 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marnix van den Berg
Date: 2004-12-29 09:36
Hello,
I'm new to this board so let me introduce myself. I'm a 26-year old who, after a study in computer science and a few years of a working normally, decided to go study again, this time the clarinet. I'm currently a student of Frans DeJong, a professor of the clarinet in the Netherlands.
I currently play a Selmer Signature (A=442) with 2 barrels, one of 63mm and one of 65mm. I use a VanDoren 5RV ligature and a VanDoren flexible ligature.
My question is this. Ever since starting to study for the auditions etc and finally being accepted, I've been studying more and more each day. After I was accepted at the college this has only increased. Now for some curious reason my pitch seems to be lower than it was before and I had actually had to switch to my shorter barrel for most times I play in a band or with the piano, etc.. whereas before I nearly always used my longer barrel (which, granted, I didn't have to pull very often).
I was under the assumption that with more study and a more trained embouchure, the pitch usually rises, instead of the other way around! Or could this be a change in my clarinet itself, which is seeing a lot more use than before. My teacher suggested I play softer reeds (before I played Vandoren V12 #4, now #3), in part because articulation was very tiring with very stiff reeds.
My teacher said not to worry about the low pitch for now as we worked on my technique and such, but it is still a little odd.
If anyone has a good explanation or suggestion, please!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-12-29 10:19
Suggestions:
1. Your lip and air pressure are getting weak through tiredness, perhaps through overwork, general body stress or tiredness.
2. The air temperature has been getting colder with the seasons. Air temperature dramatically affects pitch.
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Author: Marnix van den Berg
Date: 2004-12-29 13:18
Thanks for the reply,
I haven't felt particularly tired of late and I do try to space my studying so I don't unduly tire myself (plenty of short breaks in between). It is noticeably colder though as you said.
What I find strange is that my fellow students don't really seem to have this problem if we are in the same room and start to rehearse. They usually become sharp and have to pull their barrels as our instruments warm up. When we're all warmed up nicely I'm almost never too sharp these days.
Despite the fact that all our instruments are made for A=442 we usually settle around a comfortable tuning pitch of A=441.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-29 13:28
Perhaps when you first started you were pinching too much and (as Gordon said somewhat) your embouchure has loosened a bit (maybe TOO much, maybe to where it should be).
Also the temperature (although the cold should make it sharper . . . )
If you can, and if your teacher allows you, see if you can play on HIS instrument to see if it's the instrument that is flat or your playing that is flat.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2004-12-29 13:33
Lighter/softer reeds might be lower in pitch....but your tone will be more fluid. Just go with it.....use the shorter barrel....add a tuning ring if you want. As I read your question....it literally says....Vandoren #4 to Vandoren #3......I assume you have tried 3 !/2?
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Marnix van den Berg
Date: 2004-12-29 13:42
Yes, I tried #3 1/2, but I found it was much the same as my #4's and after discussion with my teacher I went one step further down to #3. (Actually, my #4 all had to be modified extensively before they were useful, usually making them so much lighter/softer they nearly became #3 1/2).
This was of course not a sudden step but one made over the last 3 months or so, in which I used 4's, 3 1/2's and 3's together, finally settling for 3. My teacher said my tone is brighter and has more 'core' now, whereas before it was very dark and sometimes lacked sufficient 'core' (I don't really know the proper english word for what my teacher called 'core' of the tone).
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2004-12-29 13:48
Sfalexi noted:
"Also the temperature (although the cold should make it sharper . . . )"
Ooops, not so. The frequency of a note you hear is how fast those sound waves whip past your ears - "cycles per second." The speed of sound varies directly with the (square root of) temperature of the air - warmer means faster, means higher frequency.
Sound speed also varies inversly with the density of air. Warmer = less dense = faster = higher note.
This applies to humidity in the air, too (although I haven't seen any numbers). Moist air - high humidity - is less dense than dry air (even though it "feels" "heavy" but that is a physiological response.)
On high humidity hot summer evenings - real sticky - I have seen fully loaded aircraft abort take-offs because they couldn't get enough lift from the lower density air.
JDS
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-29 14:18
Thanks John. I forgot which was which. I appreciate the explanation and thanks for pointing out how the density of the air affects it. This will make it easier for me to remember.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-12-29 14:45
Another possibility:
have your instrument checked, especially the tone hole inserts. On many Selmer Signatures (mine included) the tone hole inserts are not air tight where they contact the clarinet body. Thus, the instrument doesn't seal properly, and this could affect pitch. The problem is fixable.
Just a suggestion.
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Author: Marnix van den Berg
Date: 2004-12-29 15:09
larryb wrote:
> Another possibility:
>
> have your instrument checked, especially the tone hole inserts.
> On many Selmer Signatures (mine included) the tone hole
> inserts are not air tight where they contact the clarinet body.
> Thus, the instrument doesn't seal properly, and this could
> affect pitch. The problem is fixable.
>
> Just a suggestion.
Hmm, now this is strange. My instrument developed a small crack near the register vent shortly after purchase (despite my very rigorous 'blowing in' schedule) and has a very peculiar round crack around the register vent hole. When my repair-man saw this he phoned up Selmer to ask if they used tone hole inserts and they said there weren't any, it was made out of one piece of wood all the way.
He glued the crack, but it might be wortwhile to have him look at the vent hole itself to see if may be leaking. Thanks!
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Author: larryb
Date: 2004-12-29 16:46
Maybe Selmer is now making Signatures without inserts, but I doubt it. I purchased mine about 5 years ago. A little glue around the tone holes might be needed.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-12-29 21:56
Also, if the small tone holes are filling with lint, etc, from a pull-through, or other gunge, this could flatten notes. I've seen tone holes reduced to 1/3 the diameter.
Post Edited (2004-12-30 01:19)
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Author: spembert
Date: 2018-10-22 15:54
Hello,
If you are the person who in June 2018 added a full score for the Crusell Clarinet Concert No. 3, I am interested in any additional errata you may have found since uploading the June 2018.
I am conducting this work in Gallup, NM, USA, on November 11, 2018.
My soloist is Lori Lovato. https://backunmusical.com/blogs/artists/lori-lovato
I’ve been in contact with Dr. Seely who recently wrote From: Oliver Seely <oseely@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2018 9:25 AM
To: Sam Pemberton
Subject: Re: Crusell Clarinet Concerto No. 3
Hi again, Sam. Okay, No. 3, Opus 11. I'll play it this afternoon. I won't be at the location of the original manuscript I obtained for the work for another week, but I'll take a look at the brass parts at that time.
Oliver
Sam Pemberton
Gallup, NM, USA
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Author: Marnix van den Berg
Date: 2018-11-12 17:57
For future reference:
Yes, I am the person who uploaded various new editions of clarinet concertos to IMSLP.
I'd forgotten about this account and sadly hadn't enabled e-mail replies.
Unfortunately I noticed too late to help Mr. Pemberton, I've sent him an e-mail to see if he found any mistakes himself or with the help of Mr. Seely and will update the edition on IMSLP if so.
Post Edited (2018-11-12 17:58)
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