 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-04-09 00:50
"Seasoned" sounds so much better than "Old," doesn't it?
Fifty Four years ago, I opened up a clarinet case. Pretty much every day I still open a clarinet case. One might put a gamble on - that possibly I've learned a few things along the way.
While trying to be a professional player, started saxophone, bought some flutes, and right now I'll tell you - flute kicked my butt. Still today - I get calls, they tell me - Gig is Clarinet, Tenor, Alto and flute, you cool with that? And I always answer - yeah, I own 2 flutes. Now I set up the flute - very noticable up front, and I have my C clarinet back by the left leg. I've not been busted, yet!
Anyway, on my way to be a pro, I've been a janitor, a mechanic, an auto-parts counterguy, and countless other gigs. I've also done the road. Busses, busses, busses, take a cab, board a bus. Done coast-to-coast tours with major acts. Also got to settle down and do theater gigs. Those are my favorite - the same chair for months at a whack! Done too many territory dance and quasi-jazz swing bands, but also quite a few real jazz groups too - the real kick! Lots of Concert Bands, Wind Ensembles and Symphony work too. Just love playing.
Anyway - this is a Clarinet Forum.
I play a 1969 Buffet R13, a 1974 & 1976 Selmer Series 10, and an early '50's Selmer Centered Tone. Those are the B-flats. I have a Buffet E-flat, a Yamaha Bass, and a very cool Ridenour C Clarinet. My "A" is a rare Selmer 10G from 1978. I also just added a Ridenour Libertas B-flat for my constant gigging in weird places.
Funny thing - the Ridenour Libertas is now my first choice for any gig! How about that!
I read on this Forum all the pro/con talk of Buffet/Selmer and other brands. I hear the talk on big-bore -vs- small bore. I get kind of amused at this. Listen to David Krakauer on his new Selmer Privilege. His sound is absolutely HUGE!
Well, this is an old curmudgeon's first installment, of more - or maybe not!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwind Guy
Clarinets, Saxophones, and I own 2 Flutes
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DougR
Date: 2015-04-09 04:29
Hi Ken.
Looking forward to what you have to say! welcome aboard!
cheers
Doug R
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-09 16:13
"First choice for a gig," is pretty high praise indeed.
It reminds me of my "ligature incident." Just before a rehearsal I overtightened my "current" ligature for the last time. I stared down at the broken parts in total befuddlement wondering for almost a full minute how I was going to live with out it. This is of course with a full tool box drawer full of the best and most expensive ligatures just feet away. It was only at that moment I realized just how much I really liked that particular ligature.
.............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-04-09 16:50
Paul - I dig the Lig!
So I decided to finally give in to social pressure and get the Vandoren Optima Ligature. For some reason, I liked it. So, being a reasonable man, I bought 2 more for the B-flats, and 1 for my Eeffer.
On a recent run of Bernstein's "Wonderful Town" with some pretty important Eeffer work, I made an interesting discovery. (Sometimes I think I should have old-fashioned sandwich-boards to advertise products I use) I like Clark Fobes products - a lot. On the Eeffer is the Fobes extension, barrel and mouthpiece. Now, his mouthpieces have an interesting body angle. For some reason, it wasn't until opening night of the show that a strange thing happened. As I tightened the new-ish Optima ligature, it just popped up and off the horn, like imitating a dang champagne cork! I chase it down on the pit floor, and it just kept popping up, off and over the horn! Good thing I still had my Rovner Dark in the emergency supply bag! Weird Vandoren crap!
Anyway, I now have for sale 3 rather new Vandoren Optima B-flat and 1 E-flat ligatures.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wisco99
Date: 2015-04-09 16:58
Ken,
I too made a living playing in touring big bands when they still existed, national shows, Broadway shows, casual gigs, jazz clubs, major symphonies, rock bands, contracting, music publishing, so I also had to play multiple woodwinds simply as a means of survival. You do win on the clarinet count, but I think I can match you on saxophones, 2 flutes, plus raise you 2 expensive flute headjoints. HURUMPH! One lesson I learned, never sell an instrument or mouthpiece. You will kick yourself later. We are not dealing in used Chevy's here or horse trading. Options are a beautiful thing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-04-09 17:57
Larry -
It's just been my answer to contractors and leaders - "Why, Yes! I own 2 flutes!"
To go through the closet, you would find 2 Gemeinhardt flutes, a 3SB, and a 33SB, an Armstrong student line, and a 1976 Custom Hand-made soldered tone-hole Haynes beauty! Also a Jupiter Alto Flute, and a pre-Selmer Emerson grenadilla hand-made custom piccolo. So, I do attempt being a flooter!
Did a 6 month run of "Miss Saigon." It was 3 hours a day, every day, twice on Wednesday and Saturday - Total attempts of Suicide-by-flute. That was the hardest damn show I've done. But fun, too!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-09 20:12
Hey KenJarczyk,
I don't know if you use synthetic reeds but when I went through a month or so with them I realized that metal ligatures NEED to "hold on to the reed" and the reed needs to "hold on to the mouthpiece" for that whole system to work.
