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Re: A Clarinet Mouthpiece

Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-11-15 12:51

Jack Kissinger and Iceland Clarinet -- Thanks for the correction re. the Walter Grabner mouthpieces!

Karl wrote,
>>I think the dry reed (even less than having two good reeds) is the crux of the problem. It's the reason I use synthetic reeds for pit work if I'm doubling among clarinet, sax and/or bass clarinet. Even trying to do something like Brahms 2nd, where the short change times require that you either transpose or use two completely separate setups, demonstrates why the two setup solution is very risky.>>

There's a simple way to keep the natural reed moist. For switching between B-flat clarinet and clarinet in A, bring a spare alto sax mouthpiece cap. Cut a piece of paper towel big enough to fit around a clarinet mouthpiece with the paper folded over a couple of times for some thickness. Just before the rehearsal or performance, when you're setting up, lightly dampen the paper -- not sopping wet, just damp. Get both the clarinets ready to play, with the reeds moistened and everything. Wrap the damp paper towel around the mouthpiece on the clarinet you're not using at the moment. Secure the paper (and protect the mouthpiece from the jitterbug sitting next to you) with the alto sax cap, which is big enough to cover both the set-up mouthpiece and the paper.

When you switch instruments, even if it's a fast switch, you can easily pull off the cap and the damp paper and transfer them to the other instrument. That takes a whole lot less time than transferring a mouthpiece. Maybe I'm unusually clumsy, but half the time when I transfer an entire set-up mouthpiece, I manage to skew the ligature around and have to readjust the reed position. I don't play in a group any more, but that switch used to get scary -- had to trust that the re-adjusted setup was correct with no way to blow a few notes to test it. In those days, the available plastic reeds were grossly inferior to what's available today; and I still prefer natural reeds.

For other kinds of doubling, when it's not a one-cap-fits-all situation, you might need to keep a small bowl or tray next to the instrument stand(s), where you can stow other sizes of caps (the plastic ones, for quiet) as necessary. Just make sure you've got a cap for each instrument that will accomodate its mouthpiece plus the paper. Rehearsal or performance ends -- throw away the damp paper. Keep a few fresh pieces of paper cut to size in a plastic snack-bag in the cases.

Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
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Post Edited (2010-11-15 12:54)

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