 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Markael
Date: 2007-04-23 00:33
If I were to take my clarinet to Europe would it be advisable to purchase an adjustable barrel before I go, for tuning purposes?
I live in the US and play a Selmer Series 10 clarinet that is 35 + years old. Nowadays, especially now that I have a Vandoren M13 mouthpiece, I pull the barrel out only a very little bit for tuning.
If I were to take my clarinet to Europe it would mostly likely be to “jam”, not to play in an orchestra.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2007-04-23 11:07
UK is A-440, which is what you play at. In Europe it varies from A-442 to A-444. So it might be useful it you want to play over here.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-04-23 12:18
You do encounter a lot of instruments built in 442 in the UK (my own, for example.) If they're happy to pull out, that's fine.
Post Edited (2007-04-23 12:23)
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2007-04-23 12:33
It's worthwhile ALWAYS to carry a short barrel (and tuning rings), if you're going to be playing in circumstances where you have no control of the pitch.
With regard to A=440 in England, we recently had several rehearsals prior to a performance of the Brahms Trio, and the F minor sonata, on old instruments. The piano we were going to be using was stuck at the (distant) venue, so we decided to make do with a modern piano for the initial couple of goes. My Ottensteiner copy is happiest at A=438 with the mouthpiece I wanted to use, but I guessed that I would be able to squeeze up acceptably to A=440.
I found that all the pianos we tried at the Royal College of Music (and all those available to us at BBC Maida Vale) were tuned to A=442, which made the rehearsals excruciating, because I was already using the shortest barrel I had. I had to switch to another mouthpiece -- and stuck with it for the performance, incidentally.
I've also found that if you're playing at different venues in Europe -- Italy, say, especially with sharp pianos in cold churches -- it's wise to be prepared to adjust the pitch of the throat notes too. A little bit of wax run into the relevant holes can make all the difference to how comfortable you are with a very short barrel.
Tony
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-04-23 15:01
Dear Markael,
In Germany the pitch will be much higher. I don't think a barrel will make the difference since you will also run into the problem of internal pitch irregularities when going too far in EITHER direction. Perhaps be prepared to rent or purchase something there (where ever there turns out to be).
............Paul Aviles
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Author: Markael
Date: 2007-04-23 15:47
Thanks for the information and suggestions.
Eventually I would like to take my axe to Italy; this trip is to Ukraine.
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2007-04-23 21:37
Paul Aviles wrote:
>> I don't think a barrel will make the difference since you will also run into the problem of internal pitch irregularities when going too far in EITHER direction.>>
You might be surprised. I managed to play the Copland in Germany once at around 443 or even above with a standard R13, using a short barrel and adjusting the throat tones. (Also the Brahms/Berio in Berlin once.)
Tony
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