"Belgique" Replica 1920's Gustave Langenus Duckbill Bb Clarinet (Paris Ched Blank)

$ 350.00

"Belgique" Is another Retro-Revival Adventure as we go back in time and Replicate an amazing Ultra Rare Clarinet Mouthpiece. The Langenus Duckbill. We had our amazing Clarinet team along with our CAD Engineer reverse engineer my own personal Langenus Paris piece, according to the dealer I bought the Original Mouthpiece from its a 1920's Paris Chedeville Blank Mouthpiece. The unique thing is that the beak is in the shape of a duckbill and most likely designed that way for many of the Classical Players played with a "Double Lip" Embouchure. Since Gustave was born in Belgium we came up with a suitable name for honoring his unique talents, and skills as a World Class Clarinetist and Teacher. "BELGIQUE"

1. Tip size is .101 (Close).

The piece has an clear strong sound.

Amazing Dynamic Range and Projection, with a defined, focused core to the sound.

Its crystal clear in sound, with fast articulation, one can get and very gorgeous sound on this as its quite capable to let any level player enjoy getting a great sound unlike most new Mouthpieces today. These are unique and modeled after a rare piece add each Mouthpiece is hand voiced and faced. They are a Joy to play.

Gustave Langenus

"Belgique"

The distinguished Belgian-American clarinetist Gustave Langenus was born in Milines, Belgium, where he received his first instruction in music. At the age of twelve he was admitted to the Royal Brussels Conservatory in the clarinet class of Gustave Poncelet, where he remained for five years, graduating in 1900 with first prize in clarinet. Soon after graduating the eighteen year old Langenus toured in Europe with the Sousa Band and in 1902, emigrated to England, becoming well known as both a soloist and orchestra player, was engaged in Henry Wood’s Queens Hall Orchestra in London and as solo clarinetist with the Duke of Devonshire’s Orchestra. With the latter ensemble he performed as soloist on several occasions, receiving high praise from the English critics.

Walter Damrosch, always on the look out for players to improve his New York Symphony, recruited Langenus to come to America in 1910 as the orchestras solo clarinetist. Langenus remained in this position until the fall of 1920 when he moved to the New York Philharmonic, also as solo clarinetist. Langenus tenure with this orchestra was short lived, as he resigned in 1923 to devote himself to solo playing and his true passion-chamber music.
In 1915 he co-founded, along with pianist Carolyn Bebe, the New York Chamber Music Society.

Gustave Langenus was a highly regarded teacher, a publisher and editor of numerous works for clarinet, the author of one of the standard clarinet method books, and , in his day, the foremost authority on woodwind instruments. He also began the first ever correspondence school for young clarinetists who had no access to a clarinet teacher. The school consisted of a series of 10 inch 78 recording of Langenus and another clarinetist playing from the Langenus study books. There would also be sent with the recordings questionnaires the students could fill out documenting their progress and difficulties, to which Langenus would respond. Examples of his recordings for the school are included below. Langenus was also a teacher and friend of Benny Goodman who played second clarinet to Langenus in New York early in Goodmans's career. Goodman referred to Langenus as "Gus". Langenus used the double lip embouchure.

Gustave Langenus died in his home on Long Island on January 30, 1957

After ClarinetFest.

I am getting some reeds balanced for the Belgique mouthpiece and continue to enjoy the results!

My orchestra colleagues are still on vacation, but I will have the opportunity to play for them beginning August 19. Tell Joel that the pitch on this mouthpiece “stops” the tuner. Very even throughout! This is great because the Fort Worth Symphony plays at A=440."

Gary Whitman

Professor of Clarinet

School of Music

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX 76129