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Re: Too flat

Author: beejay
Date: 2009-05-11 23:21

Yes, we are an eccentric band. We rearrange a lot to suit our limited range of instruments. As a basset horn player, I would much prefer to use that instrument, but the conductor thought that only one horn would be unbalanced, and that three clarinets would fit better with the rest of the orchestra, which consists of strings and timpani. So I'm not going to argue with the conductor. The overall sound fits very well with a large choir, with which we are also performing Vivaldi's Gloria. We did the requiem three or four years ago, and borrowed missing instrumentalists from other orchestras, but this time we are doing it in a small church and I think the aim is to keep an intimate effect. Hence the importance of getting those opening notes exactly right.
I am truly grateful for all your suggestions about curing flatness in the chalumeau register. I discovered that the barrel on my Buffet Crampon RC measures 65mm and that this is already the shortest regularly available. I was unable to find a Chadash barrel to try out, but that is something I will look into. I tried switching barrels with my A clarinet, but it made no difference. Hiroshi's suggestion that a long-lay mouthpiece like the M30 tends to play flat had some merit. I was able to play a bit higher by switching from a 3 to a 3.5 reed, but wasn't happy with the sound in the clarion register. So I went back to a more open old Charles Bay mouthpiece which seems to give a better intonation in the lowest notes. But the E at the top of the chalumeau remained flat in relation to the rest, despite the fact I have cleaned the chimney. Then came John Peacock's suggestion to open a lower key. Indeed E in combination with the side key makes the tuning absolutely perfect.
I'm going to book a service when our concerts are over, but for the time being the problem is solved for which I sent my thanks to you all.

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Too flat new

beejay

2009-05-07 13:24