 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GBK
Date: 2019-01-31 21:04
Michael Lowenstern and Michael Norsworthy (Clar Prof @ Boston Conservatory at Berklee) try about 30 mouthpieces along with a bottle of wine.
Again, an amusing and helpful video from Michael Lowenstern. Definitely worth watching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvUyBJ_lL_I
...GBK
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2019-02-01 01:10
Herodotus reported that when ancient Persians made a decision when they were drunk, they reconsidered the following day when they were sober.
Conversely, if they made a decision when sober, they reconsidered it the following day when drunk.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2019-02-01 03:08
Was this a Vandoren sponsored event? All 6 pieces to make the finals were Vandoren. So many brands were not represented: No Greg Smith, Brad Behn, Richard Hawkins, Clark Fobes, Mike Lomax, Doug McClune, Alelandais, Chris Hill, Wesley Rice, Ramon Wodkowski, Licostini, Peter Eaton, Chedeville, Bettoney, O'Brien, Pomerico, Sumner, Miller, Wurlitzer, Zinner, Viotto, Kuckmeier, Maxton, Ridenour, Penzel and Mueller, Jenny, Gigliotti, Hans Colbers, Leitner and Krauss, Backun, Reserve and Reserve Evolution, Kanter, Otto Link, Selmer Concept, Dan Johnston, James Pyne, Grabner, Frank Wells, Stowell, Borbeck, Sayre, Bay, Retro-Revival, T. Wanne, New York Woodwind, Portnoy, Lurie, etc, etc, They have collapsed a large, diverse universe into a comparison between an old Kaspar, some Selmer c85s, and a pack of Vandorens. Small world, isn't it? Seems strange since Norsworthy plays a high end Behn, I believe.
Post Edited (2019-02-01 07:47)
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Author: Bill
Date: 2019-02-01 03:44
Loved this! Wish I hadn't discovered it during my "Dry January." Ugh.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Jesse Winslow
Date: 2019-02-01 18:40
Michael is a Vandoren Artist, so most likely thats all he's gonna play. At least for the video's sake.
Clarinetist at U of SC
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2019-02-02 17:49
I think the video is more about the method than the choice of mouthpieces.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2019-02-02 19:16
"Michael is a Vandoren Artist"
What does that entail?
Free stuff
Get paid?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2019-02-02 21:37
I wonder if I am the only one who couldn't hear any differences among the various mp/reed combinations. I listened through some ho-hum speakers - perhaps that explains it?
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2019-02-02 21:57
I couldn't finish watching this...what was the "bottom line?"
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2019-02-03 01:39
The purpose of this video was not to arrive at some conclusion for Norsworthy, Lowenstern, or you about what "the best" mouthpiece was that they tested, it was about a method of going about selecting a mouthpiece without going batty.
As to the YouTube video or recordings in general, trying to evaluate clarinet equipment from a recording, no matter how good the quality of the recording equipment or the speakers it's played on isn't a good thing, nor is trying to evaluate any piece of equipment without another set of ears and in different environments. Not hearing differences or hearing strong differences in the YouTube video isn't the point at all. The point is the method.
Bottom line(s):
1. Each mouthpiece in a bunch, even of the same model, will usually play and sound differently, and may be good in some playing situations and not so good in others.
2. Start with a "reasonable" number of mouthpieces, then cull a few from the group and work with those until you can choose "the best" one or two, then test those more.
3. Play mouthpieces without knowing what make and model they are. It's too easy for anyone, pro or beginner, to be prejudiced by a logo.
4. There's no such thing as finding the best mouthpiece for you in one sitting.
5. As Norsworthy said at one point (and I paraphrase), a mouthpiece that may sound great close up may sound crappy in a concert hall and vs vrs.
6. A mouthpiece that may sound one way to the player may sound a lot different to a listener, even if only a few feet away.
