Author: seabreeze
Date: 2022-08-10 21:18
Jen,
You might as well put the cart before the horse, as the French say, and see how far the cart can pull the animal. The ligature cannot pull you over the break; your fingers and your air stream do that. It is an act of coordination that, once mastered, can be done on ANY and EVERY well-fitted ligature. Once you've got the knack of working digits and air together in seamless motion, you can pick up any ligature on Fedele's table and get right over the break ascending, descending, and zigzag with only miniscule differences in speed, connection, and evenness. Whether you are playing the Flight of the Bumblebee or a slow chorale using a Scotch tape ligature, an O ring, or a shoestring, you will be able to transfer the technique to the Brancher or other ligatures with little loss or gain in overall response. Some ligatures may for very subtle reasons seem more over-the-break friendly but the difference between them and the others in that regard will be quite small. Some ligatures may sound smoother and more liquid; others a bit more aggressive and jagged, but all will get over the break quite well when driven by the right finger/air action.
Ligatures aside, there is one mechanical factor that can greatly hinder or improve crossing the break, and that is the adjustment of the clarinet itself. Pads need to fit well and tightly seal when shut, and springs need to be regulated to have just the right amount of tension to open easily and to quickly close keys that have been released. Key height adjusted to the player's hands is also important. A badly adjusted clarinet can impede even the best of players and a well-adjusted one can greatly ease the task of break crossing for players of all different levels. The register key vent also needs to be cleaned and kept free of any debris that might delay response. A clarinet kept in tip-top shape is a boon to all who want to master crossing the break. It's just as important as finger coordination and maintaining a steady air stream, and more important than choice of a ligature.
Post Edited (2022-08-13 20:23)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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