Over the years i have heard that each of the following can have an effect on an
individual's sound. Some are obvious, some not quite so, but here goes: The
material of the horn, the wrap of the horn, whether the horn is lacquered or
not, whether a leather grip/wrap is used, right hand position, mouthpiece used,
embouchure, tongue position, shape of the sinus cavity, size of the thorax
cavity, openess of the throat, how the breath is used, and probably as many
more that I haven't listed.
This leads me to something I have always wondered. Why do many sections insist
on playing the same horn? Cleveland and Conn 8ds. Atlanta and Lawsons. Chicago
and Lewis. With so many variables, wouldn't it be reasonable to expect that in
order to match the sound of Person A, who plays an unlacquered brass Alex 103
with a given mouthpiece and given personal physical characteristics, that
Person B with his/her personal physical characteristics and mouthpiece would
have to play, say, a nickel silver lacquered Kruspe wrap Yamaha?
I am reminded of something the trombone professor where I studied horn some 40
years ago told us. He had read a study whereby several professionals were
recorded on their own instruments and mouthpieces, then given different
instruments and mouthpieces. They sounded different, but over time (several
weeks as I recall) they each regained their original sound on the new gear. I
believe someone on this list posited and posted something similar during this
thread.
David McClellan
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