B.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-03 05:51
UPSHOT of video.
o Use new reeds
o Have a selection of different strength new reeds available
o Move through selection rather quickly
o Evaluate articulation/resistance, color, intonation
o Have a designated driver :-)
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-03 06:00
I wanted to respond to the post regarding the worthiness of YOUTUBE videos/recordings. Yes, at best one can only make the most general assessments. You really need to have several different items to compare per video/recording. That way you are actually comparing SOMETHING. The recent videos of one particular mouthpiece (there were two recently) only, doesn't offer any comparison within the framework of that one video/recording........not very helpful in my opinion.
however:
You didn't have to listen closely at all to the drunk testing video to notice that Norsworthy really liked MIchael's Kaspar (and I thought he sounded best on that and the BD5.....for whatever that is worth)!
Anyway, I really liked the enclosed video here for its tongue and cheek approach, and the fact that it was quite informative. MUCH better than Lowenstern's assault on ligatures.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2019-02-03 09:57
Have a beer and burp into the mouthpiece while sustaining a note. Instant note bending without practice.
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Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2019-02-03 22:57
5. As Norsworthy said at one point (and I paraphrase), a mouthpiece that may sound great close up may sound crappy in a concert hall and vs vrs.
6. A mouthpiece that may sound one way to the player may sound a lot different to a listener, even if only a few feet away.
Oh that is SO true....although my major experience is with horns and horn mouthpieces. A horn can sound really loud up close and be lost in the hall, and one that is not so loud up close can drown out the section in the hall (happened to me on 4th for the horn quartet in Midsummer Night's Dream.....I drowned out the entire section and had no idea until I heard the video. Never could understand why I didn't get "the hand" from the conductor.)
Same with tone....harsh tone up close can be quite mellow in the hall, and mellow up close can sound muffy in the hall.
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2019-02-03 22:59
Oh, and I use the mouthpiece I do because I took a box of them to a lesson with the teacher sitting across the room. I played the one I have now used for 20 years, and he suddenly said "THAT ONE!"
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-03 23:50
YES !!!!! If you're REALLY in this as a profession, you need to solicit and follow the advice of trusted colleagues. You DON'T sound at a distance how you sound up close (to yourself, and within about five feet or so). My favorite story is a fairly recent one regarding a co-worker who for all the world thought a particular mouthpiece sounded like "bees in his head." However, a number of colleagues in the orchestra in which he played complimented his playing over how big he sounded the evening he used it in concert.
Just like anything else though, with enough repetition you begin to KNOW what a good sounding mouthpiece for the "house" sounds like to you. That is, it doesn't remain a mystery once you get the hang of it.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2019-02-04 00:26
Tom H.,
This could probably be worked into a circular breathing technique if it weren't for the "dip" from the CO2.
B.
Post Edited (2019-02-04 00:30)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-04 08:15
Well as far as belching is concerned, the issue is that sulfur is denser than nitrogen (majority of gas in the air). The molecules of dense sulfur gas therefore move more slowly. It is the opposite of sucking in helium from a balloon and then speaking like a chipmunk because the lighter gas allows the vocal cords (the body's reed/mouthpiece) to vibrate faster.
You learn so much from drunk mouthpiece testing!
....................Paul Aviles
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2019-02-04 08:24
Paul
So this is one way to tune an out of tune clarinet
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: Luuk ★2017
Date: 2019-02-04 15:31
Lowering pitch by adding gas from beverages (= politically correct wording for 'burping while playing') is due to the higher CO2 content in the exhaled gas mixture, not sulphur.
Search the Archives for numerous discussions about this.
Nothing human is alien to us, clarinetists.
Regards,
Luuk
Philips Symphonic Band
The Netherlands
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Author: Dibbs
Date: 2019-02-04 16:45
Sulphur isn't even a gas and you certainly wouldn't want either of the two common gaseous sulphur compounds, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, coming out of your mouth.
CO2, carbon dioxide, is what you're looking for.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-02-04 21:18
Perhaps I am looking for dimethyl sulfide? We DO exhale carbon dioxide all the time. Why would a burp be different?
..................Paul Aviles
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