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Plastic Reeds for an Outdoor Performance of the Weber Concertino?

Author: zhangray4
Date: 2017-07-07 01:42

Hi clarinetists,

I am a rising senior in high school, and every year our school district holds a City Music Festival in April, which is located on our Middle School soccer field. Last April, I, being the principal clarinetist in my school, performed Weber's Concerto No. 1, 3rd movement. Turns out that day was extremely hot, and it became very difficult just to get a good sound from my cane reeds, let alone play the music expressively. I think my reed dried up under the hot Southern California sun [hot]

Although people said I played well, I could've done much better.

This is going to be last year in high school, and I am pretty sure my Band Director will want me to perform another solo. If he does plan for me to play a song, I'll probably go with the Weber Concertino. But my main concern is the weather and how it will affect my playing. ** To be honest, I'm not worried about being out of tune, because everyone will be extremely sharp due to the heat. Nor am I concerned about projection, since the soloist is mic'd up. I'm concerned about my reed drying up and becoming difficult to blow/control. ** I'm thinking abut using synthetic/plastic reeds, but I have never tried them before.

I do know that a lot of people play on them, however, from Ricardo Morales to Wenzel Fuchs. But I've also heard that plastic reeds tend to produce a dead, spreaded sound. Can someone tell me how good they are at outdoor performances for classical works? Any particular brand (Legere...)? Any info on plastic reeds would be appreciated [rotate]