Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-02-14 14:16
Hello all,
The last weeks have been somewhat crazy, and some commitments might turn overwhelm me eventually,
Anyways, I'm going to play bass clarinet in our symphonic band.
Getting to know this instrument in such a short time - our concert is in the last week of march - I'm looking for some general tipps on embouchure, voicing, mouthpiece choice. Don't ask me why people think this a good idea, seems like they expect it to work... A little ambitous with pieces like "Hymm to the Sun", I suppose.
Some basic observation on these instruments in my opinion is that the air column that you can feel vibrating within you, all the way down to the diaphragm requires you to "open" your embouchure in order not to squeak with the low notes. Other than that, I'm not really sure what must be considered playing these instruments? Am I supposed to "just do it?"
I have a Vito alto here for another project and have gotten used to it very well, with a B44 mouthpiece, there's little to do wrong, IMHO.
What can I expect from bass?
These questions might seem ridiculous and I did already try out bass clarinets, but not really practice on them! Unfortunately, there still needs to be a decision on much our orchestra is going to finance the rent - there's a Leblanc and another low C instrument to chose from, but they let me wait till handing them out - and I'm expected to pick one instrument more or less instaneously.
On alto, the B44 should go at least with 3 strength reeds, which is not at all tiring. For starters, what kind of mpc/reed combo is affordable? So far, the only alternative is to play on is a stock Buffet prestige mouthpiece that the other bass player received with his clarinet, and I'd like to avoid using that, knowing how terrible these mpc's are....
Best regards
Christian
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The Clarinet BBoard
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