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taragot mouthpiece

Author: Marius
Date: 2008-03-23 06:36

Hi Fred,
This post is regarding the Taragot mouthpiece. I have never tried a sopranosax mouthpiece on the Taragot. Usually the Taragot players make their own mouthpieces, and that is why if you listen carefully two taragot players will never have the same tone even though they are playing the same instrument. In Romania there are three major styles of mouthpieces used.
The Banat region uses a type of mouthpiece in which the chamber was filled up ( usually with rubber of the same material of which the mouthpiece was constructed), so the chamber of the mouthpiece is very very small. This will give a very metallic sound. One of the best Taragot player from Banat is Luca Novac. If you go on youtube you will be able o listen some great music played by him.
The Maramures/Grosi region they use a mouthpiece in which the chamber of the mouthpiece is totally empty. This will give a darker woodier tone. Dumitru Farcas is considered the God of taragot. He is playing this kind of mouthpiece, and also Dumitru Dobrican, Ioan Berci (unbelievable beautiful tone) and extremmely woody Nelu Gabor.
The third style will fall in between this two as tone quality and is found in Transilvania, especially in Fagaras region. Gheorghe Trambitas is a virtuoso from Fagaras. He has a new album out called " The Voice of the Taragot." It is a great album and I really recommend it.
Now assuming you do not know how to build your own mouthpiece I can tell you that I've come across a gentlemen that lives in Chicago, USA. His name is Ioan Scaunas. In my opinion he is one of the best taragot mouthpiece builder. He has been making taragot mouthpieces for over 17 years. I found one of his mouthpieces on eBay♠, where he occasionally lists them, and i must say i am thrilled with the mouthpiece. They are relatively not expensive ( around $200) and prior shipping i got in contact with him so that he build mine after my preferences. So, keep an eye on eBay. I have his contact information and i will be willing to give them to you upon his approval.
The taragot is a great instrument to which i am totaly in love with. I am an amator player but i can get enough of it.
Be careful because on eBay I've seen many taragots for sale that are listed as brand and country unknown. Those are usually Romanian taragots, brand Timis, and as you said they are of a poor quality. They do not worth more than $600 ( and that if in good condition). These do not have a serial number printed on the instrument ( nobody knows why:)). Now a Hungarian Stowasser is a difrent story. They worth much more around $ 5000, and they are great instruments. I've read somewhere on the web a great characterization of them: " The Stradivarius of the woodwinds"

I like that. There are few ok brands as well, like Magyoroshi and Schunda. This are Hungarian as well and Hammerschmidt from Germany. From what i remember but i could be wrong the last two use a clarinet like mouthpiece ( this is the way it mounts to the instrument).
Enjoy your Taragot!

Marius
mariuscuciulan@yahoo.com

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