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 A Reed Break in Question
Author: knotty 
Date:   2015-08-09 09:09

I've often wondered, does a reed need to be played the full range of the clarinet equally to be a really well "rounded" reed? In other words, if a reed is played only in certain registers, ignoring for instance the lowest notes below the staff, will that reed play poorly in those low notes?

Thanks!

~ Musical Progress: None ~

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 Re: A Reed Break in Question
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2015-08-09 10:33

No


Usually a specific reed will respond a little better (or worse) than another, but I find it to be across the full (whether I use it or not). And you don't have to cover every conceivable note all the time. Wet it, play it, and put it away. That's pretty much all you need to do.


One thing I'd add is that it works best to play "through" the usable life of a series of reeds. You know, start a box and rotate through the usable ones until they start to noticeably lose their playability. Then start a new rotation. Once that one is ready, chuck the old ones.





..............Paul Aviles



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 Re: A Reed Break in Question
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2015-08-11 19:07

Reed my webpage about breaking in a reed. And yes, you want a reed to play well in all registers. Otherwise it's not well balanced or not a good reed.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: A Reed Break in Question
Author: Mirko996 
Date:   2015-08-11 19:40

I don't think there's only reeds in the world that can help you to reach all range of clarinet...

excluding the altissimo register, It depends very much on the mouthpiece that uses and your skill and your breath.

there's a great clarinettist: Giora Feidman. He usualy to use pomarico mouthpiece and don't take them open, in fact , takes closed measure and uses soft reeds, however he's able to handle the high register until c7 quietly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jVJoBRHJIY

however I thought long ago that there was a reed suited to all, however not always the case, it is a desperate search for me...

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 Re: A Reed Break in Question
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2015-08-12 17:37

I couldn't agree LESS with Mirko, As retired professional orchestra and chamber music musical I can say that we did this all the time. One only has to listen to all the great clarinet soloists today playing contemporary as well as the standard solo repertoire to realize that is very common among symphony and solo clarinetists. It's all a matter of knowing how to adjust your reeds. It becomes second nature to the pro.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: A Reed Break in Question
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2015-08-12 22:45

It is really the reed/mouthpiece that needs to be viewed as a system. One functions in the presence of the other. So once you have a reed brand and strength you prefer, match the mouthpiece to that. Or the other way around.


And it may be more just my experience, but if a reed works amazingly well in the chalumeau, then it is usually equally as amazing in the next two registers. In fact I cannot remember a reed that played high notes great and then went on to fail miserably at the low end. It just doesn't happen that way..........for me.







................Paul Aviles



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