sort of voice works well for the more raucous solos in Till Eulenspiegel, El Salon Mexico and the Symphony Fanastique. However, it is not that pleasant a sound to hear 24/ 7. A recent recording of Pedro Rubio has mostly this style of Eb playing. And this may be the sort of Eb sound many expect to hear from the instrument. With a different setup I can produce that sound too.
Lately I've been going for something sort of in between these two schools and maybe a bit of my own take on it. I think the Eefer should have its own voice, not just a high Bb clarinet. Some of the outrageousness/cheekiness should be evident in the sound but it should have the ability to blend, when needed. When playing with the oboes and flutes I do use some vibrato to match their sound quality but I don't want to blend so completely that it's not a distinct voice either. This sort of combo sound works especially well in the solo in Bolero and the "off scene" solo in Daphnis & Chloe. Both of these are mnore sensuous melodies
Anyway, I'd appreciate others comments on what their concept of a good Eb sound should be. TRY TO BE KIND!!!
Eefer guy
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-06-30 14:30
Depends upon the player. In a professional setting, whatever the director wants, and gets.
richard smith
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Author: William
Date: 2008-06-30 15:09
Duke (again) has the correct answer: "If it sounds good, it is good."
"End of discussion" (Tony Soprano)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-30 15:15
Within the foundation of your individual sound concept you need to be able to do both.
james
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: mrn
Date: 2008-06-30 15:44
I agree with the other posters--it's whatever the music calls for, and you should be able to do both. The same thing applies to the Bb clarinet. I wouldn't use the same sound/character for the opening to Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie that I would for the opening of Rhapsody in Blue, etc. With some pieces the character of the instrument even changes from measure to measure--the 3rd mvt. to the Poulenc sonata with its almost comically rapid mood swings comes to mind.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-06-30 15:52
I guess my other part of the question is what the group thinks as a general answer as well as a music-driven one. Should the Eefer sound different than a Bb?
I like to think "yes". One of my colleagues described it as "spritely" compared to a Bb. There are other less kind adjectives occasionally hurled from the flute section!
The recording by Pedro Rubio got me started in this thought pattern. In his CD he played the Eb in what I would describe as sort of stridently throughout, as though one were playing the the part in A Hero's Life. I thought that sort of tone in the more lyrical piece he was playing was was off for the mood that should've been created.
Anyway thanks for your comments!
eefer guy
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Author: John25
Date: 2008-06-30 21:09
I agree that the Eb clarinet (nobody uses "eefer" here in the UK) should have its own voice, but I think it should not be overly raucous or too strident. Some conductors have only heard the instrument played badly, and base their ideas on that. On quite a few occasions when I have played the Eb, the conductor has come up to me afterwards and said, "I never knew an Eb clarinet could sound so pleasant. That was great".
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-30 21:27
If you don't like "eefer" how about "the shrieking twig"?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-01 02:25
Interesting question. I think an Eb clarinet needs to sound a little bit different than a Bb clarinet but I really doubt that anyone sounds exactly the same on both instruments, unless they already get a very bright screechy sound of the Bb. The nature of the Eb is such that it should sound a little different but should never sound like I’ve heard it played at times, too bright, too screechy, and too ugly. Sure you fit the sound to the phrase but that doesn’t mean you go over board as some do. You should always try to sound musical regardless of the sound you’re looking for. My vote goes for a good Eb sound that means not ugly.
ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
(Listen to a little Mozart, live recording, not on an Eb clarinet though)
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-07-01 12:09
Thanks for your comments, other than the "shrieking twig" one that is! I knew I'd get at least ONE of those!
John24 I have had both the comment of "I didn't know they could sound that good" and "I didn't know they could be played in tune". It is gratifying although as you mention the comments are derived from people playing it badly. I generally play the obbligato part in Stars & Stripes Forever with the piccolo and we can even pull off that in quite good tune. Now I have people even saying "I like that part BETTER on the Eefer." That is one time for "not subtle" though.
Ed, your colleague in Baltimore, Steve Barta, and I grew up in the same town and we took lessons from the same teacher(a great guy who played under Toscanini). I am five years younger but I did hear the end of one of his lessons one day when I was in the 8th grade. I wanted to chop my fingers off as I was so inferior to his playing! Luckily for me that was the only time I followed Steve in lessons!
Am not sure when "Eefer" first came into use in this country. I've used it since the '70's and I heard it from another clarinet player so it certainly pre-dates that. In fact when I heard the term I liked it, hence my pseudonym for these postings. Anyone know more about its origin??
Eefer guy
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Author: Veldeb
Date: 2008-07-01 14:41
I play Eb in a symphonic band so looking at it from a clarinet section sound from contrabass up to the Eb, I tend to add the "sparkle" to the section sound. Particularly when the part is unique and not just doubling the firsts or doubling the oboe and flute I try to slip into the line and add a bright color. Ive surprised our conductor with the chalameaux on the Eb. Of course, when left to my own devises I can certainly be impertinent demanding to be heard (think Armenian Dances). Of course most of the bad rap is that Eb is sooooo tough to keep in tune. I finally gave up years ago with the altisimo register realizing .. heck.. i'm so flat.. why not just transpose the sucker.. I transpose by sight into C anyway... So now rather than trying to pinch my embouchure, open every key and vent.. i just play from high D and above a step higher quite relaxed :-)
Blake
Washington DC
Effer for www.dcdd.org
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Author: duxburyclarinetguy
Date: 2008-07-04 13:21
When I was in school studying with Harold Wright I asked him about this very subject as I was to play several orchestral pieces on the Eb clarinet. We talked about sound and the need to play in character of the music. He mentioned the sound of Donald Montanaro as being something I should try to emulate. I heard Harold play Eb in the Varèse Octandre and as one would expect he sounded very very good.
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