 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-08-02 15:11
Jacques Lancelot, the French clarinetist, said he could never understand why people switch from one brand, model of clarinet, mouthpiece, reed again and again. In essence, he said: "I play Buffet RC clarinets, Vandoren 5RV mouthpieces, Vandoren 3-strength reeds, and that is simply 'me'. It's what best reflects my personality." He regarded people that make regular changes fickle. On the other hand, I imagine players like Tony Pay that have played on all sorts of clarinets are more interested in expressing the character, sound and style of the music they are playing. Inevitably, their personality will nevertheless shine through. Ladies and gentlemen: your thoughts on the matter please. I think we can get a good discussion going on this topic.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-08-02 20:39
ps: I don't mean using the same instrument and mouthpiece your whole life long (or reed! ha ha!), but periodically replacing them with the same thing.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-08-02 22:12
Speaking as someone who changes up ALL THE TIME, I can say there is an inherent lack of constancy involved. Though I wouldn't have changed a thing about my approach, I do look longingly at those who can be content with gear that works (and works great by the way).
Either way though, the players concepts are what is paramount and what are the greatest determinants in what we the listeners hear.
I recall many years ago gushing about the sound of the soloist with the US Army Field Band to one of the other clarinet players after an amazing performance of a klezmer based piece played on the soloist's Rossi clarinet. The player I was gushing to turned out to be his wife and she told me he always sounded that way, even before the Rossi clarinets. And then just the other day I heard on the car radio what I would have sworn was Karl Leister performing the Weber First Clarinet Concerto (with only very minor question marks in my head about one or two moments). It turned out to be the great Jon Manasse.
So I firmly believe concept is king. And perhaps settling in to good, reliable equipment makes moving forward in technique easier.
That said, as a dyed-in-the-wool experimenter, I find that part of the clarinet playing experience enjoyable enough to forgive the fact that I might have done better as a player had I curbed those tendencies.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: davyd
Date: 2020-08-02 22:43
Someday I'd like to get better equipment. But what? It seems like there's too many choices.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-08-03 09:33
For some players, their equipment is their IDENTITY. I can't imagine Karl Leister playing anything other than Wurlitzer, for example. He wouldn't be Karl Leister if he did.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-08-03 14:57
Ruben,
Well, there is an interesting example! At some point (in the late '80s ?) Karl Leister and the Wurlitzer family had a very ugly and public spat. Leister spent at least a few years endorsing the Yamaha Oehler clarinets saying they were the pinnacle of clarinet design. Since that time, however, they have patched up their differences.
It would be interesting to finally hear the story behind that story.........if anyone knows it.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-08-03 15:17
Paul and others: of course the criticism that could be made of Leister is that he made everything sound like Leister. Just like his conductor, Karajan, made everything sound like Karajan.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2020-08-03 23:01
I use basically the same stuff as Lancelot, except 2.5 vand. reeds and Buffet R13.
I've always used the R13 (3 since 1971). Experimenting took place during college. Used Mitchell Laurie 3 reeds for a while. Used Vandoren V360 mouthpiece for 25 years. Went to buy a spare in around 2000 and found the V360 no longer made. Found that the 5RV was pretty much the same. Played around with many ligatures and found really no difference in any of them, so it's just been the standard Bonade for decades.
Found stuff that worked fine for the playing (and soloing) I did. No need to look further.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: EbClarinet
Date: 2020-08-04 00:23
I know for band that our personalities shine through in each instrument family. What r some of every 1's clarinet family personality traits?
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/
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Author: LFabian
Date: 2020-08-04 11:06
I for one am like a golfer, using the right club for the right occasion. Plus I adapt to the situation if it calls for a change. Some clarinets are better for some situations. When my embouchure feels crappy, I move back to a lower graded reed. An open mouthpiece is perfect if there is one clarinet on Third Stand. A closed is better for me when trying to match with the rest instead of sticking out. When I am in a situation where the clarinet is exposed, I will use the clarinet that fits the music. I have an Iconized R13 (with bones from the 1970s golden age), a totally modified R-13 (mouthpiece, ligature, tuning barrel and thumbrest), a Backun Moba (the one Morales endorsed) and an Alpha for outdoor use.
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