Consequently, I now score the inside of my metal ligatures with 350 grit wet/dry sandpaper so that the lateral scratches will help grip the mouthpiece AND the reed no matter what reed I use (but I avoid synthetics like the plague now).
..............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2015-04-09 23:13
Hi, Ken--welcome to the *dark side* of clarinet forum. I think we bumped chairs in "Guys and Dolls" for Rob Tomaro a few years ago. I've always enjoyed the challenge of doubling clar/sax and (if unavoidable) flute. I've even done piccolo for Red Skelton--but I'd rather have a root channel. Anyway, I've grown lazy and don't do much show work anymore--too much set-up and I grow tired of the book halfway through the first week, usually. I'm still doing the orchestra and about five bands here in Mad Town. Good to read your thoughts...I too will be looking forward to your future rants.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-04-09 23:36
Bill Fuller - you are one cool dude!
I never played a Red Skelton show, but I did help him board a plane at LaGuardia years back! But these guy's shows were a hoot! I did get to do a Midwest swing of the Bob Hope Tour - with Les and the Band of Renown, crazy stuff there! You're right about picking root-canal over a Picc gig! Done a few, still don't know how to get my fingers that close together, and still move!
Paul - yeah, easy to learn how to wrangle Legere reeds on a metal liggy... Almost as much fun as sitting in front of a French Horn, or worse - multiple French Horns!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2015-04-10 01:34
Welcome! Ooh, a 10G A clarinet! My Bb is a 10G from 1979. What do you think of the A?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-04-10 02:03
Howdy, Clarinetwife. Wild handle...
I've done serial number research on my 10g "A" clarinet. It is one of the few that actually got the factory finishing treatment getting it to Gigliotti standards. I believe the wonderful, late Ralph Morgan was the head of this project. The "A" is buttery-smooth, quite in tune, and such a sweet and dark tone, it almost drives me crazy! (To not play it as much as it deserves)
I bought the thing used, through a friend with a repair shop, as a trade-in from a local school district. It was pretty much an almost 40+ year old, brand new instrument, kept on the shelf at the school assigned, marked with a note that it plays incredibly flat in comparison with the other clarinets. Well, DUH! They had no clue it was an "A" clarinet, and also no idea it was one of the rare and wonderful fully-Gigliottied 10G horns.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2015-04-10 02:06
Thanks for mentioning David Krakauer, who was new to me. I spent some time listening to his playing on youtube - just remarkable. He does some terrific things I've never heard done before. Another clarinetist way better than me! - the list is long.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2015-04-10 02:12
That is a crazy story about the A clarinet that they apparently didn't know was an A. I would think most high schools have an a for their orchestral players to use. I used a school Buffet myself at the time. As for my Bb, it isn't "fully-Gigliottied", but there is just something about it that is right for my main gig over the years - church music. It just sounds nice with voices, and of course I have used it for orchestral, band, and pit orch work as well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-05-08 22:08
So -
A while ago, on a mouthpiece binge, I picked up some Clark Fobes pieces.
I fell into extreme "like" with his CF+ mouthpiece. So, being a normal conservative kind of guy, I bought a couple more, as spares.
Out of curiosity, I also picked up his CWF personal facing piece. At first try, the Buffet liked it, the 2 Selmer 10 Series did not, neither did I like it on the Selmer 10G "A" clarinet, nor the Centered Tone. Since that time, I've added the Ridenour Libertas horn.
For some reason, I pulled the CWF out of the "Mouthpieces in Oblivion" drawer, and was hit it the face with the reality that I love this mouthpiece! On every horn, it blows like a total masterpiece! What the heck? Volume from the most silent "ppp" to a screamin' "FFF" totally even in tone, no distortion, in tune, WOW!
Don't rely on first impressions!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nata
Date: 2015-05-08 23:05
I may be interjecting here into a discussion on a different topic, but I would like to clarify one thing for clarinetwife.
Most high schools do not have an A clarinet to use.
It is a rarity to even see decently playable b-flats here that are not broken from years of student abuse, much less an A.
I am speakig here as a high schooler.
The nearest high school that has an A is fourty minutes away from where I am by car.
Whatever high school you went to, you are extremely lucky to have been able to play an A.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-05-08 23:28
True!
Don't take the thread on a left turn....
But I think it funny that a school WITH an "A" clarinet had no clue, which was my good fortune!
"No, Johnny! Don't use THAT horn! It plays very flat!"
So much for well informed band teachers......
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-05-09 00:39
I agree with your assessment of the CWF - love playing it.
