 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2015-09-09 19:36
I don't know if it was true or not that the first clarinets had the reed on top.
I wonder what advantages and disadvantages that would cause?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2015-09-09 20:20
It's true...pretty much.
Lots of articles on the Web and in books, but basically reed-on-top adherents maintained that there was more flexibility available for tone color, nuance, and so forth, and reed-on-bottom adherents maintained that articulation was easier. (With the reed on top, many could only use "breath" articulation.)
If you're interested in getting better information about this than I can provide, check out Brymer's and Hoeprich's books. Check Sherman Friedland's blog post for a starter:
https://clarinetcorner.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/mouthpiece-puzzle/
B.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-09-09 20:32
I've read that Gino Cioffi (former principal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra) used to play with the reed uppermost, but had trouble getting work until he changed to playing with the reed underneath as is the norm. He played using a double lip embouchure too which has a following among many players.
You often see clarinets and saxes hastily put together in photos on eBay and other classified ads where the seller clearly isn't a player and bungs the mouthpiece on the wrong way round.
It is possible to play clarinet with the reed on top, but it's obviously a very different embouchure. A schoolfriend of mine used to play his dad's clarinet and had the mouthpiece on upside down when he first tried it. He said it made his top lip buzz which hurt, so was glad to know the reed goes on the underside.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2015-09-10 01:48
Chris had it partly correct. Cioffi was actualy bought over from Italy to play principal in the Met in NY. Back in those days it was not uncommon to bring a player from Europe to the US and give them a position. That's how many famous players came over. While playing at the Met one of his colleagues encouraged him to change to the reed on the bottom. Only later did he accept the position with the Boston Sympony. I was told that story by Herb Blayman, former principal at the Met when I was a student in NY in the 50-60s
.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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