 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jodi
Date: 2000-11-12 04:05
I am playing Reed one for the musical Sweet Charity. Instead of playing alto sax, I am playing the Eb sopranino... In addition to that, there is Bb, Flute and piccolo.
The problem is this...
There is VERY little time to switch and prepare an instrument before playing it (Usually a few measures.) Any ideas on how to keep my reeds from drying out so much? I can't take them off the clarinets prior to playing because of lack of time...
Thanks!!
~Jodi
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Author: mary
Date: 2000-11-12 06:18
just got home from playing "Stop the World..."- i deal with it by playing slightly softer reeds than normal, and taking advantage of whatever measures rest i can get to moisten reeds. playing fast switches on doubles is an art unto itself- don't treat it quite the same as playing an individual instrument. anyone else?
mary
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2000-11-12 09:15
Cover the airholes on the mouthpiece cap with duct tape.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-12 09:27
No problem. Just practice playing with dry reeds and practice changing. I have learnt this from the 156 productions I have played for. I.e. develop a much more versatile embouchure. You'll need it for shows like that. Me & My Girl has 74 instrument changes. From memory Sweet Charity has a fair few.
But why on earth are you playing sopranino? Sweet Charity is a very well arranged show, using and balancing the timbre of the instruments specified at any given time. Sopranino will never have the full warmth of sound that was intended, but will do the opposite with a strident sound. And most of the Alto part will have to go an octave higher on sopranino. That will muck up the whole sound. I'm mystified. Next you'll be putting the double bass part on your piccolo!
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2000-11-12 10:42
I found doubling bliss about 17 years ago when I started using plastic reeds on the saxes. This allows me to lavish the attention on the clarinet that it needs. I also agree with the person who recommended using slightly softer reeds while doubling.
When I have a book that involves very little clarinet, I use some of my older reeds which are both softer and less likely to dry out on me.
Allen Cole
allencole@richmond.com
http://allencole.tripod.com
http://www.jamschool.net
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-11-12 12:52
Cut small pieces of sponge and put them up inside the caps. Dampen them and it will keep your reeds from drying out quite nicely. Try to use a somewhat thin sponge. Also don't try to push the caps all the way on. In a pinch, I've also just put a piece of dampened tissue or paper towel in the cap.
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Author: Jodi
Date: 2000-11-12 14:27
Gordon-
The use of the sopranino is due to lack of alto sax. We are not using a full orchestra for the production anyway (piano, drums, 1 guitar, 1 bass, one trumpet, and me) , so it's not affecting anything... stuff that sounds nasty in that register, I simply play down an octave.
Thanks to everyone for your input... it's well appreciated...
Jodi
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Author: William
Date: 2000-11-12 16:13
These are some ideas of mine that have been helpful to me as a doubler: 1) soak your reeds one half hour before the show to get them thoroughly wet. Soak the whole reed, not just the tip. Use a glass and let the reeds float--this will moisten the "butt-end" and serve as a resevoir for moisture as the tip dries out. 2) At every opportunity during the show, put a mouthpiece in your mouth to help keep the tip moist. 3) During rests, keep your mp caps on (never tried Dee's sponge idea, but it sounds good as long as you don't inadvertently "jam" your reed puting the sponged cap on) 4) Between acts, re-moisten everything. 5) Use softer reeds as you often need to be able to play pp under the diolog and song. This will keep your actor/singer colleges happier, even if they mess up on their own. FYI--I also agree that you should use the instruments called for by the composer/arranger. These pit orchestra arrangements are very carefully "scored" for certain tambers to compliment diolog and song on stage. To change instruments--even if they accoustically play the same note--diminishes the aesthetic impact of the line or scene as envisioned by the writers/composers/arrangers who "hear/see" the production as a whole. An Eb clarinet simply cannot subsitue for the bigger and richer sound of the alto sax, nor should a clarinet substitute for an oboe or flute, "etc, etc, etc."--KING AND I. Try the above ideas, they always have worked "in the pits" for me. Good luck and have a great show.
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-11-12 19:40
Hi Jodi,
Try a Legere synthetic reed. You don't need to keep them moist, just put it on and play. I find them really constant and use one on my bass clarinet all the time. You don't have to fuss witht them at all. Hope this helps.
SusieQ
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Author: Doug P
Date: 2000-11-14 21:32
I will second SusieQ and third Allen Cole. I tried a Legere reed last spring and I've used it for all of my performances since. It's not quite as good as a great reed, but it's as good as a very good reed, and it is 100% consistent - no soaking required, and it doesn't dry out. Try one at your "normal" strength. Mine seems to be about the same as a Vandoren V12, about 1/4-1/2 strength softer than a regular Vandoren.
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