Most high schools in my area don't own A clarinets. We either buy/rent one, borrow one from the youth orchestra, or transpose.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 47tim
Date: 2015-05-09 18:56
Welcome to the BBoard! I haven't posted in a while, but frequently check the page. Hope to see you around
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2015-05-09 22:47
On a rehearsal break from playing in China with members of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, I took off my Sax Ligature (was playing Alto for one work), and the Ligature flew behind me - INTO THE SPACE IN THE RISERS AND UNDER EM!.......
Look under them, and nothing but a ton of wires - stiff wires which were used in the construction of the risers, and not even remotely possible to crawl under them to retrieve the $160 item.
Fortunately, there was a guy who had a large set of tongs (looked like chopsticks), and he was able to reach with his long arm the 4 feet or so to get it.
I did have a spare with me, but wasn't the same, and I really didn't want to donate a ligature to a future breakdown of those risers.
Bring spares of whatever you possibly can.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-05-10 00:49
Great story David!
China has a way to scare us!
On our 5 week tour of China in the early 1990's, our quartet came on the stage at one of the theaters right after a "Fish Juggler." So, as he juggled the big glass bowls of large goldfish, water would spill on stage. There was no clean up before us, so we took the wet stage for our set. China is 220 volt, ungrounded circuits. So, I had to overcome fear of death every show, grabbing the mic stand, while standing in a puddle of water.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2015-05-10 16:57
Welcome to the bulleting board!
I love that story about the school with the clarinet in A mistaken for an extra-flat B-flat. Some things haven't changed -- my high school (class of 1966) didn't have a clarinet in A, either. Lack of a clarinet in A must have been the norm then, too, because both of the orchestra directors during my years there usually handed me rented parts transposed for clarinet in Bb. In a way I was glad when no transposed part was available, because the lack of one forced me to work on transposing -- something I probably would have been too lazy to do otherwise.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-06-18 21:55
LIFE IS A CIRCUS
So, long ago, when the Earth's crust was still cooling, but there were telephones, I get this call.
This fellow starts the conversation like we were just talking a half-hour ago. During our little chat, I remember who he is, and that we did a road-gig together several years before. There is his "in."
Seems he is a "regular" in a traveling circus band. He needs a week off for some family matters of grave concern. I was open the days he asked, and the gig was rather close, so we came to terms. We discussed pay, show times, locations, doubles needed, dresscode and the works. He says most of the gig is "faking" show tunes and standards, but there is a critical point in every show where we jump into an arranged book, for clarinet and alto.
I get to the first gig, see the "Big-Top" and park in the area I was told about. I have all my gear, on shoulder strap and bags, and I walk into the tent and start to look around. I don't see a bandstand. I stop one of the roust-abouts walking around and ask him where the band is. He points up. At the main Circus Entrance for the acts, I see scaffolding going up about 40 feet, on both sides of the curtained entrance with a platform on top. He says "You're up there!" Suddenly a guy pokes his head over the edge and asks me if I am Kenny, and I said "Who wants to know?" We laughed, and they sent down a net for my gear and told me to climb up the side to the top and set up. I did just that. Up in the thinning air of the high altitudes of the Circus Tent, I set up my horns and stands, and got ready. The leader introduced himself, a trumpet dude, he gave me the list of tunes and keys, and a well-worn and tattered bound woodwind book with "Elephant Music" stenciled on the cover. Okay, we're ready.
Gig was going along well, rather almost fun, when the big whistle sounded, the leader shouted "Elephant Book" and we all opened up to start. Then he said something that got to me, deep in my inner "should-have-been-smarter" self. He said "Let's hope the elephants aren't frisky tonight!" Just about as I breathed out the words "What the hell do you mean - frisky?" The bandstand suddenly jolted about 5 feet to the right, then swung back left, then another jolt right, then swinging left. The damn elephants were side-swiping the scaffolding as they went by! My music stand toppled over, the book hit the floor, fortunately open and right side up. I fell to my knees, got my bearings and kept playing, because I noticed the band didn't skip a beat! What the hell?
Then I looked at the rest of the band when I could. The drummer had all his gear nailed to the stage floor, he had a harness keeping him in place. All the other music stands were duct-taped solid to the floor. There were railings around the stage, and everyone else was securely strapped or duct-taped to the railing. Every one of those elephants hit the scaffolding.
This first show was my "Trial-by-Fire" as I found out. This happens every stinking show! For the second show I was issued company duct-tape.
I don't think the gig payed enough, actually. But, what a week.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2015-06-19 02:06
Lots of things are prerecorded now, alas. Back in the day a friend of mine quit college to take a job as the organist for a major league baseball team. I scored some "cool Auntie" points with my niece when we went to a game and I took her to see my friend and her fancy console!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-06-19 02:10
Ken Shaw - I've had the Williman book since the mid sixties. I still pull it out and enjoy it! He was a cool dude!
By the way - your link is so long, it screws up the formatting of this thread. Could you edit it, please?
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
Post Edited (2015-06-19 06:09)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-06-19 06:11
Thank You, Ken Shaw!
All fixed!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
